Jharkhand is all set to make its contribution to the ambitious Namami Gange project of the Union Government that is aimed to revitalise the rural landscape alongside the river Ganga by not only de-polluting it but improving lives of people living on its banks for centuries.
Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti will launch the project in Sahibganj district on Monday. The district has the only geographical portion of the State that touches the 85 kms long stretch on Ganga.
Sahibganj Deputy Commissioner UP Singh said that the project will be launched by the Union Minister and Chief Minister Raghubar Das on May 9 in a programme where people's representatives of 78 villages will take part.
“A number of PRI members and Jal Sahiyas will participate in the project launch programme, where they will be given information on maintaining cleanliness, hygiene and livelihood opportunities with involvement of communities. The Union Minister and the CM will address the people during the programme, which will be followed by inauguration of altogether nine projects, including sewerage treatment plants and electric crematorium,” he added.
Officials involved in the project said that the Union and State Governments in collaboration with UNDP are working on a composite plan for integrated development of 100 villages alongside the banks of Ganga in Sahibganj. “The plan is not only to develop economy of villages through SHG and cooperatives model but also to provide all basic amenities here. These villages will have toilets made and will be declared Open Defecation Free soon. Similarly, they will have access to clean drinking water under the project,” he added.
As per the project, several ghats will also be built in Rajmahal in Sahebganj district alongwith a modern cremation centre, where arrangements will be done for both wood and electricity for cremating bodies.
Under UNDP programme, 16 panchayats of Rajmahal will be brought under Ganga Swachhta programme and SHGs will be formed to for generating employment for people. The programme is also aimed to enable villagers for doing organic farming, cattle farming and dairy farming.
The Union Minister, in her last meeting, had also discussed about making the whole area a milk belt. She had suggested large scale dairy farming, especially by women of the area by formation of SHGs and giving people training and resources for other livelihood projects.