Namami Gange gathers steam - 231 rejuvenation projects being launched simultaneously

At last Namami Gange appears to be gathering steam. It was one of the ambitious programs of the Modi government and, 231 projects are being announced simultaneously to begin execution of the Ganga rejuvenation at 104 locations spread across five river basin states. These are Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Also, along its tributary Yamuna in Haryana and Delhi.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 7 July 2016.

These projects are worth over Rs 2,000 crore and involve modernization and redevelopment of 'ghats' and crematoriums, development of sewage infrastructure, afforestation, plantation of medicinal plants, drains, interceptors, trash skimmers and conservation of biodiversity to ensure clean and free flow of water in the River Ganges.
As Uma Bharati, the minister in-charge of this massive task has explained - it is a historic moment. The first phase would be over in October 2016 and, the second phase will be completed two years later. The program is entirely funded by the Centre, but work is being done with the cooperation of the concerned states.
These projects are in addition to the big projects involving the setting up of new sewage treatment plants (STPs) in various cities of UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Namami Gange to take off from next month with surface cleaning of 10 cities

#Namamigange #umabharati #Haridwar #varanasi The Namami Gange is to take off in real earnest from next month with surface cleaning of 10 cities - the initial task would be to begin surface cleaning of the River Ganga by removal of solid waste like clothes and parts of dead bodies. AS indicated by water resources minister Uma Bharati, the cities identified are Haridwar, Garhmukteshwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Sahibganj, Kolkata, Nabadwip and Gangasagar.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 24 December 2015.

As revealed by the minister, trial of surface cleaning has already been taken up in Varanasi by Tata Projects Ltd under corporate social responsibility scheme. NTPC, ONGC and Petronet have also expressed willingness to fund the project.
Regarding progress of sewage treatment under Namami Gange, the minister has informed that 29 projects have been completed at a cost of Rs 463.58 crore with the treatment capacity of 123 million litres per day (MLD) and sewer network of 666.69 km. A total of 93 projects have been sanctioned at the cost of Rs 1,502.66 crore. Once complete, it will result in the creation of treatment capacity of 858 MLD and sewer network of 3,623.10 km.
On the subject of progress in river front/ghat development projects, it seems development of four ghats out of 20 in Patna was completed last month and work at Chandighat (Haridwar), Chhath Ghat (Delhi) and Sahibganj will start next month.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Cleaning the Ganga is no joke – 118 towns selected to ensure 500-meters litter free banks

#umabharati #cleanganga #litterfree The length of the River Ganges is 2525-Km and, in order to implement the Ganga clean-up mission, a decision has been taken by the authorities to ensure that 500-meters along the banks of the river in 118 towns be kept litter free. This would mean that a total of 59-Km of the banks out of a total of 2525-Km would be kept litter free.
An added incentive – local unemployed youth would be employed to ensure that the stretch of 500-meers is kept litter free.
This would be great news because it would mean that not only has the work of Ganga clean-up been quantified but, action has been started and, gradually, the whole 2525-Km would get covered under the campaign.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 19 April 2015.

This would be a part of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) which is an autonomous body under the ministry of water resources. It would enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with each of the 118 urban local bodies from the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Water resources minister Uma Bharti has listed out the objectives of the move and has admitted that the task of cleaning the Ganga was an arduous and complex affair but certainly not impossible.
Uma Bharati has also revealed that her ministry had contacted countries like Germany, Australia, China, Nepal and Bangladesh for cooperation and technological help. But, she has also added that cleaning of the Ganga cannot be modeled on rivers of foreign countries because the Ganga has "cultural and religious significance".

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