Nilanjan
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is a flagship programme of the Government of India that aims to achieve effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga and its tributaries. The NMCG is the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. The NMCG operates under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and is headed by a Director General1.
The NMCG has been implementing various projects related to sewage management, riverfront development, biodiversity conservation, afforestation, public awareness and capacity building in the Ganga basin. The NMCG has so far sanctioned a total of 452 projects worth around ₹38,126 crore out of which 254 have been completed2.
In its 50th meeting held on 9th July 2023, the executive committee of the NMCG approved seven projects worth ₹692 crore2. Out of these, four projects pertain to sewage management in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which are the two most populous and polluted states in the Ganga basin. These projects are expected to create additional sewage treatment capacity of 165 million litres per day (MLD) and prevent untreated sewage from entering the river2.
The details of the four sewage management projects are as follows:
- Creation of a 100 MLD STP in Lucknow along with interception and diversion (I&D) works under hybrid annuity mode (HAM). The project cost is ₹442.64 crore and the operation and maintenance period is 15 years2.
- Creation of a 30 MLD STP in Varanasi along with I&D works under HAM. The project cost is ₹115.62 crore and the operation and maintenance period is 15 years2.
- Creation of a 25 MLD STP in Chunar along with I&D works under HAM. The project cost is ₹103.48 crore and the operation and maintenance period is 15 years2.
- Creation of a 10 MLD STP in Buxar along with I&D works under HAM. The project cost is ₹30 crore and the operation and maintenance period is 15 years2.
The other three projects approved by the NMCG are related to river surface cleaning, ghat development and research studies. These are:
- Installation of trash skimmers at Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Mathura-Vrindavan, Haridwar and Rishikesh for river surface cleaning. The project cost is ₹11.73 crore and the duration is two years2.
- Development of ghats at Bithoor in Kanpur under Namami Gange programme. The project cost is ₹26.19 crore and the duration is two years2.
- Research study on assessment of environmental flows for different stretches of Ganga river by IIT Roorkee. The project cost is ₹4.96 crore and the duration is one year2.
These projects are expected to improve the water quality, aesthetics, biodiversity and socio-economic aspects of the Ganga river and its basin. They are also expected to generate employment opportunities, enhance tourism potential and create awareness among the public about the importance of river conservation.
The NMCG has been working with various stakeholders such as central and state governments, local bodies, civil society organisations, academic institutions, private sector and international agencies to achieve its objectives. The NMCG has also been promoting public participation through various initiatives such as Ganga Quest, Ganga Utsav, Ganga Amantran Abhiyan, Ganga Praharis, Ganga Vichar Manch and Ganga Doots1.
The NMCG has been making steady progress towards its vision of restoring the glory of the Ganga river as a symbol of faith, culture, heritage and ecology. The approval of seven new projects worth ₹692 crore is another step towards achieving this vision.
If you want to know more about the NMCG and its activities, you can visit its official website here. You can also follow its social media handles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and [YouTube] for regular updates.
I hope this blog has helped you to understand how the NMCG is working towards making the Ganga river clean and rejuvenated. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
