A Holistic Approach for Cleanliness of River Ganga

Context: The National Ganga Plan has been allocated a financial outlay of ₹3,400 crore for the year 2025-26.

Cleanliness of River Ganga: Namami Gange Programme and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• Launched In: 2014
• Under: Ministry of Jal Shakti

Objectives

• Pollution Abatement: Reducing industrial and domestic waste discharge into the Ganga.
• Conservation and Rejuvenation: Restoring the ecological health of the river and its tributaries.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting aquatic species like the Gangetic Dolphin.
• Public Participation: Encouraging community involvement and awareness.
• Afforestation and Riverfront Development: Enhancing riverbank green cover and improving infrastructure.

Implemented By

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was established in 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• The NMCG acts as the implementation arm of the National Ganga Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Progress

• A comprehensive total of 492 projects, valued at 40121.48 Crore, have been launched.
• Among these, 307 projects have reached completion and are now operational.
• An impressive 206 projects addressing Sewage Infrastructure have been set in motion.
• A substantial fund of 33003.63 Crore has been sanctioned for these sewage infrastructure projects.
• Of these, 127 sewerage projects have been successfully completed, playing a pivotal role in mitigating pollution.
• Additionally, 56 projects dedicated to Biodiversity & Afforestation have been undertaken.
• These projects have received a funding commitment of over ₹ 905.62 Crore.
• Notably, 39 projects focused on biodiversity and afforestation have been successfully concluded, augmenting the ecological equilibrium of the Ganga basin.

River Ganga

• The Ganga River basin is the largest in India, covering 27% of the country’s landmass.
• About 79% of the Ganga basin is in India.
  • The basin covers 11 states: Uttarakhand, U.P., M.P., Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Delhi.
• It supports approximately 47% of India’s population, making it a critical resource for livelihoods and agriculture.
• Around 57% of the basin is used for agriculture, while 3.47% is occupied by water bodies.
• Despite receiving 5% of the total precipitation in India, the Ganga River Basin remains the second most water-stressed basin after the Sabarmati Basin, with just 39% of the average per capita annual rainwater input among India’s major river basins.

Holistic Approaches to Clean Ganga

Pollution Control and Infrastructure Development

Construction of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and sewer networks under models like Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) and Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBOT).

• Establishment of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) to handle industrial discharge, such as Jajmau, Banther, and Mathura CETPs.
• Interception and diversion of drains like Durga Drain and Varuna tributary to prevent untreated sewage discharge.

Wastewater Reuse and Management

Development of a National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Water to guide states on economic models and sustainable practices.

• Introduction of a guidance handbook for policymakers and urban officials on treated water reuse.
• Encouraging municipal corporations to recycle treated water for non-potable uses (e.g., irrigation, industrial use).

Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation

Establishment of 7 Biodiversity Parks and protection of 5 priority wetlands to restore natural habitats.

• Conservation of aquatic species through projects like ranching 8 lakh Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings and improving the prey base for Gangetic dolphins.
• Implementation of a forestry intervention project afforesting 33,024 hectares along the Ganga.

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