Lok Sabha Question No. 4666 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-30
Subject: Ganga Rejuvenation Plan
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI, M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4666

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2017

## GANGA REJUVENATION PLAN

## 4666.          SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI SHRI M.B. RAJESH

Will the Minister of WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  launched  Ganga  Rejuvenation  Plan  simultaneously  at  104  locations  across five river basin States and if so, the details and the current status thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  sanctioned  about  Rs.  20,000  crore  for  the  purpose  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

(c) the total allocation made and expenditure incurred on its cleaning so far; and

(d) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to ensure that the sanctioned funds are utilized judiciously and results are achieved as per plan including the further steps proposed to be taken for cleaning of the river in the stipulated time?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SHRI VIJAY GOEL)

(a) The Government has launched certain short-term and medium term activities on 7 th July, 2016 under Namami  Gange  Programme.  These  activities  pertain  to  modernization  and/or  development  of  ghats, Crematoria,  setting  up  biodiversity  centers,  deploying  trash  skimmers  for  river  surface  cleaning,  setting  up sewage treatment plants, sewage pumping stations, fisheries centre, pilot projects for in-situ treatment of waste water in drains, ghat cleaning, medicinal plantations, afforestation etc. under Namami Gange Programme to be taken  in  various  towns  along  Ganga  and  its  tributaries.  A  total  of  123  Ghats,  65  Crematoria,  8  sewage infrastructure and 35 other projects have been taken up and are at different stages of execution/tendering. The target set for completion of these projects range between 18 months to 24 months.

(b) The programme has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for Ganga Rejuvenation under Namami Gange Programme.

(c) An amount of Rs. 1,529.60 crore has been spent against the allocated budget of Rs. 5,378.00 crore from 2014-15 to 2016-17 (till 28.02.2017).

(d) In order to ensure timely implementation of projects following steps are taken:

- Bottlenecks which delay the project implementation have been sorted out with increased co-ordination with the state governments and their agencies.
- Project Management Consultants/Supervision Consultants are appointed at project level for effective monitoring and supervision of projects;
- Monthly progress report and Quarterly reporting of project progress are ensured.
- Regular site visits by NMCG officials are carried out to revise the progress and address the issues if any.
- The  Union  cabinet  has  approved  "The  River  Ganga  (Rejuvenation,  Protection  and  Management) Authorities Order, 2016" where a new institutional structure, national level, state level and district level for  policy  making  and  implementation  in  fast  track  manner.  It  also  empowers  National  Mission  for Clean Ganga to discharge its functions in an independent and accountable manner through an order under the Environment Protection Act, 1986

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