Lok Sabha Question No. 2096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Utilisation of Funds for Ganga River Cleaning
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: ANJU BALA, B. SREERAMULU, Tejpratap Singh,Yadav

2096.

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

## LOK SABHA UN STARRED QUESTION NO. 2096

ANSWERED ON 08.0 3.201 8

## UTILISATION OF FUNDS FOR GANGA RIVER CLEA NING

SHRIMATI ANJU BALA SHRI B. SRIRAMULU SHRI TEJ PRATAP SINGH YADAV

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

(a) whether the Government has constituted a committee of secretaries to expedite the cleaning Ganga River and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is true that about 20% of Rs. 3,700 crore funds allocated in the first tw programme were not utilised and if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken to Ganga river cleaning programme;

(c ) whether the National Council for River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) NCRG  has  become  fully  operational  after  the  transfer  of  National  Ganga  River  Basin  Au (NGRBA) to the ministry and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) th e steps being taken by the Government to expedite the cleaning of rivers across the to address the concerns of National Green Tribunal in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES, RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION & HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

( DR. SATYA PAL SINGH )

(a) A  Group  of  Secretaries  (GoS)  from  key  Ministries  comprising  of  Water  Resources, Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Urban Developmen Drinking  Water  and  S anitation,  Rural  Development,  Tourism,  and  Shipping  had  worked  toget during 2014 - 15  to  develop  a  comprehensive  action  plan  for  Ganga  Rejuvenation.  One  High  L Task Force (HLTF) on Ganga has been constituted under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secre to facilitate interaction among Ministries/Departments and State Governments and to ensure coordination and implementation of the programme. Government of India has constituted Empo Task  Force  (ETF)  in  2016  on  river  Ganga  under  the  chairman ship  of  Union  Minister  for  Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation consisting of Secretary of concerned Min and Chief Secretary of states and CEO, Niti Aayog.

(b)An amount of Rs. 773.59 crore has been released by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) against  Rs.  1,958  crore  provided  by  Government  of  India  during  the  Financial  Year  2014 - 15  and 2015- 16.The physical progress has not been commensurate with the financial targets fixed, b f the fact that in initial phase, pace of expenditure was slow as proper planning was need the projects in a scientific and planned manner. Pace of expenditure would increase with the large number of projects sanctioned in recent times.

(c) With the constitution of NMCG as an Authority in terms of order dated 7.10.2016, the Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has been dissolved. The said order provides for a N Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga, also called as National Ganga Council  under  the  chairmanship  of  the  Prime  Minister,  with  representation  of  Union  Min concerned departments and Chief Ministers of the five Ganga States besides others.

(d) Certain measures have been initiated to expedite the implementation process. National missi Clean Ganga have been restructured and strengthened recently so that it is empowered to di functions  in  an  independent  and  accountable  manner  and  also  to  sanction  and  comple te  various projects on fast track. Under Namami Gange Programme, provision has been kept for long te -15 years) operation & maintenance of the assets created so as to ensure that the asset permanent and operate in a sustainable manner. Re gular monitoring of these projects is being done NMCG. Reviews are being held up with State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs)/ Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) on regular basis to expedite these projects and to co the direction of N ational Green Tribunal (NGT). In segment A of Ganga (as per NGT), all the pr related to STPs have been sanctioned.

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