Lok Sabha Question No. 1864 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-09
Subject: Funds for Namami Gange Programme
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Jugal Kishore Sharma, Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Riti Pathak, Geeta Kora, Raksha Nikhil Khadse

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †1864

ANSWERED ON 09.12.2021

## FUNDS FOR NAMAMI GANGE PROGRAMME

| †1864.   | SHRI JUGAL KISHORE SHARMA SHRIMATI RITI PATHAK SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE   | SHRI MANOJ KOTAK SHRIMATI GEETA KORA   |
|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that Namami Gange Programme has posted a landmark improvement since its launch in the year 2014 and if so, the details and the progress thereof;

(b) the details of funds allocated for the same and spent on ghat related works thereunder;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure optimum utilisation and monitoring of funds allocated; and (d) the details of the works completed on ghats under the programme till date?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)  Cleaning of rivers is a continuous process and Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries by providing financial and technical assistance under Namami Gange Programme. Under this Programme,a diverse set of interventionsfor  cleaning  and  rejuvenation  of  river  Ganga  has  been  taken  up  including  waste  water treatment, solid waste management, river front management (ghat and crematoria development), maintaining continuous flow, rural sanitation, afforestation, biodiversity conservation and public participation, etc.

Under the Namami Gange Programme, so far a total of 353 projects have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 30,458 crore, out of which 178 projects have been completed and made operational. 157 sewerage infrastructure projects from among these have been taken up with a sanctioned cost of Rs. 24,249 crore for creation & rehabilitation of 4952 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)  capacity  and  laying  of  around  5212  KM  sewerage  network,  out  of  which,  74  projects  have  been completed  resulting  in  creation  &  rehabilitation  of  1092  MLD  of  STP  capacity  and  laying  of  3752  KM sewerage network.

As per Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB's) water quality median data for 2021(January to May), the observed water quality of river Ganga indicates that Dissolved Oxygen (DO) which is an indicator of  river  health,  has  been  found  to  be  within  acceptable  limits  of  notified  primary  bathing  water  quality criteria across all 84 monitoring locations. Other important river health indicators, i.e. Biochemical Oxygen Demand  (BOD)  and  Faecal  Coliform (FC), have also been found to be within acceptable limits of notified

primary bathing water quality criteria across 68 monitoring locations (out of 84 locations) and 33 monitoring locations (out of 80 locations) respectively. As a result of multi sectoral interventions, the median values of these  water  quality  parameters  viz.,  Dissolved  Oxygen  (DO),  Biochemical  Oxygen  Demand  (BOD)  and Faecal  Coliform  (FC)  have  improved  at  40  locations,  41  locations  and  21  locations  respectively  in  2021 (January-May) as compared to 2014.

(b) The allocation under the Namami Gange Programme from Financial Year (FY) 2014-15 onwards till 31 st October 2021 is Rs.15,074.88 crore.

The Government of India releases funds to National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for the implementation  of  the  river  Ganga  rejuvenation  program.  Thereafter,  funds  are  released  by  NMCG  for implementation  of  the  said  programme.  From  the  financial  year  2014-15  onwards  till  31.10.2021, Government of India has released Rs.11,017.02 crore under the Namami Ganga Programme, which includes Rs.217.00  crore  under  Ghat  works.  NMCG  has  disbursed  Rs.171.32  crore  under  Ghat  works  to  States/ Executing agencies.

(c) The  Implementing  and  /or  Executive  Agencies  render  Utilization  Certificates/  Interim  Un-Audited Financial Reports, Monthly Expenditure Reports and other Reports from time to time. On the basis of these documents, the amount of funds utilized is being monitored by National Mission for Clean Ganga. Further, through  Public  Financial  Management  System  (PFMS),  the  funds  available  with  the  Implementing  and Executive Agencies can also be monitored. To ensure timely utilization of the funds by the States, NMCG has taken following steps:-

- (i) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has constituted Budget Review Committee and Audit Review Committee. Fourteen joint meetings of these Committees have been held so far.
- (ii) NMCG is ensuring that the fund demand is based on realistic assessment of expenditure linked to physical progress on the ground with a view to avoid unspent balances at the end of the financial years with the Executive and Implementing Agencies.
- (iii) NMCG  has  also  introduced  a  Monthly  Expenditure  Report  (MER)  from  all  State  Programme Management  Groups  (SPMGs),  wherein  the  expenditure  incurred  against  the  funds  available including balance at the end of the month are provided on a regular monthly basis.
- (iv) NMCG has put in place a robust mechanism for ensuring that the Utilization Certificates are rendered by  SPMGs and other  Executive  Agencies  on  a  quarterly  basis  for  bringing  a  greater  discipline  in Financial and Budgetary management matters.

(d) 61  projects  (including  one  river  front  development  project  in  Patna)  have  been  sanctioned  for construction  of  210  ghats  and  57  crematoria,  out  of  which,  173  ghats  and  45  crematoria  have  been completed.

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