Lok Sabha Question No. 485 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-04
Subject: Ganga Amantran Abhiyan
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Dhanush M Kumar, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Ganesan Selvam, C.N. Annadurai

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 485

ANSWERED ON 04.02.2021

## GANGA AMANTRAN ABHIY AN

## 485.         SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has launched an open water rafting expedition called the Ganga Amantran October 2019;

(b) if so, the details including salient features thereof;

(c) whether the Government expects the tourism and adventure sports in Ganga to increase in the coming y so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is considering any additional proposals to promote social awareness and participation in the rejuvenation of the river Ganga and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA )

(a)  &  (b)  Yes  Sir.  Ganga  Aamantran Abhiyan,  a  rafting  and  kayaking  expedition  on  the  Ganga  River Devprayag to Ganga Sagar, was organised between 10th October 2019 to 12th November 2019. The exp encompassed five Ganga basin States, i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and W est Bengal with stops at  34  locations  including  Rishikesh,  Haridwar,  Kanpur,  Allahabad,  Varanasi,  Patna,  Sonepur  and  K expedition was undertaken through an adventure sporting activity to connect people to the river an message of r iver rejuvenation & water conservation on a massive scale.

During  the  expedition,  public  awareness  campaigns  were  organised  and  interactions  with particular,  youth  and  students  of  the  village/city  made  on  the  various  locations  to  spread  the s age  of  river conservation.

(c) With the aim to integrate people's participation and economic development for Ganga rejuvenation with various stakeholders who have a key role to play in this initiative including Agriculture, Power, Tourism, er, AYUSH, Environment, Forest & Climate Change etc., NMCG is working in an integrated manner with con Ministries/Departments and Government agencies to boost economic activities and tourism in the river Ganga.

Documentation  of  intangible  cultural heritage  in  the  Ganga  basin  is  also  being  carried  out  by  INTACH, includes  inventorization  of  heritage  culture,  spirituality,  yoga/ayurveda/wellness,  eco - tourism,  cuisine,  fairs  & festivals, interpretation/ heritage walks as a part of the project.

(d) Namami Gange Programme is conceptualised not only as a sewerage infrastructure development progra but also includes components of Communication and Public Outreach which are important for its sustaina For this  purpose,  dedicated  voluntary  groups  like  Ganga  Vichar M nch,  Ganga  Doots,  Ganga  Prahari,  Ganga  Mitra including NCC, NSS, NYKS etc. at the grassroot level have been formed and their resources are channel engagement of the community and public at large.

Under  the  Namami Gange  Programme,  number  of  public  campaigns  and  events  are  organised Swachhta Pakhwada, Swachhta Hi Sewa, G anga Yatra, Rafting Expedition , Ganga Utsav, Plantation Drives, Ganga Run etc.

Mass Congregation of devotees on the occasion of Kumbh Mela, Magh Mela & Chhath Pooja etc. gives an opportunity to demonstrate and describe activities being undertaken in the p roject for awareness generation and public participation.

Online Quiz competition is also organised to enhance the knowledge and involvement of the students regarding Ganga and its ecosystem.