Lok Sabha Question No. 3103 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Implementation of Arth Ganga Scheme and Development of Yamuna River Ghat near Kairana
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3103

ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTH GANGA SCHEME AND DEVELOPMENT OF YAMUNA RIVER GHAT NEAR KAIRANA

## 3103. MS IQRA CHOUDHARY

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the objectives and key components of the Arth Ganga Scheme under the Namami Gange Programme including details of its six verticals;

(b) whether the Government is planning to develop or rejuvenate the Yamuna River ghat near Kairana in Shamli  district,  Uttar  Pradesh  under  the  Arth  Ganga  Scheme,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor;

(c)  the  measures  taken  under  the  Arth  Ganga  Scheme  to  address  pollution  and  promote  sustainable economic activities along the Yamuna River including initiatives such as Natural Farming and Jalaj; (d) the steps taken to enhance public participation and empower local communities including the role of Ganga Praharis and initiatives like ImAvatar and CLAP in context of Yamuna River conservation; and (e) whether any monitoring mechanisms have been established to evaluate the scheme's effectiveness in promoting river conservation and economic development along the Yamuna River and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) Arth Ganga is a sustainable and viable economic development model to strengthen the river people connect through an economic bridge. Main pillars of Arth-Ganga include Promotion of Natural Framing; Monetisation  and  reuse  of  Treated  water  and  sludge  from  the  STPs;  Improvement  of  Livelihood opportunities and Promotion of Tourism & Cultural heritage.

(b) No  proposal  for  development  of  ghat  on  river  Yamuna  in  Kairana,  Shamli  District  is  under consideration in National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

(c) & (d) In order to address pollution and promote sustainable economic activities in the Ganga basin, NMCG has established  Jalaj  centres.  These  centres  promote  awareness  and  people  participation  with focus on economic activities for river rejuvenation.

NMCG has organized Natural Farming Farmers' Training workshops in coordination with Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare along the Ganga basin States.

NMCG has sanctioned a study project titled "Evaluation of Natural Farming practices on water and energy savings and Enhancement of Soil Fertility & Crop Productivity" to WALAMTARI (Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute), Andhra Pradesh to evaluate the impact of natural farming on water and energy usage, soil fertility, and crop productivity.

A  project  titled  'Exploration  of  Floral  Biodiversity  near  Ganga  Banks  for  Plant  Conservation, Training,  and  Economic  Development  of  the  Region'  has  been  sanctioned  to  Patanjali.  It  is  a comprehensive  initiative  aimed  at  documenting  and  conserving  the  biodiversity  of  the  Ganga  river ecosystem from Gaumukh (Uttarakhand) to Ganga Sagar (West Bengal).

Under the 'Jalaj: Connecting River and People to Realize Arth Ganga' project, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun has set up Jalaj centres on various models such as Dolphin Safaris, Homestays, Livelihood Centers, and Awareness & Sale Points etc, to promote eco-tourism, community participation, and conservation awareness.

NMCG has sanctioned a project titled 'Capacity Building Programme for Leveraging Community and  Local  Resources  Based  on  Technology'  to  Himalayan  Environmental  Studies  and  Conservation Organization (HESCO).  Under this one Arth Ganga Centre at Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and Three Ganga Resource  Centres  set  up  at  Prayagraj  (Uttar  Pradesh),  Digwara  (Bihar)  and  Sahebganj  (Jharkhand). Around 8,000 people were trained in FY 2024-25 by HESCO through various livelihood programs.

NMCG has published National Framework for 'Safe Reuse of Treated Water'. The framework gives guidelines  for  the  formulation  of  State  reuse  policy  and  is  intended  to  build  appropriate  market  and economic models for the reuse of treated wastewater. MoUs have been signed for reuse of treated water with Ministry of Power, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has mapped all Ganga  districts for documenting architectural, natural and intangible cultural heritage under their study.  A study has been commissioned for similar documentation for Yamuna basin.

In  order  to  enhance  public  participation  and  empower  local  communities,  NMCG  is  raising awareness  on  biodiversity  and  river  rejuvenation  through  Jalaj  centres  established  across  Ganga basin. These centres also promote awareness on Namami Gange interventions and provide market linkage to various Jalajs/ SHGs/ NGOs of Ganga basin. Ganga Praharis have been deployed as local community members trained as volunteers to protect and conserve the biodiversity and cleanliness of rivers in Ganga basin.

MoU was signed with ImAvatar for promoting Arth Ganga initiative with focus on livelihood and public participation.

Continuous Learning and Activity Portal (CLAP) was an interactive online platform developed with an  aim  to  provide  a  platform  for  knowledge  on  issues  related  to  the  environment,  water,  and  rivers through online quizzes and reference material.

Comprehensive public awareness campaigns have been undertaken to instill a sense of responsibility and  engagement  among  the  public  in  efforts  to  clean  and  conserve  the  Ganga  River.  These  include  Ganga Utsav, Nadi Utsav, regular cleanathons and plantation drives, Ghat Par Yoga, Ganga Aartis, etc. The efforts are also supported by dedicated cadres of Ganga saviours, such as Ganga Praharis, Ganga Vichar Manch, etc.

(e) The progress under various components of Arth Ganga is reviewed at various levels, including the Empowered Task Force chaired by Minister of Jal Shakti.

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