Lok Sabha Question No. 394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-02-25
Subject: Cleaning of Ganga
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL, KIRRON KHER, SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, GANESH SINGH, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, V. SATHYABAMA, MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, SAUGATA ROY, JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, DEVAJIBHAI GOVINDBHAI FATEPARA, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB, NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN, S. RAJENDRAN, INNOCENT, JAGDAMBIKA PAL, ARJUN RAM  MEGHWAL, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN, ABHISHEK SINGH, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 394

ANSWERED ON 25.02.2016

## CLEANING OF GANGA

| 394. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA    | DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE   |
|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL | SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER         |
| SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE         | SHRI GANESH SINGH            |
| SHRIRAHUL SHEWALE          | SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA      |
| SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN  | PROF. SAUGATA ROY            |
| SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY    | SHRI DEVAJIBHAI G. FATEPARA  |
| SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB    | SHRINAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN   |
| SHRI S. RAJENDRAN          | SHRI INNOCENT                |
| SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL        | SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL           |
| SHRI K. N. RAMACHANDRAN    | SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH          |
| SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT  | SHRI KESHAV PRASAD MAURYA    |

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

- (a) the details of schemes/programmes implemented to clean river Ganga along  with their salient features/objectives including the quantum of funds allocated/ released/spent under each of them, so far, since inception;
- (b) the extent of pollution in river Ganga before and after implementation of such programmes at various  places  along  with  the  main  sources  responsible  for  its  pollution  by  indicating  action taken against offenders;
- (c) whether the Government has recently created any Ganga Task Force to check pollution in the said  river  and  make  people  aware  about  the  same  by  hiring  an  army  battalion  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether more battalions are likely to be engaged for the purpose and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  the  further  measures  taken/to  be  taken  to  check  pollution  including  discharge  of  industrial effluents in Ganga and Yamuna and to make them pollution free at the earliest?

## ANSWER

THE  HON'BLE  MINISTER  FOR  WATER  RESOURCES,  RIVER  DEVELOPMENT  AND GANGA REJUVENATION (SUSHRI UMA BHARTI)

(a) Cleaning of river Ganga was initiated in 1985 under Ganga Action Plan (GAP). The Phase-I of GAP was launched as a centrally funded scheme in 1985 and later GAP Phase-II was  initiated in 1993. Various pollution  abatement schemes  including interception  &  diversion  of  sewage  and  setting  up  of  sewage  treatment  plants  were taken up under the GAP. Under both phases of GAP, a total of 575 schemes have been sanctioned  for  undertaking  pollution  abatement  activities  in  the  identified  polluted stretches of the river  Ganga, of which 524 schemes with a capacity to treat pollution load of 1098 million litres per day (mld) have been established. A total STP capacity of 869 mld and 229 mld has been established under GAP-I and II respectively.

The Central Government set up the 'National Ganga River Basin Authority' (NGRBA) in 2009 as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the  Ganga  River,  to  ensure  effective  abatement  of  pollution  and  conservation  of  the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning. Cabinet approved the Namami Gange program on 13th May, 2015 as a comprehensive approach to rejuvenate the river Ganga and all tributaries under one umbrella.

The total expenditure under the GAP Phase - I & II is Rs. 938.57 crore till 31st March, 2013.  Under  NGRBA,  an  additional  amount  of  Rs.  1177.64  crore  was  spent  till 31.03.2015.  A  sum  of  Rs.  760.00  crore  has  been  spent  till  31.10.2015,  out  of  the allocation of Rs. 2750 crore for 2015-16.

(b) Central Pollution Control Board and its state counterparts, the State Pollution Control Boards monitor the quality of water in the river Ganga at various monitoring locations. The  pollution  levels  in  the  river  did  not  show  desired  improvement  under  GAP.  The CPCB has identified 764 grossly polluting industries, 727 of these have been inspected. After inspections, directions were issued to 210 units; including closure of 65 units.  57 of  these  closed  units  have  since  complied  with  the  directions  and  they  have  been allowed to operate.  8 units are still closed.

(c) & (d) Yes, Madam. Ministry of Defence, vide its letter dated 12 th December 2014, has approved raising of 4 Battalions of Composite Eco Task force named as Ganga Task Force in principle.  The Ganga Task Force shall be responsible for i) plantation of trees in  upper  reaches  and  banks  of  Ganga,  ii)  strengthening  of  pollution  monitoring mechanism  on  the  ground,  iii)  management  of  public  awareness  and  participation programmes,  and  (iv)  assistance  in  management  of  Ghats  especially  during  major congregations.

One  regular  battalion  of  Territorial  Army  has  been  formed  and  it  has  reported  in Allahabad and has been trained in plantation, afforestation and preparatory activities.

(e) In addition, the Government is taking strict action against the polluters by imposing penalties and even cancelling the permits of polluting units .

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