Lok Sabha Question No. 245 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-06
Subject: Ganga Rejuvenation
Ministry: WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANAGA REJUVENATION
Asked by: KAUSHAL KISHORE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES,

RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION

**LOK SABHA**

**STARRED QUESTION NO  †*245.**

ANSWERED ON 06.08.2015

**Ganga Rejuvenation**

†*245. SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE

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

(a) whether the Government proposes to make Rejuvenation of Ganga, a people centric movement and encourage their participation especially those living on the banks of the Ganga and nearby areas;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the modalities worked out for the purpose;

(c) the names of the rivers which are being cleaned and developed including the details of works undertaken for the purpose so far, River-wise;

(d) the details of the programmes undertaken by the Government to create awareness amongst the people living on the banks of the rivers to keep the rivers clean; and

(e) the funds allocated and utilized for the purpose so far?

## ANSWER

The MiniSTER of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

(Sushri UMA BHARTI)

(a) to (e)       A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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**Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.245 to be answered on Thursday, the 6** **th** **August, 2015 on ‘Gange Rejuvenation” raised by Shri Kaushal Kishore**

(a), (b) & (d)	Yes, Madam. The Government proposes to encourage public participation especially those living on the banks of the Ganga and nearby areas in its efforts to Rejuvenate Ganga. As per the Cabinet approval Namami Gange Programme envisages, among other activities, channelizing volunteer action in an institutional manner. Clean Ganga Fund, a platform for receiving contributions from NRIs and all other citizens has also been operational for enhanced people participation. Apart from this, various stakeholders are being consulted on a periodic basis for arriving at a generally acceptable and efficient project implementation plan. For creating awareness among common public, various communication and public outreach activities are planned. Some of the activities undertaken till date include:

1. **A one-day national dialogue on Ganga Rejuvenation** , ‘Ganga Manthan’ was organized on 7 th July 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Over 500 participants comprising spiritual leaders, environmentalists, scientists, academicians and technocrats, water conservationists, NGOs, policy makers, public representatives & administrators participated in this nationwide people participation program. The deliberations in Ganga Manthan triggered many ideas that guided the formulation of Namami Gange Programme.

ii. **A one-day dialogue on Industrial Pollution** was conducted on 8 th of October 2014 which facilitated a specific consultation with Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) located in five states along the main stem of Ganga river. Over 500 members from industrial associations, senior government officials, and Hon’ble Ministers from key ministries involved in Ganga rejuvenation attended the consultation.

iii. **Nirmal Ganga Sahbhagita:** National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) launched                     ‘Nirmal Ganga Sahbhagita’ on 18 th April 2015 at INSA Auditorium, New Delhi. The event marked the beginning of a sustainable partnership with 118 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) located along the river for the cherished objective of a Clean Ganga. The event was jointly organized by National Mission for Clean Ganga and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA). Officials and elected representatives from ULBs from the four basin States in Ganga Basin (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand) participated in the event.

iv. 	A project for Educating Schools and Communities for conserving habitat of Ganga River Dolphin (100% central share) is being implemented with a  budget of Rs. 1.28 Crore and an expenditure of               Rs. 31.36 lakhs has been incurred so far.

v.	State Project Monitoring Groups (SPMGs) have been advised to involve the locals of the area in execution and monitoring of the projects undertaken by them.

vi	A memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with the **Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan** (NYKS) for enhanced people participation.

vii      Under Namami Gange programme, an **Eco Task Force** is being raised which will be primarily manned by ex-servicemen living on banks of river Ganga to aid local participation.

viii. 	To take up awareness creation in a holistic manner, a communication strategy has been prepared by professional agency.

(c)  	Apart from rejuvenation of river Ganga, Namami Gange Programme also cover all the tributaries of river Ganga under its action plan. Yamuna Action Plan (Yamuna), Gomti Action Plan (Gomti), Damodar Action Plan (Damodar) are already operational and work on Ramganga & Kali is under implementation.

(e) 	Under the cabinet approved Namami Gange Programme, Rs. 528 crore has been earmarked for Public Participation (including raising of Ganga Task Force) for 5 years (2015-2020). Amount spent  (upto 30 th June, 2015) is Rs. 91.75 lakhs.

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