'Namami Gange' programme to commence tomorrow

The Modi Government will commence execution of its ambitious 'Namami Gange' programme tomorrow with the launch of 300 projects including those of STP installations aiming to clean the holy river and ensuring its unfettered flow.

The projects on entry-level activities such as ghat and crematoria construction/repair, river front beautification, installation and repair of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and others work will be launched simultaneously from over 104 locations initially in all five basin states of Ganga.

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharti, Narendra Tomar and Mahesh Sharma will launch the works in Haridwar during an event, which will also be attended by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

"It is a historic moment... for the first time the river is being cleaned with wholesomeness. We will show phase I of Ganga cleaning in October 2016, while the second phase will be completed two years later," Bharti told reporters here.
She said tomorrow the government will also launch an application to monitor level of pollution in the river.

Gadkari and newly-appointed Ministers of State for Water Resources, Vijay Goel and Sanjeev Balyan, were also present during the briefing.

Transport Minister Gadkari said it is "satisfactory" that the government is going to begin the work tomorrow. He asserted the projects are being launched after conducting detailed scientific study and will involve use of "best of the world" technologies to ensure river pollution is averted.

Referring to 'Moksha Dham' works, which relate to construction/repair of crematoria located along the river, Gadkari said the projects will be implemented without hurting public sentiments attached to the holy river even as air and water pollution is kept under check.

He also rejected claims that the programme works are taking off late, saying he was "rather surprised" the projects are being launched "within such a short span" notwithstanding complexity involved in it.

Meanwhile, on asked about Balyan and Goel joining the Water Resources Ministry following expansion of Union Ministerial Council yesterday, Bharti said she was "waiting for the appointments to happen for many days".

She hoped their joining the ministry will "increase pace of work" in the Ministry which handles crucial subjects of river-linking and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojana (PMKYS) besides the Namami Gange programme and "alleviate the burden".

"We were waiting for MoS for many days. Sanjeev Balyan is an expert of agriculture. We are implementing PMKYS (irrigation scheme), river-linking and Ganga mission which are big     projects.

"These can't be achieved without these MoS. Hence, their joining ministry will increase the speed and our burden will be shared. We were working with pace, but the burden will be shared," she added.

On the issue of tanneries, sugar mills, distilleries and other industrial units in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur adding to pollution level in the river, Gadkari said the government has studied the problem and drafted detailed project reports (DPR) in its bid to tackle the same.

"The issue has been studied and DPR have been prepared to tackle the same. The schemes have been worked out with co-operation of states, taking them into confidence," he said.

Gadkari also made a strong pitch for recycling waste water from industries located along Ganga to ensure pollution is curbed and cited example of how drainage water is treated and used again in his hometown Nagpur.

He said that DPR for STPs is ready and tenders in this regard will be floated "soon".
About his ministry envisaging waterways projects in Ganga, Gadkari said the work is on in the river's 1620-km stretch between Varanasi and Haldia where adequate water flow is available to transport ships.

He informed the government will construct 45 water ports with RoRo (roll-on roll-off) services at five places including Patna and Sahibganj.

To another question, both Gadkari and Bharti said the government has been executing the projects with co-operation of five basin states - four of which are ruled by parties other than BJP.

"The programme is funded entirely by Centre, but we are working with co-operation with states concerned," Bharti said.

The new Ganga Act too, she added, will be drafted with consultations with state.

Bharti also said the government is for embracing Punjab's Seechewal model of waste water management to make villages located along Ganga open defecation free.
The Ministers also insisted on community participation in cleaning the river.