<p>Pushing for time-bound effort to stop pollution of the Ganga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said legal actions should be taken against polluting industrial units and suggested setting up of environment- friendly crematoria along the river in achieving the goal.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chairing a meeting here on Ganga-cleaning process called the 'Namaami Gange', he said, focus should primarily be on two main areas to check pollution at the source -- urban sewage and industrial effluents.<br /><br />"Ganga ko ganda na karen (Do not pollute the Ganga)," the Prime Minister emphasised at the meeting attended by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Road and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar, besides some top government officials.<br /><br />He called for time-bound, swift action and single-minded focus to stop pollution of the Ganga, a PMO statement said.<br /><br />The prime minister was briefed about critical hotspots where the Ganga is mostly polluted and the gaps in sewage treatment capacity were highlighted.<br /><br />Modi said industrial units should be motivated suitably to stop pollution, failing which action should be initiated within the framework of existing laws, the statement said.<br /><br />A total of 764 grossly-polluting industrial units have been identified along the stretch of the river, considered the lifeline of the country. Tanneries, pulp and paper and sugar industries account for over three-fourth of this number.<br /><br />Modi also emphasised the need to promote recycling of industrial waste water, the statement said.<br /><br />He also suggested exploring of the possibility of setting up modern, environment-friendly crematoria along the Ganga, through private initiatives and enterprises.<br /><br />The meeting was told that the concept of a network of volunteers to help end pollution of the river – 'Ganga Vahini' – has been approved and steps are being taken to operationalise this network.<br /><br />118 Urban Local Bodies have been identified to be covered within five years, in a targeted attempt to control pollution.<br /><br />The prime minister was also briefed on ongoing sewerage and riverfront development projects.</p>
<p>Pushing for time-bound effort to stop pollution of the Ganga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said legal actions should be taken against polluting industrial units and suggested setting up of environment- friendly crematoria along the river in achieving the goal.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Chairing a meeting here on Ganga-cleaning process called the 'Namaami Gange', he said, focus should primarily be on two main areas to check pollution at the source -- urban sewage and industrial effluents.<br /><br />"Ganga ko ganda na karen (Do not pollute the Ganga)," the Prime Minister emphasised at the meeting attended by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Road and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar, besides some top government officials.<br /><br />He called for time-bound, swift action and single-minded focus to stop pollution of the Ganga, a PMO statement said.<br /><br />The prime minister was briefed about critical hotspots where the Ganga is mostly polluted and the gaps in sewage treatment capacity were highlighted.<br /><br />Modi said industrial units should be motivated suitably to stop pollution, failing which action should be initiated within the framework of existing laws, the statement said.<br /><br />A total of 764 grossly-polluting industrial units have been identified along the stretch of the river, considered the lifeline of the country. Tanneries, pulp and paper and sugar industries account for over three-fourth of this number.<br /><br />Modi also emphasised the need to promote recycling of industrial waste water, the statement said.<br /><br />He also suggested exploring of the possibility of setting up modern, environment-friendly crematoria along the Ganga, through private initiatives and enterprises.<br /><br />The meeting was told that the concept of a network of volunteers to help end pollution of the river – 'Ganga Vahini' – has been approved and steps are being taken to operationalise this network.<br /><br />118 Urban Local Bodies have been identified to be covered within five years, in a targeted attempt to control pollution.<br /><br />The prime minister was also briefed on ongoing sewerage and riverfront development projects.</p>