Namami Gange is 100% centrally funded. The intention is to “ramp up progress” of the Ganga clean-up mission. Misiion has been announced as an Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission in the Union Budget of 2014-15 with the aim of Ganga Rejuvenation i.e., restoration of the wholesomeness of the holy river.
47 TOWNS, 12 RIVERS
Covered under the project in 8 states. Dept of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation proposes to make 1,632 gram panchayats by the Ganga open defecation-free by 2022, at a cost of Rs 1,700 cr (central share). Several ministries such as Environment, Shipping, Urban Development, Tourism, Rural Development have been working with the nodal Water Resources Ministry to undertake projects.
47 TOWNS, 12 RIVERS
Covered under the project in 8 states. Dept of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation proposes to make 1,632 gram panchayats by the Ganga open defecation-free by 2022, at a cost of Rs 1,700 cr (central share). Several ministries such as Environment, Shipping, Urban Development, Tourism, Rural Development have been working with the nodal Water Resources Ministry to undertake projects.
PEOPLE-CENTRED
According to the government, a major change in implementation from earlier efforts will lie in the focus on involving people living on the river’s banks. States and grassroots institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions will be involved by implementing agency National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its state counterparts, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs)
According to the government, a major change in implementation from earlier efforts will lie in the focus on involving people living on the river’s banks. States and grassroots institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions will be involved by implementing agency National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its state counterparts, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs)
POLLUTION FOCUS
Pollution abatement interventions: Interception, diversion, treatment of waste water in drains through bio-remediation/ in-situ treatment/use of innovative technologies/sewage treatment plants/effluent treatment plants; immediate measures to arrest inflow of sewage; PPP/SPV approach for pollution hotspots; 4-battalion Territorial Army Ganga Eco-Task Force; possible new laws.
Alarming levels of pollution: A river is considered polluted when the Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BoD) level rises above 2mg/l. A recent Central Pollution Control Board report says about 2,300 km of Namami Gange rivers are polluted, including 550 km of Ganga, 667 km of Yamuna, 250 km of Gomti. Some 12,363 km of India’s 275 prominent rivers (including Namami Gange rivers) are polluted
WHAT ABOUT OTHER RIVERS?
Rs 1,500 cr were provisioned for NRCP in the 12th Plan, but only Rs 388.38 cr were provided in the first three years. For 2015-16, projected requirement for rivers other than Ganga and its tributaries was Rs 295 cr; only Rs 40 cr have been provided.
Earlier effort to clean Ganga
Ganga Action Plan Ph I & II:
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi launched Phase I in 1985, covering 25 Ganga towns in three states; Rs 862.59 crore were spent.
Phase II covered 59 towns in five states; Rs 505.31 cr were spent. Rivers such as Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar, Mahananda had separate action plans. No results were visible.
Mission Clean Ganga
"Mission Clean Ganga" project on 31st December, 2009 with the objective that by 2020, no municipal sewage and industrial waste would be released in the river without treatment, with the total budget of around Rs.15,000 crore.
NGRBA effort:
The Government also established the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), chaired by the Prime Minister, with the objective to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga, by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management.
Apart from this a clean ganga fund (GCF) was launched in September 2014. with voluntary contributions from residents of the country and Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) / Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and others to harness their enthusiasm to contribute towards the conservation of the river Ganga. The Fund will have the objective of contributing to the national effort of cleaning of the river Ganga. Domestic donors to the Fund shall be eligible for tax benefits as applicable in the case of the Swachh Bharat Kosh. The Fund would be managed by a Trust to be headed by Finance Minister. The secretariat of the Trust will be set up in Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Mission Director, Clean Ganga.
The main features of CGF are:
i. CGF will have the objective of contributing to the national effort of improving the cleanliness of the river Ganga with the contributions received from the residents of the country, NRIs/ PIO and others.
ii. CGF will be operated through a bank account by a Trust.
iii. Domestic donors to the fund shall be eligible for tax benefits as in the case of "Swachch Bharat Kosh". Foreign donors could get suitable tax exemptions in domestic law, wherever permissible.
iv. CGF will explore the possibility of setting up daughter funds in other jurisdictions/countries of high donor interest such as USA, UK, Singapore, UAE, etc. to enable tax benefits to donors in their respective jurisdictions.
v. CGF will be catalytic in nature and will identify and fund specific projects which could be pilot projects, R&D projects, innovative projects or other focused projects. The Fund will define specific and measurable objectives to form the basis for planning, funding, and evaluation.
vi. Broad activities proposed to be financed from CGF include, inter alia, Activities outlined under the 'Namami Gange' programme for cleaning of river Ganga; control of non-point pollution from agricultural runoff, human defecation, cattle wallowing etc.; setting up of waste treatment and disposal plants along the river around the cities; conservation of the biotic diversity of the river; community based activities to reduce polluting human interface with the river; Development of public amenities including activities such as Ghat redevelopment; R&D and innovative projects; Research and Development projects and innovative projects for new technology and processes for cleaning Ganga; independent oversight through intensive monitoring and real time reporting; any other activity as approved by Governing Council. This is an indicative list and can be expanded within the overall objective by the Governing Council. The Fund shall not be utilised for activities such as dredging.
vii. CGF will be subject to such audit as required by law as well as audit by any agency determined by Government. CGF would be administered by a Trust to be chaired by Finance Minister and upto 8 members from different fields including NRIs, nominated by the Government. Secretary (Economic Affairs), Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs), Secretary (Environment, Forest and Climate Changes) and Secretary (Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) will be members. The CEO of the Fund will be the Member Secretary of the Trust. Two Secretaries from the concerned state governments shall be additional members on a rotation basis. Government may also nominate experts and / or persons of eminence in public life as expert invitees. The Secretariat of the Governing Council shall be set up in Ministry of Water Resources. The Mission Director shall be the CEO of the Fund unless a separate CEO is appointed.
The following broad activities will be financed from the Fund:
(a) Activities outlined under the ‘Namami Gange’ programme for cleaning of river Ganga.
(b) Control of non-point pollution from agricultural runoff, human defecation, cattle wallowing, etc.
(c) Setting up of waste treatment and disposal plants along the river around the cities.
(d) Conservation of the biotic diversity of the river.
(e) Community based activities to reduce polluting human interface with the river.
(f) Development of public amenities including activities such as Ghat redevelopment.
(g) Research and Development and innovative projects.
(h) Research and Development projects and innovative projects for new technology and processes for cleaning the river.
(i) Independent oversight through intensive monitoring and real time reporting.
(j) Any other activity as approved by the Trust.
Pollution abatement interventions: Interception, diversion, treatment of waste water in drains through bio-remediation/ in-situ treatment/use of innovative technologies/sewage treatment plants/effluent treatment plants; immediate measures to arrest inflow of sewage; PPP/SPV approach for pollution hotspots; 4-battalion Territorial Army Ganga Eco-Task Force; possible new laws.
Alarming levels of pollution: A river is considered polluted when the Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BoD) level rises above 2mg/l. A recent Central Pollution Control Board report says about 2,300 km of Namami Gange rivers are polluted, including 550 km of Ganga, 667 km of Yamuna, 250 km of Gomti. Some 12,363 km of India’s 275 prominent rivers (including Namami Gange rivers) are polluted
WHAT ABOUT OTHER RIVERS?
Rs 1,500 cr were provisioned for NRCP in the 12th Plan, but only Rs 388.38 cr were provided in the first three years. For 2015-16, projected requirement for rivers other than Ganga and its tributaries was Rs 295 cr; only Rs 40 cr have been provided.
Earlier effort to clean Ganga
Ganga Action Plan Ph I & II:
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi launched Phase I in 1985, covering 25 Ganga towns in three states; Rs 862.59 crore were spent.
Phase II covered 59 towns in five states; Rs 505.31 cr were spent. Rivers such as Yamuna, Gomti, Damodar, Mahananda had separate action plans. No results were visible.
Mission Clean Ganga
"Mission Clean Ganga" project on 31st December, 2009 with the objective that by 2020, no municipal sewage and industrial waste would be released in the river without treatment, with the total budget of around Rs.15,000 crore.
NGRBA effort:
The Government also established the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), chaired by the Prime Minister, with the objective to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga, by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management.
Apart from this a clean ganga fund (GCF) was launched in September 2014. with voluntary contributions from residents of the country and Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) / Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and others to harness their enthusiasm to contribute towards the conservation of the river Ganga. The Fund will have the objective of contributing to the national effort of cleaning of the river Ganga. Domestic donors to the Fund shall be eligible for tax benefits as applicable in the case of the Swachh Bharat Kosh. The Fund would be managed by a Trust to be headed by Finance Minister. The secretariat of the Trust will be set up in Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation under the Mission Director, Clean Ganga.
The main features of CGF are:
i. CGF will have the objective of contributing to the national effort of improving the cleanliness of the river Ganga with the contributions received from the residents of the country, NRIs/ PIO and others.
ii. CGF will be operated through a bank account by a Trust.
iii. Domestic donors to the fund shall be eligible for tax benefits as in the case of "Swachch Bharat Kosh". Foreign donors could get suitable tax exemptions in domestic law, wherever permissible.
iv. CGF will explore the possibility of setting up daughter funds in other jurisdictions/countries of high donor interest such as USA, UK, Singapore, UAE, etc. to enable tax benefits to donors in their respective jurisdictions.
v. CGF will be catalytic in nature and will identify and fund specific projects which could be pilot projects, R&D projects, innovative projects or other focused projects. The Fund will define specific and measurable objectives to form the basis for planning, funding, and evaluation.
vi. Broad activities proposed to be financed from CGF include, inter alia, Activities outlined under the 'Namami Gange' programme for cleaning of river Ganga; control of non-point pollution from agricultural runoff, human defecation, cattle wallowing etc.; setting up of waste treatment and disposal plants along the river around the cities; conservation of the biotic diversity of the river; community based activities to reduce polluting human interface with the river; Development of public amenities including activities such as Ghat redevelopment; R&D and innovative projects; Research and Development projects and innovative projects for new technology and processes for cleaning Ganga; independent oversight through intensive monitoring and real time reporting; any other activity as approved by Governing Council. This is an indicative list and can be expanded within the overall objective by the Governing Council. The Fund shall not be utilised for activities such as dredging.
vii. CGF will be subject to such audit as required by law as well as audit by any agency determined by Government. CGF would be administered by a Trust to be chaired by Finance Minister and upto 8 members from different fields including NRIs, nominated by the Government. Secretary (Economic Affairs), Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs), Secretary (Environment, Forest and Climate Changes) and Secretary (Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) will be members. The CEO of the Fund will be the Member Secretary of the Trust. Two Secretaries from the concerned state governments shall be additional members on a rotation basis. Government may also nominate experts and / or persons of eminence in public life as expert invitees. The Secretariat of the Governing Council shall be set up in Ministry of Water Resources. The Mission Director shall be the CEO of the Fund unless a separate CEO is appointed.
The following broad activities will be financed from the Fund:
(a) Activities outlined under the ‘Namami Gange’ programme for cleaning of river Ganga.
(b) Control of non-point pollution from agricultural runoff, human defecation, cattle wallowing, etc.
(c) Setting up of waste treatment and disposal plants along the river around the cities.
(d) Conservation of the biotic diversity of the river.
(e) Community based activities to reduce polluting human interface with the river.
(f) Development of public amenities including activities such as Ghat redevelopment.
(g) Research and Development and innovative projects.
(h) Research and Development projects and innovative projects for new technology and processes for cleaning the river.
(i) Independent oversight through intensive monitoring and real time reporting.
(j) Any other activity as approved by the Trust.
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