Namami Gange: Nine New Projects For Ganga Basin Rejuvenation And Ghat Development In Various States

The Namami Gange Executive Committee has approved nine projects, worth over Rs 1,278 crore focusing on controlling pollution, rejuvenation and development of the river stretches passing through various states.  

Out of these projects, seven projects are for the abatement of pollution in the river basin, while two projects have been approved for development of ghats.

The decision was taken during the 47th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the chairmanship of NMCG director general, G Asok Kumar.

The 2,520-km-long Ganga flows through major cities, and since 2014, the government through its Namami Gange Programme, has introduced various initiatives towards reviving the river conditions.

Ghat Development Projects

For ghat development, the executive committee approved one project worth Rs 2.84 crore at the Nageshwar Dham Ashram Ghat in Fatehpur.

Additionally, in Bihar, a project for the development of Atal Ghat in Saran was also approved at an estimated cost of Rs 10.04 crore. 

The project includes development of the ghat area for bathing, space and arrangements for pooja and other religious ceremonies, along with additional facilities for drinking water, flood lights, landscaping and segregated waste dustbins.

The significance of the river Ganga in Hindu traditions connects the population with the river at several important stages of their life.

These includes specific practices, be it the anointment of a newborn with the river’s holy water, wedding ceremonies, cremations at its banks, along with numerous other cultural, regional and livelihood traditions.

With these significant practices, the development of ghats have always been a natural answer in improving the human engagement with the river. These ghats additionally serve as popular tourist attractions.  

Controlling Pollution In The River And Its Tributaries

In the main stem of river Ganga, a project in West Bengal worth Rs 123.02 crore has been approved for creation of a 13 MLD STP and a 300 kilolitre per day (KLD) decentralised STP at Chakdaha Municipal Town.

In Uttar Pradesh, three projects worth Rs 422 crore were approved. These include a project for intercepting and redirecting 13 drains through increased treatment capacity of Salori STP, in Prayagraj, by 43 MLD.

Another project worth Rs 95.47 crore has been approved for the rejuvenation of Kali River. This will be done by development of in-situ constructed Wetland Systems at eight locations in Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Hapur and Bulandshahar.

In Bihar, project worth Rs 94.12 crore has been approved for the development of two STPs for pollution abatement in the river stretch in Lakhisarai town.

For Madhya Pradesh, two projects were placed before the Executive Committee for approval. Out of these, a major project costing Rs 511.15 crore was approved. This project will keep a check on pollution levels of the urban rivers Kahn and Saraswati, passing in Indore. 

The proposed projects will have construction of STPs of varied capacities — 120 MLD, 40 MLD and 35 MLD. An important component of this project is the creation of treated water reuse network with the 120 MLD and 35 MLD capacity STPs. 

The other proposed project in the state is the construction of a 22 MLD STP and 2.35 MLD Effluent Treatment Plant in Ujjain town for treating effluents in the Kshipra river.

The river acts as a major source of water for the town and surrounding regions in the state. This project, however, was referred for further clarification.

Furthermore, the meeting also finalised projects for the monitoring of industrial pollution, through the project titled- Pollution Inventorisation, Assessment and Surveillance on River Ganga Basin (PIAS), piloted by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

A special first of its kind project, worth Rs 1.9 crore, titled- Survey, Investigation for Rejuvenation and Conservation of Shahdara Drain with nature-based treatment — Soil Biotechnology (SBT), was also moved forward with the meeting.

The Namami Gange Programme is a flagship initiative of the Union Government and was implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga.

Recently the second phase of the mission was approved till the year 2026. (more on it here)