NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA

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Main Examination: General Studies-3

(Environment protection)

Why inNews?

  • Recently, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) of the Ministry of Jal Shakti approved eight projects worth Rs 638 crore.

Key Facts :

  • These projects include rejuvenation of the Hindon River, a tributary of the Yamuna, whose stretch is one of the most polluted in the country.
  • The clean-up includes four projects worth ₹407.39 crore approved to reduce pollution in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district.
  • A project for the development of seven ghats in Prayagraj was also approved by the Executive Committee of NMCG as part of preparations for Mahakumbh to be held in 2025 in Uttar Pradesh. These ghats include DashashwamedhGhat, KilaGhat, NaukayanGhat, SaraswatiGhat, MahevaGhat, RasulabadGhat and Gyan Ganga Ashram. These ghats will have facilities like bathing areas, changing rooms, universal access ramps, drinking water points, floodlights, kiosks and landscaping.
  • In Bihar, polluted water in Kiul river, a tributary of Ganga, will be cleaned at an estimated cost of ₹77.39 crore. In Madhya Pradesh, pollution of Kshipra river, a tributary of Yamuna, will be removed at a cost of Rs 92.78 crore.
  • Another ghat development project was approved for Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where AkhandParamDhamGhat will be constructed at a total cost of Rs 2.12 crore.

About National Mission for Clean Ganga:

  • The mission was implemented by the National Ganga Council for Rejuvenation, Conservation and Management of River Ganga. That's why this mission is also called National Ganga Council.
  • The mission was established on 12 August 2011 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • National Mission for Clean Ganga is supported by State Level Program Management Groups in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. It is an initiative of the Government of India to eliminate pollution of river Ganga by providing financial and technical assistance.

Objectives of this mission:

  • The mission includes retrofitting and promoting existing sewage treatment plants and taking immediate short-term steps to prevent pollution at riverfront exit points to check sewage flow.
  • Maintaining continuity of water flow without altering natural weather changes.
  • Augmenting and maintaining surface runoff and groundwater.
  • To regenerate and maintain the natural vegetation of the area.
  • To conserve and regenerate the riparian biodiversity as well as the aquatic biodiversity of the Ganga river basin.
  • To allow public participation in the process of conservation, rejuvenation and management of the river.

Challenges before NMCG:

  • Poor Governance: Lack of proper monitoring and supervision leads to under-utilization of funds allocated under the programmes.
  • Violation of e-flow norms: According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), 4 out of 11 hydroelectric projects in the upper reaches of the tributaries of river Ganga are violating Ganga ecological flow (e-flow) norms, which affect the natural flow of water. are further obstructing. River's.
  • Pollution: Most of the Ganga is polluted due to the presence of five states (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal) on the main stream of the river. Industrial pollution from tanneries in Kanpur, distilleries, paper and sugar mills in the catchment area of Kosi, Ramganga and Kali rivers is a major contributor.
  • Illegal construction: The problem of illegal and indiscriminate construction near the river bed has become a major hindrance in cleaning the river.

Initiatives related to rejuvenation of rivers:

  • NamamiGangeProgramme:NamamiGange Program is an integrated conservation mission which was approved by the Central Government in June 2014 as a 'Flagship Programme' to accomplish effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of the National River Ganga.
  • Ganga Action Plan: This was the first river action plan which was launched in the year 1985 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Its objective was to improve water quality by impoundment, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage and prevent toxic and industrial chemical waste from entering the river.
  • National River Conservation Plan:This is an extension of the Ganga Action Plan. Its objective is to clean the river Ganga under the second phase of the Ganga Action Plan.
  • National River Ganga Basin Authority:It was constituted by the Government of India in the year 2009 under Section-3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
  • River Ganga was declared as the 'National River' of India in the year 2008.
  • Clean Ganga Fund:It was formed in the year 2014 to clean the Ganges, set up waste treatment plants and conserve the biodiversity of the river.
  • Bhuvan-Ganga Web App:It ensures public participation in removing pollution in river Ganga.
  • Ban on waste disposal:In the year 2017, the National Green Tribunal banned the disposal of any kind of waste in the river Ganga.

The River Ganges :

  • This river originates from the Gangotri Glacier near Gomukh (3,900 m) in Uttarakhand.
  • Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
  • Yamuna and Son are the major right bank tributaries and important left bank tributaries are Ramganga, Gomti, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi and Mahananda.
  • Yamuna is the longest tributary of Ganga which originates from Yamunotri Glacier.
  • The Ganges falls into the Bay of Bengal near Sagar Island.

Hindon River:

  • The Hindon River is a tributary of the Yamuna River in northern India. Its old name is Haranadi or Haranandi. Its origin is in the hills of Shakambhari Devi situated in the upper Shivalik ranges of the lower Himalayan region in Saharanpur district. It is completely rain-fed river and its basin area is 7083 sq km. It meets the Yamuna at some distance from Delhi, passing through Muzaffarnagar district, Meerut district, Baghpat district, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, in a length of about 400 km between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna.

Kiul River:

  • The source of Kiul river is the mountain of North Chota Nagpur. From the third hill range located in Giridih district of Jharkhand, this river falls from the mountains and reaches Lakhisarai via Jamui and here it joins the Haruhar river and then joins the Ganga in Munger district. The total length of this river is about 111 km. In this distance, a dozen mountain rivers join it and also separate. Due to the mountain river, the sand of this river is red. The existence of the Kiul river, considered to be the lifeline of Lakhisarai, is now in danger.

Kshipra River:

  • Kshipra river originates from a hill called KakriBardi in Indore district and joins the Chambal river. Its total length is about 560 kilometers. On its banks is the famous Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain, where the KumbhMela is held every 12th year. Ujjain city is the main city situated on its banks.

Way forward:

  • India's efforts in Ganga rejuvenation have been revived with the help of the NamamiGange program of the Government of India.
  • Financial allocation of existing projects will help in cleaning of tributaries of Ganga. The World Bank is helping build critical sewage infrastructure in 20 pollution-prone areas to rejuvenate rivers in India.
  • The funding will help the government strengthen the institutions needed to manage a river basin as large as the Ganga basin.
  • Successful implementation of this mission requires a strategic roadmap which may include strict monitoring, public awareness campaign, use of digital media and conservation of biodiversity in Ganga.

Source: The Hindu

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Mains Exam Question:

Explaining the objectives of the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the challenges before it, outline the various initiatives for rejuvenation of rivers.