A number of initiatives taken to clean Ganga: NMCG director

Mission director Dr Rajat Bhargava said that last 4 months have been the golden period for the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).  He said. “In this period, a number of initiatives have been taken and schemes energized.  There has been an immense amount of satisfaction amongst the officials and staff of the Namami Gange programmes, which have been in conformity not only with the plans and priorities of the Government but also in consonance with the national objectives.”  

“Last three months have also created better environment, sustainable development procedures, taking up large initiatives on conservation, biodiversity, pollution abatement issues, which, hitherto, were lying unattended for the last couple of years,” he said.

 a) In order to compensate for loss of bio-diversity and degradation of aquatic life,  a Rs.2200 crore programme has been approved and has been operationalized this year by releasing about Rs.100 crore in the 1st phase for afforestation and setting up of centres for rehabilitation of dolphins at Narora, Allahabad, Varanasi, Vikramshila and Sahebganj.  Further, programmes of protection of India major carps and fishes have been set up at Rishikesh, Allahabad and Barrackpore.  This is in addition to a number of programmes which are proposed to be set up for protection of turtle, alligators, crocodile etc.

b) In consonance with the objectives to fast-track the programme in 45 days, the target was achieved in 37 days itself by the team to deliver 231 projects at 104 locations, for which a function was held on 7th July, 2016.  The representatives of the State Governments, ULBs, local bodies, CPSUs, public representatives including Hon’ble Ministers MPs & MLAs came up in the shortest possible time for ensuring its success and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was one of the largest launches of the Ganga river basin programme in the world on a single day.