No nod to dams that hinder flow of rivers: Bharti

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has been directed not to give permission for dam projects that hinder <g data-gr-id="16">environmental</g> flow of rivers, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Monday said.

Bharti, who reviewed a joint presentation on ‘Namami Gange - National Mission for Clean Ganga’ in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, said that the river would be cleaned in 11 important cities situated across its basin in the next three years, a statement here said.

The 11 cities includes Rishikesh, Haridwar, Allahabad, Varanasi, Garhmukteshwar, Kanpur, Patna, Sahibganj, Kolkata and Nabadweep.

“In the next three years, Ganga will be cleaned in 11 important cities. It’s first phase will be over by October next year,” the statement said, quoting Bharti.  She also said that the ministry has directed CWC not to give permission for construction of dams, which do not ensure <g data-gr-id="17">environmental</g> flow of rivers, the statement added.

Stating the Nirmal Ganga programme would be implemented in 1,619 village panchayats for controlling pollution along the river Ganga, Bharti said the programme would <g data-gr-id="13">launched</g> in 100 villages in the next three months.