5 states to give DPR on forestry intervention for Ganga by Sept 25

The Forest Research Institute (FRI) will act as the nodal centre for planning, capacity building, co-coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the proposed activities for the National Mission for Clean Ganga. 

Early this month, the FRI held a meeting with nodal officers from five states (Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal) to facilitate the drafting of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on forestry intervention for their respective states for a clean Ganga by September 25. 

Though the Ganga has <g data-gr-id="16">self-cleansing</g> capacity, construction of dams, rapid deforestation, <g data-gr-id="17">unabated</g> release of industrial waste and sewage into the river have polluted it. According to sources, it was discussed in the meeting that government agencies alone cannot work on rejuvenating the river and a wider participation is needed to augment the 2, 525-km-long river, which flows from Gaumukh to Gangasagar. Also, the officers reportedly discussed that there should be a clear roadmap and rules for the involvement of different bodies and forces, along with their activities and budgetary provisions. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) will fund the state forest departments concerned.

There is a need to constitute a state-level committee, headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests with nodal officer as member secretary, to initiate and monitor that how funds are transferred to circles/ divisions/ division-level committees. The division-level committee will implement the programme.