Uma Bharti, Mulayam lock horns over pending Ganga clean-up plan

Ganga rejuvenation minister, Uma Bharti, and SP chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Thursday engaged in a verbal duel, with Bharti accusing the SP-led UP government of sitting on the Ganga clean-up plan.

The Ganga is one of the most polluted rivers in India.

According to a report published by New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment two years ago, the installed capacity of sewage treatment plants for the Ganga was 1,208 mega litre per day (MLD) whereas the official sewage load in the river was 2,723MLD.

The war of words between the two leaders began in Lok Sabha when the minister blamed the Congress for the pollution of the river.

She said it was an outcome of the “sins committed by the Congress in the last 70 years.”

Responding to her statement, Yadav said the situation would remain unchanged unless measures are taken to prevent pollutants from mixing with the river.

“Dirty drains that are (sic) entering the river should be diverted to the farm lands,” Yadav said.

Bharti retorted to Yadav’s ‘suggestion’, saying, “Despite my efforts, the UP chief minister has not found time to meet me. The project is pending for three months. You could ask your son to clear the project expeditiously,” she told Yadav.