Rs 20,000 cr earmarked to clean Ganga: Uma Bharti

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 7

The Union Government’s ‘Namami Gange’ programme, to cleanse the Ganga throughout its route from Gangotri till Ganga Sagar, was launched in Haridwar today.

Union Minister for Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti, Union Minister for Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat launched the ‘Namami Gange’ programme on the banks of the Ganga at the Rishikul ground.

Songs based on the theme of ‘Namami Gange’, compiled by Shyam Mohan, were also launched on the occasion.

Uma Bharti, while addressing the gathering, said the project would clean the Ganga of pollution in the coming years. Besides, mass plantation drives, development of Ganga ghats, installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs), crematoriums, pilot drain projects, interceptor drain projects, awareness drives and conservation of bio-diversity projects would also be done under the project.

Uma termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the modern day Pt Madan Mohan Malviya. She said exactly 100 years ago, Bharat Ratna Pt Malviya forced the British to sign an agreement to ensure sanctity and flow of water in the Ganga at Har-ki-Pauri. Now, in 2016, Narendra Modi, through his visionary ‘Namami Gange’ project, was carrying further that agreement to ensure purity of the mother Ganga.

“Today, 250 projects worth Rs 1,500 crore are being launched simultaneously under the ‘Namami Gange’ project. These projects are also being launched at 108 places situated on the banks of sub-tributaries of the Ganga. From Gangotri to Ganga Sagar, the ‘Namami Gange’ will ensure cleanliness of the river for which Rs 20,000 crore have been earmarked,” Bharti said.

Industrial pollutants flowing into the Ganga was a major concern for which a tri-level system was being put in place. Now, only STP-treated water would be allowed to be poured into the Ganga, for which a law would be enacted soon, the Water Resources Minister said.

“Results and impact of ‘Namami Gange’ will be visible by October in the first phase as more than 1,000 schemes for cleaning the Ganga are ready. The Ganga water flows in my veins and it’s the responsibility of all Ganga devotees, not alone the government, to ensure purity and sanctity of the holy river,” Uma said.

Nitin Gadkari assured people of success of the ‘Namami Gange’ programme. He said under the project, methane from the polluted water would be used for power generation purposes.

Gadkari advocated having ‘Namami Gange’ programmes and initiatives included in the school curriculum.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat assured the Union Government of full support of the state government in ensuring a pollution-free Ganga.

Haridwar parliamentarian Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Harichetanand Maharaj, public representatives, saints and residents attended the launch of the project.

Panwar plants sapling to launch project

Mussoorie: Urban Development Minister Pritam Panwar inaugurated the Namami Gange afforestation project by planting a pipal sapling in the forest area near Badethi bend Chinyali Saud development region of Uttarkashi district today.

Students from various schools, along with villagers and eco-task force jawans, planted more than 100 fruit saplings.

Panwar said they were planning a project of creating mixed forests, which would have several fodder bearing species in around 5 hectares. It would improve the economic condition of people and protect the environment. He appealed to people to join the movement in a big way to make the project successfull. He commended the efforts of the eco-task force in greening the area.

Zila Panchayat vice-president Prakash Chandra Ramola, block pramukh Bijendar Singh, SSP Dadan Pal, DFO Girish Rastogi, SDM Dunda Vijay Nath Sukla and others were present on the occasion.