Namami Gange Programme

Namami Gange Programme

The Namami Gange Programme is an integrated conservation mission launched in 2014 as a flagship programme of the Government of India. It aims to achieve the twin objectives of pollution abatement and conservation of the Ganga River ecosystem. With a budget outlay of ₹20,000 crores, the programme is administered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its state-level counterparts.

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Key Objectives

1. Effective Pollution Abatement:
   • Address pollution from industries, untreated sewage, and solid waste.
2. Conservation and Rejuvenation:
   • Promote biodiversity conservation and riverfront development.

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Governance and Implementation Framework

• National Ganga Council (NGC): Chaired by the Prime Minister and established in 2016, it replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority.
• Three-Tier Monitoring Mechanism:
  • National Level: High-level task force led by the Cabinet Secretary, assisted by NMCG.
  • State Level: Committees chaired by Chief Secretaries, supported by SPMGs.
  • District Level: Committees chaired by District Magistrates.
• Activity Segmentation:
  • Entry-Level: Immediate impact (e.g., surface cleaning).
  • Medium-Term: Five-year projects (e.g., sewage treatment plants).
  • Long-Term: Ten-year projects (e.g., large-scale rejuvenation).

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Key Achievements

1. Sewage Treatment:
   • 98 sewage projects completed across states like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
   • Functional treatment plants with a capacity of 2,665 MLD as of July 2023.
   • By 2026, treatment capacity aims to handle 60% of total sewage.
2. Riverfront Development:
   • Construction and modernization of 267 ghats, crematoria, kunds, and ponds.
3. River Surface Cleaning:
   • Initiatives to remove floating solid waste at 11 key locations.
4. Biodiversity Conservation:
   • Ganga Praharis and volunteers trained to assist in field conservation.
   • Dolphin populations along the Ganga have doubled, signaling improved ecological health.
5. Public Awareness:
   • Campaigns through tree plantation, Ganga Aarti, and creative mediums like poems and paintings.
6. Industrial Effluent Monitoring:
   • Inspections of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) to enforce environmental norms.
7. International Collaboration:
   • Expertise in river rejuvenation brought from various global partners.
8. Water Quality Improvement:
   • Development of a Water Quality Index (WQI), similar to the Air Quality Index, to assess and communicate river health effectively.

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Challenges in Implementation

1. Land Acquisition Delays:
   • Slow acquisition processes hindered the commissioning of several treatment plants.
2. Revised Project Reports:
   • Revisions to Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) delayed execution.
3. Funding Gaps:
   • ₹37,396 crore worth of projects approved, but only ₹14,745 crore released as of June 2023.
   • Insufficient fund disbursement to states for infrastructure work.
4. Operational Delays:
   • Bureaucratic hurdles and coordination challenges between central and state agencies.

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Significance

• Environmental Impact: The rise in dolphin populations and improved bathing water quality indicate ecological recovery.
• Public Health: Better water quality reduces the risk of waterborne diseases.
• Global Leadership: India’s large-scale river rejuvenation sets a precedent for other nations.

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Key Takeaways
While the Namami Gange Programme has made considerable progress in pollution abatement, biodiversity conservation, and public awareness, its full potential is yet to be realized. Addressing funding and operational delays, along with rigorous monitoring and execution, will be crucial for meeting the programme’s long-term goals.

Mind Sprint
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