Cleaning of Ganga river Various types of pollution abatement schemes taken up to clean Ganga may be categorized into core and non-core schemes. Core Schemes include creation of Interception and diversion (I&D) of sewage discharging into the Ganga river and creating treatment infrastructure to treat the intercepted sewage. Non-Core Schemes include providing Low Cost Sanitation (LCS) at community and individual levels at identified locations, Installation of Crematoria (electric as well as wood based improved crematoria), River Front Development (RFD) including bathing ghats, Afforestation, protecting bio-diversity and creating Public awareness and participation. As on February 29, 2016, 28 Projects have been completed with a capacity of 128.5 MLD.The12th and 13th Empowered Steering Committee Meetings was held on February 26, 2016 and March 30, 2016 have recommended further 11 projects at an estimated cost of 485.68 crore. Comprehensive afforestation along river Ganga will act as a biological filter to reduce the pollution load to river Ganga and at the same time help in recharging ground water. Forest Research Institute (FRI) has prepared a DPR amounting to Rs 1600 Cr for taking up comprehensive afforestation. Real time monitoring of water quality at specific locations along river Ganga in association with CPCB has been taken up. CPCB has installed six on line monitoring centres and further completed tender process for 33 stations. DPR has been prepared for construction of 20 MLD CETP at Jajmau to tackle waste load from tannery industries. DPR is being prepared for CETP for five textile clusters at Ruma, Farrukabad, Bhadohi, Pilkhuwa and Mathura. Further other activities like development of model dhobi ghats, public amenities in char Dham Yatra and Ganga Sagar, conservation of diversity of Gangetic aquatic life are also being taken up on priority to improve the health of river through CIFRI and Wild Life Institute of India. Creation of Rural sanitation facility in identified 1657 Gram Panchayats along river Ganga in support with Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has been taken up. More than 4.18 Lakh Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) are already constructed in Ganga basin. Development of Ganga grams in which facilities like community bio-toilet, liquid waste treatment, organic farming are planned. An approval for 166 Ganga grams has already been accorded. Entry level activities for immediate results covering repair and modernization including public amenities of Ghats, river surface cleaning, village sewage drain treatment, repair and modernization of crematoria for all the towns and cities on the bank of River Ganga have already been started. Under entry level activities, trash skimmer machines have been deployed at Varanasi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Mathura-Vrindawan and Patna. MoU has been signed with seven Central Government Ministries viz. Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports & Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation for cooperation and support in Ganga Rejuvenation. Activities have been finalised and Nodal Officer have also been nominated.An amount of Rs 263 Cr has been released in Fy 2015-16 to Ministry of Drinking water and sanitation for construction of IHHLs. This information was given by Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. Samir/jk
