"A total of 1,649 Gram Panchayats in 5 states have been identified as being situated along the banks of River Ganga.
"The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has prepared an Action Plan to make all these Gram Panchayats free from open defecation to implement in them appropriate Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities," government said in a reply in the Lok Sabha.
Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation Ram Kripal Yadav said the cost to provide individual household latrines to all uncovered households in these Gram Panchayats and to initiate Solid and Liquid Waste Management activities, as per provisions of the Swachh Bharat Mission, is Rs 2,112.65 crore, of which the Centre's share is Rs 1,571.62 crore.