NCRG under PM to fast track Namami Gange implementation

To fast track the implementation of its ambitious Namami Gange programme, the government today decided to replace National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), with National Council for River Ganga, to be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It also decided to set up an empowered taskforce, to be chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti, to ensure ministries and departments working on the programme have an action plan with specific activities, timeframe for achievement of objective and a mechanism for monitoring implementation of the action plans.

The task force will also ensure co-ordination among ministries, departments and state governments concerned for implementation of its action plans in a time-bound manner, an official statement said.
 

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Modi, also decided to turn National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) -- the implementation wing of the NGRBA -- into an authority from a society, giving it teeth to take action under Environment Protection Act, 1986 against those polluting the holy river.

Speaking to mediapersons here after attending the meet here, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti termed the decision as "revolutionary", which will ensure effective abatement of Ganga pollution and will help in maintaining ecological flow of the river.

"This decision will give more teeth to the NMCG for protection of the Ganga. According to the new decision, a provision for concurrent audit and safety audit have been made to ensure transparency and cost effectiveness," she said.

Bharti said by next week tenders will be issued for taping 22 major drains of 11 towns, along the river, which account for 90 per cent of the sewer that flow into Ganga on hybrid annuity mode.

The River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 envisages, National Council for River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) for overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of river Ganga Basin, an official statement said.

The NMCG will have a two-tier management structure with a governing council (GC). Below this, there will be an executive committee (EC) constituted out of the GC. Both will be chaired by DG, NMCG.