New Delhi (NVI): Speaking at the 4th India Water Impact Summit, 2019 here today Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, said that the water quality of Ganga has improved tremendously during the last five years under the Clean Ganga Mission.
At the event in the national capital Shekhawat said that under the Namami Gange programme around 305 projects have been taken up for sewage, industrial effluents and others. This has further been strengthened and accorded due priority under Jal Shakti Abhiyan and an integrated approach to water sector through creation of Ministry for Jal Shakti.
The Jal Shakti Minister said the approach in Namami Gange for ensuring Aviral Dhara or improving flows is comprehensive.
“The best parameter of assessing the quality improvement of water is the growth in aquatic wildlife,” Shekhawat said.
The Minister said that five years ago the Gangetic dolphins were spotted in tens but now more than 2,000 dolphins have been sighted. He added, “Not only dolphins but all other aquatic life has improved. The massive improvement in floating trash was also observed.”
“NamamiGange mission also understands the crucial role people can play in conservation of river Ganga and has been taking up several innovative steps for bringing people closer to river Ganga and its tributaries which contribute in one way or the other for their rejuvenation”, he added.
“Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for establishment of the Clean Ganga Fund (CGF). Appealing for liberal contributions the CGF will have the objective of contributing to the national effort of improving the cleanliness of the river Ganga with the contributions received from the residents and non-residents of the country,” he said.
“The Fund will define specific and measurable objectives to form the basis for planning, funding, and evaluation,” he added.
Shekhawat also lauded the role of academic institutions including IITs, NITs, NEERI etc from India and the European Union, Germany, Denmark,Israel, Japanand Canada for Technology Collaboration Agreements with c-Ganga (Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies).
Stressing on Environment Flow and Urban River Management Plan, Shekhawat said that under the first draft of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) submitted by a consortium of IITs in 2015, projects for liquid pollution abatement in Ganga river basin have already been sanctioned and are at various stages of implementation and more of such projects will come for the tributaries for the Ganga rivers as well.
“Government notified minimum environmental flows to be maintained in river Ganga from its origin to Unnao in Uttar Pradesh. We have recently started a pilot project to develop the Urban River Management Plan with NIUA,” Shekhawat said.
“These are probably the two areas where in there is a scope of experience sharing with the global experts. We are working to have integrated water management wherein mainstream health of the rivers and water bodies should become important part of urban planning,” he further added.
Pointing out that the cleaning of rivers including Ganga is a perpetual process and it will always require dedicated service of the people to maintain its healthy state, Shekhawat advocated integrated water management, preventing degradation and pollution of rivers, lakes and aquifers, promoting recycle and reuse of treated wastewater and where necessary, restore and maintain acceptable environmental conditions and water quality.
On the occasion Shekhawat also released the Report on Ambassadors’ Meet held on August 22, 2019, Report on River Restoration and Conservation – A Concise Manual and Guide, and Documents on “Ganga Hubs”.
-sb
