Namami Gange: Govt Approves 8 Projects Worth Rs. 638 Crores for Ganga River Conservation

The meeting authorized eight projects totaling Rs. 638 crore. Four projects totalling Rs. 407.39 crore have been sanctioned for pollution abatement in the Shamli district in an attempt to clean River Hindon, a tributary of River Yamuna.

These initiatives are part of the larger Hindon Rejuvenation Plan. The Hindon River has been designated as a Priority I contaminated river section. The initiatives approved will prevent dirty water from entering the Krishni River. Krishni is a large Hindon tributary that carries pollution from the Shamli area into the Hindon River.

The four projects in Shamli district include the construction of i) a 5 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (Nirmal Jal Kendra), a 5 KLD Septage Co-treatment Facility, Interception & Diversion (I&D), and other works in Babri and Bantikhera villages, ii) a 5 MLD STP, a 5 KLD Septage Co-treatment Facility, Interception & Diversion (I&D), and other works in Banat town.

As part of the preparations for the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, in 2025, the EC approved one project for the development of seven ghats in Prayagraj. Dashashmedh Ghat, Quila Ghat, Naukayan Ghat, Gyan Ganga Ashram Ghat, Saraswati Ghat, Maheva Ghat, and Rasulabad Ghat are among the ghats. These ghats will include amenities such as a bathing area, a change room, a universal access ramp, drinking water stations, flood lighting at night, kiosks, landscaping, and so on.

The 48th EC meeting approved two further sewerage management projects, one in Bihar and one in Madhya Pradesh. In Bihar, a project to build three STPs (7 MLD, 3.5 MLD, and 6 MLD in Zones 1 and 2), among other things, was approved for Rs. 77.39 crore. These projects will prevent dirty water from entering the Kiul River, a tributary of the Ganga.

In Madhya Pradesh, a Rs. 92.78 crore project to build a 22 MLD STP, a 2.38 MLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), and associated works was approved. This initiative will prevent dirty water from entering the River Kshipra, a tributary of the Yamuna.

During the meeting, G. Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG, advised state officials to do solar farming on STP sites and promote the usage of solar power to power the Nirmal Jal Kendras. He also urged officials to utilise grills to separate and dispose of solid trash from drains that go into rivers. DG, NMCG stated that it is the responsibility of the State Governments to maintain the assets produced under the Namami Gange Programme and that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) adopted by ULBs for cleaning existing ghats should be submitted to NMCG.

Another ghat development project has been approved for Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where the Akhand Param Dham ghat would be built at a cost of Rs. 2.12 crore. The proposal comprises the construction of a shop/kiosk (for Ghat pe Haat events), a yoga/meditation lawn, a handicap ramp, a promenade, a platform for cultural and religious activities, and other structures.

S.P. Vashishtha, NMCG Executive Director (Admin.), Bhaskar Dasgupta, NMCG Executive Director (Finance), D.P. Mathuria, NMCG Executive Director (Technical), Richa Misra, Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and senior officials from the concerned states attended the meeting.