Question : MISSION CLEAN GANGA

(a) whether National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has approved an ambitious project ‘Mission Clean Ganga’ to prevent the discharge of untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents in the Ganga by 2020;

(b) if so, the salient features of the project;

(c) the amount earmarked under the project;

(d) whether the Prime Minister has recently convened a meeting of the Chief Ministers of States through which the river Ganga flows;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the decisions taken therein; and

(f) the time by which the project is likely to be launched?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) to (f): The first meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was held on 5th October, 2009 under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister. The meeting resolved that under ‘Mission Clean Ganga’,it will be ensured that by the year 2020, no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluent flows into Ganga. An estimated investment of Rs. 15,000 crore over the next 10 years will be required to create the necessary treatment and sewerage infrastructure. The requisite resources would be shared between the Centre and States suitably after consultations with the Planning Commission. It was decided that the State Governments will formulate detailed project reports at the critical pollution hotspots and major towns. The Central Government has allocated Rs 250 crore in the budget of the year 2009-10 for NGRBA.