Question : e-Flow Norms of Ganga

(a) whether the e-flow norms of Ganga river have been made effective across all project sites and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware that liquid/solid waste of 100 cities is being discharged into Ganga river and if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether several projects have been started for management of the said waste during the last five years and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the length in kilometres of Ganga river which has been cleaned under the Namami Gange Mission till date;
(e) the quantum of expenditure incurred under the said Mission and the reasons for not cleaning the whole river so far; and
(f) the action taken/to be taken to clean the entire Ganga river by the Government?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI & SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) Government of India vide Notification dated 9th October 2018 notified minimum environmental flows to be maintained in river Ganga from its origin to Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) specifically at locations downstream of structures or projects meant for diversion of river flows for purposes like irrigation, hydropower, domestic and industrial and other requirements.

As per Notification, the Central Water Commission has been made the designated authority and custodian of the data with responsibility for supervision, monitoring and regulation of notified environmental flows regime. Accordingly, Central Water Commission has identified 11 operational projects for which it is monitoring the environmental flows.

(b) Against the estimated sewage generation of 2953 Million Litres Per Day (MLD) from the 97 towns along main stem of river Ganga, the current sewage treatment capacity in the towns along river Ganga has been raised to 1954 MLD. Further, projects for creation of 1354 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) capacity have also been taken up.
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Against the estimated municipal solid waste generation of 11,710 Tons Per Day (TPD) from the 97 towns along river Ganga, the current installed solid waste processing capacity is 5245 TPD and 41 projects for 1703 TPD have been approved and are under different stages of implementation.

(c) In last five years, 82 sewage projects have been taken up on the main stem of river Ganga with new STP capacity of 1485.23 MLD at an estimated cost of Rs. 13,346 crore. Similarly, 34 projects have been taken up on tributaries of river Ganga for creation of 1732 MLD new STP capacity at an estimated cost of Rs. 6549 crore. Two Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) projects for industrial effluent management have also been sanctioned.

(d) Cleaning of river is a continuous process and the Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution of river Ganga including its Tributaries by providing financial and technical assistance. The Namami Gange Programme has initiated diverse set of coordinated activities meant for cleaning of river Ganga.
So far, a total of 298 projects have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 28,451.22 crore, out of which 98 projects have been completed and made operational. Rest of the projects are at various stages of implementation.
A total of 150 Sewerage infrastructure projects (111 on Ganga main stem and 39 on tributaries) have been taken up at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 23,130.95 crore for creation of new sewage treatment capacity of 3729.92 MLD, rehabilitation of 1114.39 MLD treatment capacity and laying of around 4972.35 KM sewerage network. As on May 2019, 43 of these projects have been completed resulting in creation of 575.84 MLD of STP capacity and laying of 2645.6 KM sewage network. In Ganga main stem towns, sewage treatment capacity of 3308 MLD has been sanctioned against the sewage generation of 2953 MLD (2016).
(e) Government of India has launched the Namami Gange Program with a total budgetary outlay of Rs.20,000 crore for the period from FY 2014-15 till 31/12/2020. So far, Rs.6,134.93 crore has been disbursed against the allocation of Rs.7,763.72 crore till 31.05.2019.

(f) The Government of India has taken up following interventions to ensure cleaning of the river at the earliest in a sustainable manner:
I. 100% funding under central sector scheme.

II. Scientific assessment of sewage treatment capacity along Ganga for projected population in 2035.
III. Public-private partnership (PPP) approach of Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and Performance Linked Payments for sewerage projects, 15 years long term infrastructure Operation & Maintenance

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(O&M) included in the project cost, and improved governance through ‘One City One Operator’ approach merging rehabilitation of old and creation of new treatment capacity.

IV. Effective interventions in various polluted stretches of the key tributaries of river Ganga such as Yamuna, Ramganga, Kali, Gomti, Saryu, Gandak, Ghaghara, etc.
V. Recycling and reuse of treated waste water is being promoted;
VI. Inventorisation of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPI) along Ganga with 100% annual inspection thereof by independent institution.
VII. 20 MLD CETP project for Jajmau tannery cluster at Kanpur has been taken up.

VIII. All 4465 Ganga villages have been made Open Defecation Free (ODF).


IX. River Surface cleaning activities through trash skimmers and projects for cleaning of ghats have been taken up.
X. 103 ghats and 29 crematoria have been completed.
XI. Environmental flows have been notified on October 9, 2018, mandating a minimum level of flow for Ganga in Uttarakhand and upto Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.

XII. Institutional strengthening for ensuring faster implementation of projects through formation of State and District Ganga Committee.

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