Question : NATIONAL GANGA RIVER AUTHORITY

(a) whether the constitution of the National Ganga River Basin Authority has not resulted in any significant improvement in water management of the river Ganga;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of the funds allocated to the Authority so far and spent therefrom;

(d) the manner in which funds allocated were utilised; and

(e) the concrete steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure effective and proper utilisation of funds meant for the purpose?

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

(a) to (e): The Central Government has constituted the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 20th February, 2009 as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for conservation of the Ganga River. The Authority has both regulatory and developmental functions. Action has been initiated for preparation of a comprehensive Ganga river basin management plan which will form the basis for formulation of projects. The Central Government has allocated Rs.250 crore in the budget of the year 2009-10 for NGRBA. States have been requested to prepare priority projects for critical pollution hotspots and major towns on Ganga and fast track the implementation of ongoing projects. State River Conservation Authorities have been constituted in Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and West Bengal under the Chairmanship of the respective Chief Ministers for coordinating the implementation of the schemes.Besides introduction of concurrent evaluation of schemes, States have been requested to constitute City Level Monitoring Committees for better implementation of schemes.