(a) the amount so far spent on cleaning of Ganga river;
(b) the extent to which it has been cleaned with the expenditure so far;
(c) the details of remaining works to be undertaken in this regard;
(d) the quantum of additional funds required for cleaning the river completely; and
(e) the time by which the whole work relating to cleaning of Ganga river is likely to be completed?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a) & (b) Under the Namami Gange programme, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has undertaken a project in which it is carrying out the water quality monitoring of river Ganga from Gagotri to West Bengal. Water quality monitoring data of CPCB for the period 2015-17 indicates that Dissolved Oxygen (DO) has been found to be within acceptable limits of notified primary water quality criteria for bathing. Further, the river water quality monitoring carried out in 2017 indicates improvement in water quality trends as compared to 2016. The Dissolved Oxygen levels are improving at 33 locations, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels are decreasing at 26 locations and coliform bacteria count is decreasing at 30 locations. An amount of Rs. 3517.75 crore has been spent from 2011-12 to 2017-18 (till 28.02.2018) for cleaning of Ganga River.
(c) to (e) Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the state governments in addressing the pollution of river Ganga by providing financial assistance to the states. Government of India has approved Namami Gange Programme in May 2015 for conservation of river Ganga with total outlay of Rs 20,000 Crores. Namami Gange Programme is an umbrella programme which integrates previous and currently ongoing initiatives by enhancing efficiency, extracting synergies and supplementing them with more comprehensive & better coordinated interventions.
Contd…P2/-
//2//
Namami Gange programme is being carried out through various coordinated activities including treatment of municipal sewage, treatment of industrial effluent, river surface cleaning, rural sanitation, River Front Development, Ghats and Crematoria, afforestation & biodiversity conservation, public outreach etc.
Under Namami Gange Programme for cleaning of river, a total of 100 projects have been sanctioned for development of sewerage infrastructure to provide a treatment capacity of 3067.88 Million Litres per Day (MLD) and laying of sewerage network of 4722.71 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 16626.24 Crore. Out of these 20 projects have been completed.
Further, 65 projects have been sanctioned for River Front Development, development of Ghats and Crematoria, Ghat cleaning and river surface cleaning activities at an estimated cost of Rs. 1761.59 Crore. Out of these 24 projects are completed and other projects are at various stages of implementation.
Cleaning of river is a continuous process and efforts are being made to complete these projects by the year 2020. During this period the main focus is on the cleaning of main stem of river Ganga and river Yamuna. Few projects have also been taken up on tributaries like Ramganga, Kali (East) and Kosi.
Adequate financial provisions have been done for the project undertaken for cleaning of river Ganga.
******