Question : Ganga Rejuvenation Project

(a) the steps taken by the Government for Ganga river rejuvenation and development of river during the last three years;
(b) the current status of implementation of the Ganga Rejuvenation Project and the details of work completed thereunder along with the quantum of funds sanctioned and spent for the purpose so far;
(c) whether there has been inordinate delay in cleaning of the said river and implementing the project meant for the purpose and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has set any time limit in this regard; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the Ganga river is likely to be cleaned?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) Union Government approved “Namami Gange – Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission/ Programme” in May 2015 with a budget outlay of Rs.20,000 crore by converging ongoing programmes and new components to be implemented by 2020. Under Namami Gange programme variety of coordinated activities meant for cleaning of river Ganga have been taken up. These include treatment of municipal sewage, treatment of industrial effluent, drain bio-remediation, river surface cleaning, rural sanitation, river front development, construction of ghats and crematoria, afforestation & biodiversity conservation, public outreach program etc.

During the last three years, 175 number of projects have been sanctioned including 77 projects of sewerage infrastructure.

(b) So far a total of 254 projects have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.24,672 crore, out of which 75 projects have been completed, which includes 31 sewerage projects. It has resulted in addition of 560 MLD STP capacity (new and rehabilitated) and 2268 KM of sewerage networks.

An amount of Rs.5,448.99 crore has been spent by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under Namami Gange Programme out of the total released of Rs.6,819.27 crore from 2011-12 to 2018-19 (till 30th November, 2018).

(c) Various components of Namami Gange Programme are under execution and being expedited. However, execution/completion of some of the projects have been delayed due to various factors such as contractual disputes, delay in getting various clearances etc.

(d) & (e) Cleaning of the river is a continuous process and efforts are being made to complete the projects by the year 2020.
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