MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (c) Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I was launched as a centrally funded scheme in 1985 and later GAP Phase-II was initiated in 1993 with the objective of improving the water quality of river Ganga. Various pollution abatement schemes including interception & diversion of sewage and setting up of sewage treatment plants were taken up under the Plan. Under both phases of GAP, a total of 575 schemes have been sanctioned for undertaking pollution abatement activities in the identified polluted stretches of the river Ganga,
of which 524 schemes with a capacity to treat pollution load of 1098 million litres per day (mld) have been established. A total of 869 mld and 229 mld has been established under GAP-I and II respectively.
The total expenditure so far, incurred on conservation of river Ganga under the GAP Phase – I & II is Rs. 986.34 crore as on 31st March, 2014.
Since pollution problem of river Ganga could not be addressed fully from GAP, the Government therefore revamped the river conservation strategy to promote a holistic and integrated river basin approach. Central Government by a Notification dated 20.02.2009, has set up the ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority’ (NGRBA) as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganga River, to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting the river basin approach as the unit of planning.
(d) Conservation of rivers is an ongoing and collective effort of the Central & State Governments. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in addressing the problem of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for implementation of projects on a cost sharing basis between the Central & State Governments. NRCP, excluding Ganga Action Plan (GAP)-I, GAP-II & National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), presently covers polluted stretches of 40 rivers in 121 towns spread over 18 States at a sanctioned cost of Rs.5334.97 crore. Various pollution abatement schemes taken up by the States under the Plan, inter-alia, include interception and diversion of raw sewage/laying of sewerage system, setting up of sewage treatment plants, creation of low cost sanitation/community toilet complexes, setting up of crematoria & river front development. Till the end of March, 2014, funds amounting to Rs.3240.30 crore have been released to the States and sewage treatment capacity of 3729.49 mld has been created under NRCP, excluding GAP-I, GAP-II & NGRBA.
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