MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES GANGA REJUVENATION

UMA BHARTI MP - Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti today (20-8-14) said that efforts are being made to rejuvenate the river in three years, for which steps would be taken to address the problem of pollution from industries and sewage. Cleaning the Ganga is a task of such magnitude that many ministers would not undertake it. We applaud the minister for agreeing to see what might be done.

3 YEAR DEADLINE = 2017 - "We want to rejuvenate it in three years. In three years, we want to establish the Environmental flow (E-Flow). We want to resolve the issue of pollution on the banks of River Ganga and the pollution caused by industries and sewage," Bharti, who is also holding the Ganga Rejuvenation portfolio, is quoted as saying. She was briefing reporters here on the sidelines of an international seminar on Water Risk and Stewardship in India. Plans to clean River Ganga are likely to commence in six months. In all reasonableness, 2017 is an ambitious date that should be seen more as a target to aim for, rather than a clean river in such a short timeframe. Now (Feb 2016) only a year and a half away.

Speaking on the Yamuna river, Bharti said officials of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) would meet the Ministry of Water Resources for sorting out issues concerned with her ministry. "I had a meeting with Delhi LG Najeeb Jung and discussed cleaning of Yamuna river which is flowing in the national capital. A wing has been set up with DDA for the purpose. The officials of the wing will meet us (Ministry of Water Resources) for sorting out issues concerned," she is quoted as saying.

AUGUST 20 2014 - Bharti also mentioned that 2015-16 would be observed as the year of "Water Conservation", while emphasising on the need for interlinking of rivers in the country. "We have planned to announce 2015-16 as the year of water conservation... We are ready to interlink rivers keeping environment in mind and we can do it in 10 years," the Minister is quoted as saying.

The Ministry of Water Resources, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to the development and regulation of the water resources in India. The Ministry was formed in January 1985 following a bifurcation of the then Ministry of Irrigation and Power when the Department of Irrigation was re-constituted as the Ministry of Water Resources. The portfolio is at present held by Uma Bharti. In July 2014, the Ministry was renamed to: “Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation”, making it the National Ganga River Basin Authority for conservation, development, management, and abatement of pollution in the river Ganges and its tributaries.

RIVERVAX™ TRIALS - Cost effective river pollution monitoring and cleaning all in one. You have to think bigger. Anything less is a waste of time. It's pointless trying to clean an large river with a teaspoon of a system. For a big river a cleaning machine needs a big mouth. They don't come any bigger than RiverVax.

INDIA - MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES - Ongoing Projects/Schemes & Contact Person

Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
Major & Medium Irrigation Projects : Minor Irrigation Projects

Sh. Rajeev Kumar, SJC(SPR) - 011-23710131

Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies

Sh. Deepak Kumar, SJC(MI) - 011-23387834

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)

Sh. Manoj Kumar, Deputy Director, CWC - manojkumar1-cwc@nic.in

Infrastructure Development

Sh. Banarsi Ram, DS(ID) - 011-23716747

POSTAL ADDRESS

626, M/o Water Resources
Shram Shakti Bhawan
Rafi Marg,
New Delhi – 110001

E-mail: egov-mowr@nic.in
Website: http://mowr.gov.in

NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS - The River Ganga basin lies between East longitudes 73°30 and 89° 0 and North latitudes of 22°30 and 31°30, covering an area of 1,086,000 sq km, extending over India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It has a catchment area of 8,61,404 sq. km in India, constituting 26% of the country's land mass and supporting about 43% of population (448.3 million as per 2001 census). particularly in the stretch between Kannauj and Allahbad, according to figures from GAP in 1985.

INDIA - NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA

National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has started the Mission Clean Ganga with a changed and comprehensive approach to champion the challenges posed to Ganga through four different sectors, namely, of wastewater management, solid waste management, industrial pollution and river front development.

NGRBA has been established through the Gazette notification of the Government of India (Extraordinary) No. 328 dated February 20, 2009 issued at New Delhi with the objectives of (a) ensuring effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive planning and management; and (b) maintaining environmental flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

NGRBA is mandated to take up regulatory and developmental functions with sustainability needs for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation(MoWR, RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry for the NGRBA. The authority is chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its members the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. This initiative is expected to rejuvenate the collective efforts of the Centre and the States for cleaning the river.

NGRBA functions include development of a Ganga River Basin Management Plan, regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution, to maintain water quality and to take measures relevant to the river ecology in the Ganga basin states. It is mandated to ensure the maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga and abate pollution through planning, financing and execution of programmes including that of –

1) Augmentation of Sewerage Infrastructure
2) Catchment Area Treatment
3) Protection of Flood Plains
4) Creating Public Awareness

NGRBA has been mandated as a planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for strengthening the collective efforts of the Central and State governments for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga so as to ensure that by the year 2020 no untreated municipal sewage or industrial effluent will flow into the river Ganga.

The NGRBA is fully operational and is also supported by the state level State Ganga River Conservation Authorities (SGRCAs) in five Ganga basin States which are chaired by the Chief Ministers of the respective States. Under NGRBA programme, projects worth Rs. 4607.82 crore have been sanctioned up to 31st March 2014.

A GREAT START - Many countries are employing machines similar to that above from China to clean up their rivers, although there are of course manufacturers of similar machines around the world. It is an acknowledgement that there is a problem, demonstrating moves by local water authorities to do something about it. The main drawback of conventional machines is that they use diesel fossil fuels to pick up plastic and other surface solids, so creating more pollution in terms of CO2 and nitrogen oxides than they might reasonably offset in recycling river waste - in other words diesel powered cleaners are heating the planet more and contributing to acid oceans in seeking to deal with our dirty habits, where we have already heated the planet to create the waste - and cannot afford to acidify our oceans more.

According to their website, the NGRBA has the power, combined with regulatory and developmental functions, to take all such measures and discharge functions as it deems necessary or expedient for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga in keeping with sustainable development needs. Such measures include the following matters :-

a) Development of river basin management plan and regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga to maintain its water quality, and to take such other measures relevant to river ecology and management in the Ganga Basin States.

b) Maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

c) Measures necessary for planning, financing and execution of programmes for abatement of pollution in the river Ganga including augmentation of sewerage infrastructure, catchment area treatment, protection of flood plains, creating public awareness and such other measures for promoting environmentally sustainable river conservation.

d) Collection, analysis and dissemination of information relating to environmental pollution in the river Ganga.
e) Investigations and research regarding problems of environmental pollution and conservation of the river Ganga.

f) Creation of special purpose vehicles, as appropriate, for implementation of works vested with the Authority.

g) Promotion of water conservation practices including recycling and reuse, rain water harvesting, and decentralised sewage treatment systems.

h) Monitoring and review of the implementation of various programmes or activities taken up for prevention, control and abatement of pollution in the river Ganga, and

i) Issuance of directions under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (29 of 1986) for the purpose of exercising and performing all or any of the above functions and to take such other measures as the Authority deems necessary or expedient for achievement of its objectives.

f) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for the purpose of exercising and performing these functions and for achievement of its objectives.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG),a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860,is the implementing wing of NGRBA

WHO IS WHO?

Shri N V Satish Seemakurti - (Director (T-I)) 011-24367985 nvsatish@nmcg.nic.in

Shri Puskal Upadhyay - (Additional Mission Director) 011-24361074 pupadhyay@nic.in

BAY OF BENGAL - The Ganges River Pollution is now at such a high level that the amount of toxins, chemicals and other dangerous bacteria found in the river are now almost 3000 times over the limit suggested by the WHO as 'safe'.

The river directly and indirectly affects the largest population of any river in the world with over more than 420 million people who rely on it for food, water, bathing and agriculture. And that is not to mention the tens of Millions of pilgrims who venture to India's most holy of rivers each year to bathe and worship.

WIKIPEDIA - Uma Bharti (born 3 May 1959) is an Indian politician and cabinet minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation in the Union Government of India. Raised by Vijaya Raje Scindia of Gwalior, she became involved with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a very young age, unsuccessfully contesting her first Parliamentary elections in 1984. In 1989, she successfully contested the Khajuraho seat, and retained it in elections conducted in 1991, 1996 and 1998. In 1999, she switched constituencies and won the Bhopal seat. Bharati held various state-level and cabinet-level portfolios in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Tourism, Youth Affairs & Sports, and Coal & Mines during the second as well as third ministry of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

WIKIPEDIA - She is occasionally addressed by the Hindu honorific Sādhvī, a respectful Sanskrit title for a female renunciant. Bharti was one of the most prominent leaders in the controversial Ram Janmabhoomi movement of the 1980s and 1990s, organised by the BJP and the Vishva Hindu Parishad. She was present at the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

In the 2003 Assembly polls, she led the BJP to a three-fourths majority in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhān Sabhā (Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly). She defeated her Congress opponent from the Malehra seat by a 25% margin. She resigned from the post of Chief Minister in August 2004, when an arrest warrant was issued against her regarding the 1994 Hubli riot case.

On 16 May 2014, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jhansi constituency by defeating Chandrapal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party. On 26 May 2014, she was appointed by newly elected Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as the Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in his cabinet.

CONTACTS

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation
Rear Wing, 3rd Floor

E-mail ID: admn.nmcg@nic.in

Toll Free Number: 1800-11-2838

THE CLEAN GANGA FUND

Features of the Fund

* Open to all – domestic as well as international (NRI & PIO)
* First time an independent trust with eminent people leading it
* Donation would be recognized
* More than resource mobilization, this fund will help bring innovation and technological know-how and

connect you with this national cause.

Individuals, Corporates, Institutions can participate in the following:

* Adopt Ghats
* Pilot New Technologies
* Conduct Research
* Get involved with creating awareness

cleangangafund@gov.in

CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND

DD/Cheque in favor of ‘Clean Ganga Fund’

For Electronic Transfer: Account Number: 34213740838

Branch: State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch

IFSC Code: SBIN 0000691 Swift Code: SBININBB104.

https://nmcg.nic.in/

HOLY MOTHER GANGA - Some of the main Ganges river pollution contributors are those in industry - specifically in this case those of the leather industry who use vast amounts of chromium and other toxins and chemicals. The world bank had agreed to loan India almost $1 Billion to clean up the Ganges, but so far the impact is not that visible.

GEOGRAPHY - The Ganges is navigable for at least 1,350 kilometers before exits into the Bay of Bengal.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-08-20/news/53029110_1_ganga-rejuvenation-water-resources-yamuna-river

https://projectsmileindia.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/effects-of-water-pollution-solutions/

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/germany-keen-to-advise-assist-india-for-ganga-river-clean-up-608470

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-prime-minister-narendra-modi-calls-for-swift-action-to-stop-pollution-of-river-ganga-2050200

http://www.austroindonesianartsprogram.org/blog/most-polluted-river-world-citarum-river-indonesia

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/india-million-litres-untreated-sewage-polluting-holy-river-ganga-says-report-1491715