Syllabus – GS 2 – Government policies and interventions, GS 3 – Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Why in news?

Installed treatment plants are capable of treating just 20% of the sewage estimated to be generated in the five major States (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal) that lie along the river. This is expected to increase to about 33% by 2024 and 60% by 2026.

NMCG

It is statutory body established in 2014 with the aim of coordinating and overseeing the implementation  of  the  Namami  Gange  Program  under Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The NMCG is responsible for planning, financing, and implementing projects under the Namami Gange Program.

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Namami Gange are two different but complementary initiatives to clean and rejuvenate  the  Ganga River.

AIM OF NMCG

1. To ensure effective abatement of  pollution  and  rejuvenation  of  the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to  promote  inter- sectoral co-ordination for comprehensive planning and
2. To maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality  and  environmentally  sustainable

NAMAMI GANGA

Namami Gange is a flagship program of the Government of India to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River. It was launched in 2014 with a budget of Rs. 20,000 crores.

PILLARS OF NAMAMI GANGA

Sewage Treatment Infrastructure, River – Front Development, River  – Surface Cleaning, Bio-Diversity conservation, Afforestation, Public Awareness, Industrial Effluent Monitoring, Ganga Gram.

The typical parameters used by the Central Pollution Control Board — such as the levels of dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and faecal coliform —vary widely along various stretches of the river. The NMCG is now working to develop a water quality index, on the lines of the air quality index, to be able to better communicate about river-water quality.