Progress of Namami Gange Scheme
Cabinet approved the Namami Gange program on 13th May, 2015 as a comprehensive approach to rejuvenate the river Ganga and all its tributaries under one umbrella. A total of Rs. 20,000 crore has been allocated for this project to be spent over the next five years (2019).This includes funds allocated for ongoing projects to clean river Ganga and new initiatives. The progress of Namami Gange programme as on 30th September 2015 is given below:-
| Rs. in crores | ||||||||
| Sl. No. | State / Organisation | Sanction Cost | STP capacity to be created (in mld) | STP capacity created (in mld) | Release of funds Total | Total Expenditure | ||
| 1 | Uttarakhand (20 projects in 12 towns) | 328.04 | 78.80 | 18.00 | 80.52 | 80.52 | ||
| 2 | Uttar Pradesh (15 projects in 8 towns) | 2256.01 | 335.90 | 105.00 | 812.46 | 720.22 | ||
| 3 | Bihar (14 projects in 5 towns) | 2155.62 | 218.00 | 166.04 | 113.24 | |||
| 4 | Jharkhand (1 project in 1 town) | 99.36 | 12.00 | 8.84 | 0.76 | |||
| 5 | West Bengal (30 projects in 24 towns) | 1352.51 | 93.53 | 433.36 | 433.36 | |||
| Total | 6191.54 | 738.23 | 123.00 | 1501.32 | 1348.10 | |||
In addition, other projects for cleaning of Ganga have been undertaken during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at a cost of Rs. 303.95 and 326.00 crore respectively.
The implementation arrangements at state level through which the projects were being executed, needed to be improved to facilitate faster implementation. Limited working capacity, existing funding pattern of 70-30 ratio and limited scope of programme caused complications in execution leading to delays. Taking these experiences into account, Government has launched Namami Gange programme with 100% central assistance including capacity building of state agencies and expansion of the scope of work for faster and smoother implementation process.
The need for a comprehensive legislation for rejuvenation of river Ganga is under consideration of the Ministry Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Earlier, when the programme was under Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, an inter-Ministerial Committee for framing draft legislation on the National River Ganga for strengthening efforts to make the river pollution free and to ensure its continuous flow was constituted. Consequent upon transfer of the work to Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been reconstituted and dialogue with the states has also been initiated.
This information was given by Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
source :Govt of India, Ministry of Water Resources ,07-December, 2015