NEW DELHI: The development of sewerage infrastructure in the Ganga basin worth ₹2,700 crore has been approved at the meeting of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). Under the Chairmanship of G Asok Kumar, Director General of NMCG, the 46th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga was held in Delhi.
For states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, there are 12 development programmes pertaining to the development of sewerage infrastructure worth more than ₹2,700 crore. Whereas for Uttarkhand and Bihar, afforestation programmes were approved at an estimated cost of ₹42.80 crore that aim to create a sustainable ecosystem management with community participatory approach.
In the state of West Bengal, a major project for the Rejuvenation of River Adi Ganga was approved at an estimated cost ₹653.67 crore. It includes construction of three Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of 10 million litres per day (MLD), 3.5 MLD and 11.60 MLD capacities.
Three projects were approved in Uttar Pradesh, one of which includes the construction of sewerage infrastructure in Prayagraj and will cost Rs. 475.19 crore.
Projects for Daudnagar and Motihari towns in Bihar have been approved with an estimated cost of Rs. 42.25 and 149.15 crore respectively.
In the meeting, a significant project in Jharkhand was also approved. The project calls for the construction of five STPs in Dhanbad town, totalling 192 MLD capacity (18+21+75+60+18), as well as interception and diversion work. The cost of the project is Rs. 808.33 crore.
Another project was approved for all the five states, titled ‘Scientific exploration of floral diversity near the Ganga river banks for ethnobotanical purposes along with their conservation and economic development of the region via skill development programmes’.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with Patanjali Organic Research Institute (PORI), and Patanjali Research Institute (PRI) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.