The 16th meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF) on River Ganga was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Paatil, reaffirming India’s commitment to reviving and conserving its most sacred river. The Minister emphasized that the rejuvenation of the Ganga is not merely an environmental initiative but a mission intertwined with the nation’s cultural heritage, faith, and the livelihoods of millions. The meeting brought together key officials from the Department of Water Resources, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and Ganga basin states. Highlighting significant progress, the Minister noted that nearly 80 percent of the issues taken up by the ETF in the past year have been resolved, forming a solid foundation for coordinated and sustainable action.
Special attention was given to wetland conservation in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Out of 282 and 387 wetlands assessed in these states, 59 were identified as high priority, with the Minister urging expedited notifications to provide them with legal protection.
The ETF also reviewed pollution abatement efforts in Uttar Pradesh, where a sewage treatment capacity of 4,651 MLD has been achieved, with another 1,708 MLD under construction. The Minister directed greater focus on smaller urban bodies by accelerating City Sanitation Action Plans under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0.Emphasizing small river rejuvenation, the Minister reviewed the “Namami Niranjana Campaign” to revive the sacred Niranjana (Falgu) River in Bihar through afforestation, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
The meeting also addressed floodplain demarcation, regulatory enforcement, and the ecological impacts of sand mining, with IIT Kanpur’s study offering vital insights for policy formulation.
Concluding, the Minister called for coordinated and time-bound action to achieve the vision of an “Aviral and Nirmal Ganga,” symbolizing the river’s uninterrupted and pure flow.
