Shri Bishweswar Tudu, Minister of State, Jal Shakti provided the following information in a written reply, in the Look Sabha. The Navami Ganges Programmed (NGP) is dynamic and evolving in nature to address the emerging needs and priorities for rejuvenation of river Ganga and its tributaries. Under the NGP, state level annual action plans are prepared and projects are developed by the States and taken up for implementation after due approval process and efforts are made to complete the projects by their scheduled timelines. Under NGP, state level annual action plans are prepared and based on that it was targeted that 127 sewerage and Ghats/ crematoria projects were to be completed from 2019-20 to 2022-23. Out of the targeted 127 projects 80 projects have been completed till date. During last three years, 122 projects have been completed resulting in creation/rehabilitation of 1,068 MLD STP capacity, laying of 1,580 kms of sewerage network, development/rehabilitation of 82 Ghats and 20 crematoria, river front development at Patna, fellow notification and so on. Funds are being provided to the Ganga bank State Forest Departments of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for afforestation works along the Ganges based on APOs (Annual Plan of Operation) submitted by states. Till date, 30,071 hectares area has been covered with plantation under the Navami Ganges programmed. Government of India releases funds to National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which is the empowered nodal agency
For implementation of Navami Ganges programmed. NMCG releases funds to State Governments /State Missions for Clean Ganga/CPSUSs/ other executing agencies. NMCG has taken up scientific research/studies towards rejuvenation of river Ganga. Some of important studies are as follows.
1. Special and non-putrefying of properties of river Ganga by CSIR-NEERI.
2. Generation of High Resolution DEM and GIS ready database for part of River Ganga for NMCG- (By Survey of India).
3. GIS based mapping of microbial diversity across the Ganges for ecosystem service by CSIR- NEERI.
4. Rapid Assessment of sand mining and its impact on the Ganga River using Drone Technology by IIT-Kanpur.
5. Pilot TADOX technology in textile sector by TERI. Further, for aquatic biodiversity conservation, seven projects at an estimated cost of INR 162.79 crore have been taken up under Navami Ganges. These projects aim at planning and management for aquatic species conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services in the Ganga river basin. More than 56 lakh fish seed have been released in river Ganga for conservation and restoration of IMC & Mahseer. 930 turtles have been released in the Ganga River apart from supporting the conservation and breeding of freshwater turtles and gharial at Kukri, Lucknow. In addition, four rescue and rehabilitation centers for aquatic species have been established.
