Analyses affirm Ganga river cleaner now than in 1985: Minister

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) The Government's claim in the Lok Sabha today that the Ganga was less polluted now than what it was in 1985 when the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was taken up, evoked a strong reaction among members of the Oppostion as well as UPA allies who dubbed the official analysis reports as 'false and fabricated.' The irate members were equally amused to hear from Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena that the Ganga ''is comparatively cleaner than internationally known big rivers like Thames, Danube and Rhine''.

Responding to a calling attention motion by Mr Mohan Singh (SP) regarding ''Cleaning of river Ganga at Varanasi'', the Minister said the value of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in the river downstream of Varanasi had reduced from 10 mg per litre in 1986 to 2.3 mg in 2005 against the standard 3 mg per litre or less.

Similarly, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level in the river water had now increased from 5.9 mg per litre (l) to 8.3 mg/l while the standard level is 5mg/l, the Minister added.

The members described as ''humbug...tissue papers'' the analysis reports the Minister cited in the House and claimed to have been prepared by four institutes of international repute, including the Harvard Institute of Development and Central Pollution Control Board.

Samajwadi Party's leader in the House Ram Gopal Yadav demanded action against the officials of Environment Ministry which facilitated the compilation of such reports.

Mr Ram Kirpal Yadav of RJD said the Minister should stop mentioning the BOD and DO standards of the flowing water when, in fact, there was no water downstream at Patna.

A majority of members agreed to Mr Mohan Singh's contention that the water of the sacred river was no longer potable with 300 million tonnes of sewer flowing into it in a year.

Its tributaries like Gomti and Mahananda and industrial effluents from Kanpur and other cities have been leaving the river more polluted.

Some MPs said celebrating 'Kumbh' and other religious ceremonies had now become more difficult.

A number of MPs from UP raised the issue of blocking of Gangotri water by upstream Tehri dam, leading to a large scale pollution down the line in UP, Bihar and West Bengal.

The Minister, however, agreed the problem of pollution of the river water was serious downstream of Kanpur industrial city, which was being taken up in the GAP phase two.

The Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), the Minister said, had agreed to finance a second phase project estimated at Rs 552 crore wherein sewer treatment plants, community toilets in slum areas and dhobi ghats would be set up at various UP towns dotting the river.

At present, the approved allocation for GAP phase second works in Varanasi is Rs 45.05 crore for four schemes including setting up of a sewage treatment plant of 37 mega litre daily (mld) capacity.

The Minister also assured the House that the PAC report pertaining to the lax implementation of the GAP Phase one projects was being scrutinised for taking action against the responsible officials.

He also assured the House to take up with Uttaranchal government the issue of pollution of the Ganga upstream by waters of Bhagirathi and other rivulets, caused by tourists who throw plastic bags and other materials into the river.

UNI/JSS MSJ HT1550