Efforts on for Rejuvenation of Ganga

Fresh water resources likes lakes and rivers are exposed to various forms of degradation due to high rise in population, increasing standards of living and unplanned industrialisation and urbanisation.

River Ganga is also experiencing similar deterioration in water quality. This has largely impacted the people living in the cities and towns located on the banks of Ganga. It is said that some stretches of Ganga during the lean seasons become unfit even for bathing.

This is not the only threat to Ganga; global climate change and its effects of the glacier has made it compulsory for the government to rejuvenate the river. With an aim to rejuvenate Ganga a programme called Namami Gange has been undertaken by the Government of India.

About Namami Gange:

'Namami Gange' Programme, is a flagship programme of Government of India with a renewed impetus to decrease river pollution and conserve the revered river 'Ganga'.

In this connection, the Indian Government solicited support from various countries to rejuvenate the Ganga.

Agreement between India and Germany for Rejuvenation of Ganga:

Government of Germany, with its vast experiences in cleaning and rejuvenating European rivers such as Rhine, Elbe and Danube, was keen to join hands for collaboration with Government of India.

Under this programme an implementation agreement was signed between the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and German International Cooperation of Germany.

Objective of the agreement:

The objective of the agreement is to enable responsible stakeholders at National and State level to apply integrated river basin management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga.

This will be based on Indo-German Knowledge exchange and practical experience on strategic river basin management issues, effective data management system and public engagement.

About the project:

The project will closely cooperate with other National and international initiatives including Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) and 'Sustainable Environment-friendly Industrial Production' (SEIP).

The project duration is three years i.e. from 2016 to 2018 and the German contribution in the project will be to the tune of Rs. 22.5 crore. Initial actions will focus on the State of Uttarakhand, with scope of expansion to other upstream Ganga States.

The ultimate goal is to adopt the successful river basin management strategies used for Rhine and Danube and replicate the same, wherever possible for attaining the pristine status of river Ganga.

German Ambassador shares his views on the occasion:

Speaking on the occasion German Ambassador said that his country understands the devotion and cultural importance of river Ganga and will do its best to bring back mother Ganga to its pristine glory.