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New Delhi : At its 5th Executive Committee meeting held in New Delhi on August 28, 2018, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved projects worth nearly Rs 150 crore in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, and West Bengal under the Namami Gange programme. These projects include Interception and Diversion (I&D) works where small rivers, rivulets and drains are intercepted before they empty into the main river and are diverted to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP), so that the water that finally drains into the main river is clean and totally devoid of any pollutants. The projects also include STPs and development of Ghats.
Uttarakhand : Interception and Diversion (I&D) projects wwere approved for Rispana & Bindal Rivers in Dehradun at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore. The waste water from these rivers ultimately meets Ganga between Haridwar and Rishikesh through river Song. Once executed, this project will tap 117 naalas/drains now carrying untreated waste water. It is proposed to build a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with 1 Million Litre Per day (MLD) capacity to treat some of this waste water while 28 MLD will be treated at the existing STPs.
Uttar Pradesh : The development of Ghats in Mirzapur was approved at an estimated cost of Rs 27.41 crore under the Clean Ganga Fund. The project includes the renovation, extension and widening of the Ghats as well as provision of amenities, landscaping and embankment construction. Further, the project also includes refurbishment of Ram Gaya crematorium and construction of two new crematoriums.
Bihar : The Committee approved a 3.5 MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and its ancillary works, along with Interception and Diversion (I&D) of sewer lines at Sonepur, Saran, in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 30.92 crore. The Project includes the cost of operations and maintenance (O&M) for 15 years. Once completed, the STP will treat all the 5 drains of the city including R N Tagore School Drain, Ward 3-4 boundary, Graveyard (Ward 18), Meena Bazaar which are presently carrying untreated sewage into river Mahe which discharges into river Gandak and finally into the Ganga, according to a PIB release.
The Committee also approved the river front development project at Sonepur at an estimated cost of Rs 22.92 crore. This includes construction of a connecting promenade, embankment protection, provision of amenities as well as landscaping along the ghats. In addition, 8 ghats are under construction under the Namami Gange programme at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore.
West Bengal : The Eexcutive Committee also gave go-ahead to the upgradation/renovation of Ghats and Crematoria at Katwa, Kalna, Agradwip and Dainhat in West Bengal. These projects will be taken up under Clean Ganga Fund. The combined cost of these projects is Rs 8.58 crore and includes embankment protection, provision of basic amenities at the Ghats, landscaping, electrical and allied works, renovation of existing structures etc at the various ghats.
Documentation of Cultural Heritage along River Ganga : The Eexcutive Committee also accorded approval to a proposal to document the cultural heritage of River Ganga from Gaumukh to Gangasagar through INTACH. The proposal seeks to develop an appreciation of the river as a cultural stream embedded in the soul of India by documenting its associated cultural narrative including features like an annual calendar of events and rituals. This would cover archaeological heritage, intangible cultural heritage and environmental heritage.