Namami Ganga Project needs to be pursued vigorously with a time frame work at different towns so that it could be completed as per schedule
Brig. K.G. Behl (Retd.)
President, All India Consumer Council, Uttarakhand
Though the project Namami Ganga was started last year with a promise to completely clean Ganga by the year 2018, with the sole aim of stopping all sewerage which directly falls into Ganga and making aware devotees not to throw into Ganga anything which pollutes it. But it appears that nothing much has been done in this direction. The number of sewerage nalas which flow into the river were required to be earmarked and action was required to stop that flow one by one by taking up suitable action so that all could be stopped by the end of year 2018. A number of treatment plants were required to be constructed at different cities all along the river from where the sewerage is presently flowing into the river. Besides this solid waste management are required at different places so that the Garbage is not dumped into the river or flows during rains into the river. Even the flowers and other Puja articles offered to the holy river are also collected and put into solid waste locations. It is learnt that they are 132 spots in Uttarakhand where the sewerage directly flows into the river which need to be stopped in a phased manner so that the work gets completed by the end of the year 2018.
Ganga, as we know is the largest river in India with an extraordinary religious importance for Hindus and all those who live along its banks and are settled for ages. Some of the world’s oldest cities like, Hardwar, Rishikesh, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna and others extending to roughly 29 cities above population of 1 million, 23 cities with population of about one lacs, and 48 other smaller towns are inhabited along it. A large quantity of pollutants and affluents are discharged into it specially the sewerage. People have to be educated about emersion of ashes and other collected material into the river and utilise electric crematoriums and other methods where less wood is used for cremation purposes.
Unless a time bound programme to stop inflow of sewerage into the river at various places is made, it does not sound possible to complete the project by the due date. The authorities concerned are requested to look into this aspect and take concerted action so that Namami Ganga project is completed within the time frame proposed.
It is a collosal job and a very hard commitment to fulfill and needs dedication and devotion of not only Govt. but the people of areas too including industries to make it successful by the date committed.
Union Minister for Water Resources Mrs. Uma Bharathi, is requested to take suitable steps to ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated time frame and money is not wasted on minor issues. Committees made in each State through which river Ganga flows should be made responsible to carry out the work as per schedule.
