The Centre has approved the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, which gives the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) more powers in taking action against polluting industries. The power so far lay with the Central Pollution Control Board.

Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti termed the decision as a major step and said this would help in environment protection and rejuvenation of the Ganga.

“It will also ensure proper co-ordination with the local bodies and compliance with directions of the NMCG for pollution abatement of the Ganga,” she said.

Financial authority

The order also delegates financial and administrative powers to NMCG to accelerate the process of project implementation for Ganga rejuvenation.

The order envisages creation of the National Council for River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) as an Authority under the Prime Minister as Chairperson, replacing the existing NGRBA.

It also leads to the setting up of an Empowered Task Force chaired by the Minister of Water Resources along with the other ministries, departments and State governments concerned in the protection of Ganga.

“A mechanism will also be formed for monitoring implementation of this panel’s action plans in a time-bound manner,” Bharti added. At the State level, the proposal is to create State Ganga Committees, which will have the direction and control over the District Ganga Protection Committees under their jurisdiction. “A special focus of the revamped structure would be to maintain required ecological flows in river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development,” Bharti added.

“There are about 22 canals that pollute Ganga. This order will help us to properly monitor pollution of the holy river,” she said. She said for taking up fast track creation of sewerage treatment infrastructure in the Ganga basin, an innovative model based on hybrid annuity has also been approved.

“This will ensure that the infrastructure created under the project is operational on a sustainable basis,” a statement by the Water Resources Ministry added.

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