Rejuvenation of Ganga should be shining example of cooperative federalism: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired first meeting of National Ganga Council on Saturday and said that rejuvenation of river should be a shining example of cooperative federalism.

He also reviewed progress of works under ambitious Namami Gange project in stretch of river that is considered most polluted and deliberated on various aspects of cleaning river with focus on 'swachhta', 'aviralta' and 'nirmalta'. According to a statement from Prime Minister's Office, at meeting PM Modi observed that Ganga is holiest river in sub-continent and its rejuvenation should embody a shining example of cooperative federalism.

ting that rejuvenation of river has been a long-pending challenge for country, he said a lot has been accomplished since his government took up Namami Gange project in 2014 as a comprehensive initiative integrating various governmental efforts and activities to abate pollution, and conserve and rejuvenate river. According to officials, government h me a commitment of providing Rs 20,000 crore for period 2015-20 to five states through which Ganga passes, to ensure equate and uninterrupted flow.

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Rs 7,700 crore has alrey been spent, prominently for construction of sew treatment plants, y said. According to PMO statement, PM Modi emphasised that an improvement in framework for Nirmal Ganga would require fullest cooperation from public at large and generating greater awareness through dissemination of best practices from cities situated on river banks. 

It said meeting was of view that efficiency of District Ganga Committees should be improved in all districts, in order to provide an effective framework for expeditious implementation of plans. government has set up Clean Ganga Fund (CGF) to facilitate contributions from people, NRIs and corporate entities for funding Ganga rejuvenation projects, statement said.

PM has personally donated Rs 16.53 crore to CGF, from amount realised from auction of gifts he received since 2014 and prize money of Seoul Peace prize, it said. PM Modi also pitched for a holistic thinking process where Namami Gange evolves to 'arth' Ganga or a sustainable development model with a focus on ecomic activities related to river.

As part of this process, farmers should be encourd to eng in sustainable agriculture practices, including zero-budget farming, planting of fruit trees and setting up plant nurseries on banks of Ganga, statement said, ding priority could be given to women self-help groups and ex-servicemen organizations for se programmes. Such practices, along with creation of infrastructure for water sports and development of camp sites, cycling and walking tracks would help tap river basin area's hybrid tourism potential  both religious and venture tourism, it stated.

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income generated from encouraging eco-tourism and Ganga wildlife conservation and cruise tourism would help generate sustainable income streams for cleaning of river. To monitor progress of work being carried out under various schemes and initiatives under Namami Gange and Arth Ganga, prime minister directed attendees of meeting to set up a digital dashboard where data from vills and urban bodies can be monitored on a daily basis by Niti Ayog and Jal Shakti Ministry.

Modi also said like aspirational districts, all districts bordering Ganga should be me a focus area for monitoring efforts under Namami Gange. meeting of National Ganga Council was initially scheduled for about 100 minutes but it continued for ar 40 minutes. council has been given overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of River Ganga basin, including Ganga and its tributaries.

Accompanied by chief ministers and or dignitaries, Modi visited Atal Ghat near Ganga barr to assess works done re. He n went on a half-an-hour steamer ride on Ganga and inspected Sisamau Nullah, a 128-year-old drain which was a major contributor to river's pollution until it was cleaned under Namami Gange Programme. Under programme, 13 out of 16 major drains in Kanpur have been tapped, and sew and industrial effluents have been diverted to Common Effluent Treatment Plants.

Returning from steamer ride, prime minister stumbled and fell while climbing stairs of ghat but was promptly back on his feet as security personnel rushed to his help. Kanpur Commissioner Sudhir M Bobde said SPG were informed beforehand that one of steps of ghat was a little higher than ors. Uttar Presh Chief Minister Yogi ityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat, Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Environment Minister Prakash Javekar, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, Niti Aayog vice chairman were among those present at meeting of council.

West Bengal did t have any representative in meeting, while Jharkhand didn't participate as Model Code of Conduct is in force re in view of ongoing Assembly elections. Upon his arrival at Kanpur's Chakeri airport, Modi was received by ityanath. He paid tribute to freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Az and visited an exhibition on Namami Gange at Chandrashekhar Az Agriculture University. 

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