'River Ganga will be completely clean by March 2020', Union minister Nitin Gadkari expresses hope

Union Minister for Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari on Thursday expressed hope that river Ganga will become completely clean by 2020 considering the pace of its rejuvenation program. 'It is a difficult task, but we will complete it' the Minister added. 

Speaking at an event in Delhi organised by the Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC), the Minister said that if considered the pace at which the work is being assigned and getting complete, we are hopeful that by March 2020, river Ganga will be completely clean. It is a difficult task, but we will complete it'.

He said that most of the projects under the Namami Gange Mission worth Rs. 22,238 crore are at their completion stage.

"The government's flagship project has progressed well and nearly 70-80 percent of the work will be completed by March 2019", he added.

Apart from cleaning the Ganga river, work is also undertaken to clean the tributaries and nallas that flow into the main river.

"All these projects are done by private players and I have not given any response to any of the corporations. I cannot depend on the government for taking ahead these projects and so we have given the responsibility to the private sector to monitor them real-time using the best IT methods," Gadkari said.

The Namami Gange Mission consists of 221 projects 194 of which deal with constructing STPs, rural sanitation and bioremediation largely spanning Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

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Earlier this month, Union Water Nitin Gadkari affirmed that cleaning the River Ganga was the top priority of the government. Addressing the media, the Union Minister said:

"We will provide funds to Uttar Pradesh government to clean drains which pollute Ganga before Kumbh Mela near Allahabad and will send four dredgers for dredging Ganga from Allahabad to Varanasi. Clean and pure Ganga is our priority," Gadkari said.

He added that the Centre is investing Rs 1700 crore for Ganga and with this amount four river ports will be constructed in Allahabad. He further said that the Ministry will also launch Airboat services between Allahabad and Varanasi.

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