Ganga much cleaner today due to PM's Namami Gange program, says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that river Ganga was much cleaner today due to Namami Gange program. He was visiting Ganga Barr in Kanpur.

Namami Gange Programme is a flagship program approved by Union Government in June 2014 with a budget outlay of Rs 20,000 crore to accomplish objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

" Namami Gange program was started and given momentum by Prime Minister Narendra Modiji to clean river Ganga which is considered equivalent to a mor in India. I thank Narendra Modiji for starting this movement in country which has led to a much cleaner river, fish have started being found again in dead zones here," Adityanath told a news ncy.

READ | Over 100 Out Of 350 Projects For Cleaning Ganga Completed, Says Jal Shakti Minister

CM Adityanath added that closure of sewers and drains, which used to add pollutants in rivers, was making a remarkable difference in water body's condition.

Sisamau nullah which used to discharge 140 megaliters per day (MLD) of sew waste in Ganga has been tapped by officials and waste has w been diverted to Jajamu and Bingawan treatment plants. 

"Today we are standing near Sisamau sewer, which once was biggest sewer drain in whole of Asia and whole waste of Kanpur used to fall into river. whole river used to become black beyond this point due to sew but w situation is much better," said Adityanath.

READ | Ganga And Citizenship: Centre Eyes Passing Two Most Contentious Bills This Winter Session

"Dozens of such sewers have been taped off leading to a much better condition of river in Uttar Pradesh and lower areas to which it flows," Adityanath added. 

While flagging off Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra, CM Yogi Adityanath said that to give strength to PM Modi’s efforts for program, more than 1.30 crore saplings were planted and over 1,627 vills situated on banks of river Ganga have been made open-defecation free.

He also added that state government has taken serious steps to stop effluents of various tanneries, drains, etc. from flowing into Ganga river. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is presumably going to visit Kanpur city to review Namami Gange Mission on December 14. 

(With inputs from ANI)

READ | How 'Bala' Went From A Story On Pollution In Ganga To Film About Self-love

READ | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Inspected Kanha Gaushala