Background
- Launched in June 2014 by the Government of India.
- Flagship programme under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
- Aim: Conserve and rejuvenate River Ganga, India’s most significant and sacred river, which supports nearly 43% of India’s population across 11 states.
Objectives
- Effective Abatement of Pollution in the Ganga River.
- Conservation and Rejuvenation of the river ecosystem.
- Ensuring Aviral Dhara (uninterrupted flow) and Nirmal Dhara (unpolluted flow).
- Promoting public participation through community and NGO involvement.
- Strengthening institutional mechanisms for long-term governance of the Ganga.
Key Features
- Integrated Mission Mode Project with a budget of ₹20,000 crore (initial phase).
- Twin strategy:
- Pollution abatement (sewage treatment plants, industrial effluent management, crematoria modernization).
- River surface cleaning (manual and mechanized collection of floating waste).
- River-Front Development: Ghats and crematoria modernization.
- Biodiversity Conservation: Project Dolphin, turtle rehabilitation, and fishery improvement.
- Afforestation drive: Riparian plantation for soil conservation and groundwater recharge.
- Public awareness campaigns: “Ganga Vahini” volunteers, educational programmes.
- Industrial Effluent Monitoring: Real-time effluent monitoring systems in major industries along the Ganga.
Institutional Framework
- National Ganga Council (NGC): Chaired by the Prime Minister.
- NMCG: Nodal agency at the central level.
- State Ganga Committees and District Ganga Committees ensure implementation at the local level.
Achievements (till date)
- 190+ Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) approved, many under construction/operation.
- Real-time water quality monitoring at critical stretches.
- Reduction in organic pollution load in some stretches.
- 100+ Ghats and crematoria modernized.
- Increase in Ganga Dolphin population in recent surveys.
- Recognized as a flagship model for river basin management.
Challenges
- Delays in STP construction and operational efficiency.
- Untreated sewage inflow continues to be high.
- Need for better coordination between Centre, States, and local bodies.
- Seasonal variability and growing urbanization add to pollution load.
- Public participation is still limited compared to targets.
UPSC Prelims Pointers
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Implementing Agency: NMCG.
- Legal Backing: Declared as an Authority under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Related programmes: National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA, 2009) was replaced by NGC in 2016.