Namami Gange Programme: an Integrated Conservation Mission for the Ganga

Background

The Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a Flagship Programme by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore.
Its twin objectives are effective abatement of pollution, and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
The main pillars of the programme are Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure, River-Front Development, River-Surface Cleaning, Bio-Diversity, Afforestation, Public Awareness, Industrial Effluent Monitoring and Ganga Gram.
Implementation is divided into Entry-Level Activities, Medium-Term Activities to be implemented within 5 years, and Long-Term Activities to be implemented within 10 years.
200 sewerage infrastructure projects including 1 decentralized modular project have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs. 31,810 Crore, out of which 116 projects have been completed and made operational.
84 Ghats and Crematoria projects for construction, modernization and renovation of 286 Ghats, Crematoria, Kunds and Ponds have been sanctioned.
River surface cleaning for collection of floating solid waste has been pushed into service at 11 locations.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Kolkata and the Uttar Pradesh State Forest Department have been awarded projects to develop a science-based aquatic species restoration plan for the Ganga.