NATIONAL GANGA COUNCIL - ENVIRONMENT

News: Rejuvenation of small rivers under NREGS highlight of PM meet today

 

What's in the news?

       The centre will showcase its initiative of rejuvenating around 75 small rivers, mainly in UP, over the past four years using funds under the national rural job guarantee scheme during the second meeting of the National Ganga Council, which will be held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kolkata on December 30.

 

National Mission for Clean Ganga:

About the Mission:

       The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is implemented by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga also known as the National Ganga Council.

       This mission was established on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 as a registered society.

 

Administrative structure:

       Environment Protection Act, 1986 has provided a five-tier structure at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water.

       National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

       Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation).

       National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).

       State Ganga Committees and

       District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states.

 

Objectives:

       The mission incorporates rehabilitating and boosting the existing STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) and instant short-term steps to curb pollution at exit points on the riverfront in order to check the inflow of sewage.

       To maintain the continuity of the water flow without changing the natural season variations.

       To restore and maintain the surface flow and groundwater.

       To regenerate and maintain the natural vegetation of the area.

       To conserve and regenerate the aquatic biodiversity as well as the riparian biodiversity of the river Ganga basin.

       To allow participation of the public in the process of protection, rejuvenation and management of the river.

 

Initiatives:

Ganga Action Plan:

       It was the first River Action Plan that was taken up by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 1985, to improve the water quality by the interception, diversion, and treatment of domestic sewage.

       The National River Conservation Plan is an extension to the Ganga Action Plan. It aims at cleaning the Ganga river under Ganga Action Plan phase-2.

 

Clean Ganga Fund:

       In 2014, it was formed for cleaning up of the Ganga, setting up of waste treatment plants, and conservation of biotic diversity of the river.

 

Bhuvan-Ganga Web App:

       It ensures involvement of the public in monitoring pollution entering into the river Ganga.

 

Namami Gange Programme:

       It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

       Ganga was declared as the National River of India in 2008.

 

National Ganga Council:

About the Council:

       The National Ganga Council (NGC) was established in October 2016 after the National Ganga River Basin Authority was dissolved by the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.

       The Ganga River Basin, comprising Ganga and its tributaries, has been entrusted to the Council with overarching responsibility for pollution control and rejuvenation.

       This Council is in charge of preventing pollution and revitalizing the Ganga River Basin, which includes the Ganga River and its tributaries.

 

Jurisdiction:

       Its jurisdiction includes the Ganga River Basin states of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Delhi-NCR, as well as any additional states with large Ganga tributaries.

       It is in charge of putting the National Mission for a Clean Ganga into action.

 

Composition:

       The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairperson for the NGC.

       Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will be the ex-officio Vice-Chairperson.

       The other ex-officio members of the council are from various ministries and CMs of the corresponding states among other stakeholders.

 

Functions of the Council:

       Implementation of the National Ganga River Basin Authority's programmes, which are also backed by the World Bank.

       Coordination and implementation of the government of India and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation initiatives.

       It also has the responsibility of creating and modifying the regulations that govern the appropriate operation of NMCG.

       Accounts and distribution of grants, money, loan securities, or property must be managed and maintained.

       To take all appropriate actions that are consistent with the NMCG's goals.