By March 2019, Ganga will be around 70% clean: Gadkari

Union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari claimed that highly-polluted river Ganga will be 70-80 per cent clean by March 2019. By 2020, this river will be 100 per cent cleaned, said Gadkari.

“The work is on. It is a difficult task but we are working hard to achieve it,” said Gadkari at IMC event on ‘Development of Infrastructure and Ganga Rejuvenation’. “By March 2019, Ganga will be cleaned by 70-80 per cent. By March 2020, it will be completed.”

In case of Ganga, there are a total of 250 projects that are taking place in Ganga and its tributaries. He added, “Out of that, 60 projects are completed. There are around 140 projects that are in tendering process.” The ministry is planning to finish awarding all the projects by December 2018. He stressed the need to curb pollution caused by 10 cities which is causing 70 per cent of pollution. It includes cities like Delhi, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna and other cities.

In Uttarakhand, 15 out of 31 new projects related to sewage have been completed and rest are under progress. There are 32 projects in Uttar Pradesh, eight are complete, 10 are under progress and 14 is under tendering process. While in Bihar, 10 projects are under progress and 10 is under tendering. In Jharkhand, there are two projects and all are under progress. In West Bengal, two are completed, four under process and 10 are under tendering process.

In case of old sewage treatment plants (STPs), 39 have been repaired, 14 upgraded and 12 are upgraded and are operating. “All this work cannot be left to the government.” For 15 years, private operators are appointed and they are asked to maintain the water clean. There is only one operator in one city.

Explaining further he said that projects such as these need a lot of attention which includes maintenance, upgradation and all other expenses. But in all this a private entity knows that it has to make profit too. So, it will work towards achieving that. He added, “Transparency and accountability is the basis for this decision.”

He envisages to make the holy river cleaning a national movement. He is considering of designating some people as Ganga Mitra, who can communicate the idea of cleaning the river by monetary contribution. “I want around 1 crore people to contribute to River Ganga. It is because I want them to take credit for it,” Gadkari added.