Opposition Corners Centre over Ganga Clean-up Plan

NEW DELHI: The Opposition parties on Monday cornered the NDA Government over its proposed measures for cleaning up the Ganga river saying the grand measures lack clear implementation based on a road map.

While initiating the debate on the demand for grants for the Water Resources Ministry, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said the government objective remains unclear as it talks about inland water transport and at the same time talks about the beautification of Ghats and want to make the river ‘Nirmal’. “All of this is not possible because when you have large-scale industrial projects, how can you ensure that the Ganga will remain ‘Nirmal’,” Gogoi told the House.

He also accused the Government of ignoring other critical issues under the Ministry saying the other functions have been diluted or severely compromised.

“The western states of India will receive minimal precipitation but at this point of time, the Union Budget has not indicated any measures as to what the government will do with regard to water reservoirs,” Gogoi said.

Mohammad Basheer of the IUML accused the government of ignoring other rivers.

“You are talking about the Ganga. It is well and good. But in fact almost all the rivers are dying. We must have a master plan for the preservation of our rivers.”

Former Prime Minister and JDS member H D Deve Gowda raised the issue of linking of rivers and said the government has not allocated funds for the programme in the Budget.

Responding to the concerns of the MPs, Union Cabinet Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Uma Bharti said the government is committed to take care of all the rivers and asked the members to identify the rivers in their constituency that needs government attention.

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