Modi Plans New Policy to Clean Ganga

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had vowed to come out with a plan to bring back the lost glory of Ganga during his campaign in Varanasi, and now his government is planning a policy initiative to check pollution in the mighty river.

“The government will work out a policy initiative for the rejuvenation of Ganga as well as the cleaning up of other important rivers in the country. Efforts will be made to make it clean and pious as it was in the past,” Union Minister of Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti said after taking charge of the ministry. Promising an early review the status of various river projects, including fund allocation, Bharti said all the rivers should be made free from the scourge of pollution and people should get clean water. Bharti expressed happiness that she has been given the responsibility of cleaning up the Ganga and said that she will do her best to ensure that the task succeeds.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests(MoEF)is already in the process of drafting a new law to ensure clean Ganga. The key points of the new ‘Ganga Act will include making  those polluting the river to pay a fine, ensuring continuous river flow, financial model to stop polluted water entering the river, regulating hydroelectric projects and floodplain management. 

A committee under the MoEF having members from the Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Urban Development, Central Water Commission and a consortium of IITs has been set up to draft the law. The committee has held two-rounds of talks to discuss a broad framework of the new legislation, which has been a long pending demand.