New Delhi: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) approved projects worth nearly Rs 150 crores in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal under the Namami Gange programme during its fifth Executive Committee meeting held in New Delhi.
These projects include Interception and Diversion (I&D) works where small rivers, rivulets, and drains are intercepted before they empty into the main river, and are diverted to Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) so that the water that finally drains into the main river is clean. The projects also include STPs and development of Ghats.
In Uttarakhand, I&D projects were approved for Rispana and Bindal Rivers in Dehradun at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crores. The wastewater from these rivers ultimately meets Ganga between Haridwar and Rishikesh through River Song. Once executed, this project will tap 117 drains now carrying untreated wastewater. It is proposed to build an STP with one million liters per day (MLD) capacity to treat some of this wastewater, while 28 MLD will be treated at the existing STPs.
The development of Ghats in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur was approved at an estimated cost of Rs.27.41 crore under the Clean Ganga Fund. The project includes the renovation, extension, and widening of the Ghats as well as provision of amenities, landscaping and embankment construction. The project also includes refurbishment of Ram Gaya crematorium and construction of two new crematoriums.
The committee approved a 3.5 MLD capacity STP and its ancillary works, along with I&D of sewer lines in Sonepur in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs.30.92 crore. The project includes the cost of operations and maintenance (O&M) for 15 years. Once completed, the STP will treat all the five drains of the city, including RN Tagore School Drain, Ward 3-4 boundary, Graveyard ward 18, Meena Bazaar which are presently carrying untreated sewage into the river Mahe which discharges into river Gandak and finally into the Ganga.
The committee also approved the riverfront development project in Sonepur at an estimated cost of Rs.22.92 Crore. This includes the construction of a connecting promenade, embankment protection, provision of amenities as well as landscaping along the ghats. In addition, eight ghats are under construction under the Namami Gange programme at an estimated cost of 20 crores.
The Executive Committee also gave go-ahead to the renovation of ghats and crematoria at Katwa, Kalna, Agradwip and Dainhat in West Bengal. These projects will be taken up under Clean Ganga Fund with combined cost Rs. 8.58 crores and includes embankment protection, provision of basic amenities at the Ghats, landscaping, electrical and allied works, renovation of existing structures etc at the various ghats.
Apart from this, the Executive Committee also accorded approval to a proposal to document the cultural heritage of River Ganga from Gaumukh to Gangasagar through INTACH. The proposal seeks to develop an appreciation of the river as a cultural stream embedded in the soul of India, by documenting its associated cultural narrative, including features like an annual calendar of events and rituals. This would cover archaeological heritage, intangible cultural heritage, and environmental heritage.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]