Centre approves projects of 2700 cr to develop sewerage infrastructure in Ganga basin

New Delhi: Centre has approved projects of worth around Rs. 2700 crore for developing sewerage infrastructure in the Ganga basin.

Out of the approved projects 12 projects have been identified to develop sewerage infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Along with this afforestation programmes for the year 2022-23 for Uttarakhand and Bihar were also approved at an estimated cost of Rs 42.80 crore.

“The aim is to create an enabling environment for climate resilient and sustainable ecosystem management with community participatory approach” said the official statement.

The approval was given during the  6th meeting of the Executive Committee of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised under the chairmanship of G. Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG on 23rd December.

In West Bengal, a big project for Rejuvenation of River Adi Ganga, tributary of Ganga, in Kolkata was approved at an estimated cost of Rs. 653.67 crore that includes construction of 3 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of 10 Million Litres per Day (MLD), 11.60 MLD and 3.5 MLD capacities.

In Uttar Pradesh, total 3 projects were approved, out of which one project pertains to development of sewerage infrastructure in Prayagraj costing Rs. 475.19 crore.

Two other projects approved includes construction of a 50 MLD STP, I&D works  at an estimated cost of Rs. 264.67 crore at Loniapurva, Lucknow for River Gomti and 24 MLD STP, I&D works at Hathras town for Rivers Sengar and Karwan costing Rs. 128.91 crore.

In Bihar, one project each for Daudnagar and Motihari towns have been approved at estimated costs of Rs. 42.25 and 149.15 crore respectively.

A major project in Jharkhand was approved in the 46th EC meeting. The project includes construction of 5 STPs of total 192 MLD capacity interception and diversion and other works at an estimated cost of Rs. 808.33 crore in Dhanbad town.

This project is for pollution abatement in River Damodar, an important tributary of River Ganga.

Another project titled ‘Scientific exploration of floral diversity near the Ganga river banks for ethnobotanical purposes along with their conservation and economic development of the region via skill development programs’ was approved in the EC for all the five states.

The project will be implemented in collaboration with Patanjali Research Institute (PRI) & Patanjali Organic Research Institute (PORI), Haridwar, Uttarakhand.