Latest news with #NMCG
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
NGT seeks response to Ganga Action Plan execution gaps in West Bengal
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed that deficiencies in the implementation of the Ganga Action Plan in West Bengal be specified by the state, NMCG and CPCB by way of affidavit. The NGT, while reviewing the status of Ganga pollution control measures in West Bengal, noted that partial action has been taken in the state to control the flow of polluting materials into the river, but untreated sewage continues to flow into it from several drains. Noting that several sewage treatment plants are either non-functional or not meeting the standards, the principal bench of the NGT, headed by chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava, held that there are gaps in data, project execution and water quality. The NGT directed that the deficiencies and gaps noticed from disclosure made in reports of the state and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) be "responded to" by way of affidavit by the chief secretary of West Bengal, the director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and CPCB before the next hearing for the state on October 8. The NGT said that the report submitted by the West Bengal government states that drains having significant flow are discharging a large pollution load and for these drains, DPR (detailed project report) is still under preparation and timelines are uncertain. The NGT said that a rejuvenation plan should be executed to ensure prevention of discharge of sewage and sullage into storm water drains and canals and accordingly create centralised and decentralised sewage treatment facilities. The CPCB report said that out of 42 sewerage treatment plants (STP) in 30 Ganga front towns in the state, only 31 were operationaland only seven were complying with the standards and thus, untreated or partially treated sewage is being discharged. The NGT noted that CPCB has not disclosed in its report the total installed treatment capacity of the 42 STPs and the extent of utilisation capacities.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
NGT asks authorities to specify deficiencies in implementing Ganga Action Plan in Bengal
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed that deficiencies in the implementation of the Ganga Action Plan in West Bengal be specified by the state, NMCG and CPCB by way of affidavit. The NGT, while reviewing the status of Ganga pollution control measures in West Bengal, noted that partial action has been taken in the state to control the flow of polluting materials into the river, but untreated sewage continues to flow into it from several drains. Noting that several sewage treatment plants are either non-functional or not meeting the standards, the principal bench of the NGT, headed by chairman Justice Prakash Shrivastava, held that there are gaps in data, project execution and water quality. The NGT directed that the deficiencies and gaps noticed from disclosure made in reports of the state and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) be 'responded to' by way of affidavit by the chief secretary of West Bengal, the director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and CPCB before the next hearing for the state on October 8. The NGT said that the report submitted by the West Bengal government states that drains having significant flow are discharging a large pollution load and for these drains, DPR (detailed project report) is still under preparation and timelines are uncertain. The NGT said that a rejuvenation plan should be executed to ensure prevention of discharge of sewage and sullage into storm water drains and canals and accordingly create centralised and decentralised sewage treatment facilities. The CPCB report said that out of 42 sewerage treatment plants (STP) in 30 Ganga front towns in the state, only 31 were operationaland only seven were complying with the standards and thus, untreated or partially treated sewage is being discharged. The NGT noted that CPCB has not disclosed in its report the total installed treatment capacity of the 42 STPs and the extent of utilisation capacities.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Namami Gange project: Let the rivers talk to each other
Cleaning the Yamuna is among the top priorities of the newly elected BJP government in Delhi. The keen interest from the central government, also led by the BJP, favours the project. The project also has the advantage of the Yamuna being part of the Namami Gange Programme (NGP). Delhi's state-driven effort to clean the Yamuna carries the prospect of valuable reciprocal learning, which can help shape a comprehensive policy ecosystem for rejuvenating India's rivers. The NGP, launched in 2014 as the Government of India's flagship programme, can boast of a discernible impact in improving the water quality and ecological status of the Ganga. Besides the recent cleaner Maha Kumbh, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) offers the rising populations of keystone species such as the Ganges dolphin as evidence of the improved ecological status of the river. In over a decade of its implementation, the NGP's responsive policy and institutional experiments stand out as a departure from the earlier Ganga Action Plan. Implemented in mission mode, the NGP has interesting legal and institutional innovations to its credit. The foremost among these is that it has shifted from the regulatory framing of what was the Ministry of Environment and Forests to an executive approach, in the Ministry of Jal Shakti (earlier the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation). The programme also marks a shift from pollution abatement to improving the ecological condition of the river. The NGP has pursued a river basin approach informed by a plan produced by a consortium of the Indian Institutes of Technology. In celebrated river restoration programmes, like those in Europe, such shifts took decades. The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR), established in 1950 to restore the River Rhine, made these shifts only after the Sandoz disaster in 1986. The NMCG was accorded the status of an authority soon after it was launched through the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order of 2016. The National Ganga River Basin Authority, constituted earlier, was dissolved through this order and was replaced with a National Ganga Council (NGC). There are other institutional innovations that show an unusual agility in policymaking. The NGC is headed by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of the riparian states and 10 Union ministers as members. The NGC guides an empowered task force headed by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, and an executive council headed by NMCG's director general with extensive financial and regulatory powers. The most striking feature of the 2016 order is the recognition of the subnational governments as important partners. It mandates a layered structure of state Ganga committees and district Ganga committees — accommodating the important roles of governments at different levels. Despite this deliberate effort, the subnational participation in Namami Gange has not been very encouraging. The absence of ownership of the programme — the basin states' legal, institutional and budgetary responses — raises questions about its enduring impact. This is where the NGP can leverage the Delhi government-driven project of cleaning the Yamuna for a model that can be scaled. The project can reveal the missing and less understood drivers, motivations, and channels of subnational mobilisation for river rejuvenation. Delhi's Yamuna project is a particularly complex one and can therefore make a useful contribution. The Yamuna, like all other major Indian rivers, is an interstate river. Improving its ecological status depends on reliable interstate cooperation mechanisms for enduring outcomes — a challenge that Delhi will need to address. At the same time, it faces water quality deterioration due to a pollutant load of close to 80 per cent from the city-state of Delhi. This singular characteristic brings the role of a distinct territorial entity, that too of an urban agglomeration, into sharp focus for improving river water quality. Studies have shown that Delhi's uncaptured and untreated sewage is responsible for the pollution load in the Yamuna. This is a classic instance where improvement in river water quality directly depends on improved urban governance. Delhi can, therefore, demonstrate what states should do for enduring outcomes for the NGP, and the nature of Centre-state collaboration that is required to achieve this. In Europe, it took a long time to get to the foundational Water Framework Directive. That experience is all about how institutions such as the ICPR mobilised the internal responses of sovereign nations in Europe. The NGP can potentially leverage responses like Delhi's cleaning of the Yamuna towards creating a policy and institutional ecosystem to rejuvenate India's rivers. Chokkakula is the president and chief executive of Centre for Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi. Dasgupta is a research associate at CPR. Views are personal
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Jal Shakti Minister Patil reviews progress on Ganga conservation projects
New Delhi, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil chaired the 15th meeting of the Empowered Task Force on Ganga Conservation on Tuesday, where he reviewed the progress made by the National Mission for Clean Ganga . Jal Shakti Minister Patil reviews progress on Ganga conservation projects Patil reaffirmed the government's commitment to an integrated, time-bound and technology-led approach for Ganga conservation and called for continuous vigilance to preserve the ecological gains made so far, according to an official statement. He acknowledged the "accelerated pace" of infrastructure project and lauded the improved coordination between central and state-level stakeholders, particularly highlighting the inauguration and foundation stone laying of 10 projects in Bihar under the Namami Gange programme. Significant strides in financial management by the NMCG were also presented at the meeting as officials reported a marked reduction in the pendency of Utilization Certificates and resolution of longstanding taxation issues. The jal shakti minister also launched two major initiatives, including a hackathon, to strengthen scientific and community engagement in river rejuvenation, the statement said. Patil also welcomed the shift towards Treasury Single Account systems and the adoption of insurance surety bonds as alternatives to bank guarantees, noting that such reforms would reduce financial pressure on contractors and expedite project execution. In a push to sustain gains made under the Namami Gange programme, the meeting discussed protocols to ensure zero untreated sewage discharge and the upkeep of interception and diversion structures, especially in urbanising areas, the statement said. Patil stressed that District Ganga Committees must play a central role in implementing and monitoring these guidelines. Workplace safety also came under focus, with the minister directing NMCG to conduct regular safety audits and drills at sewage treatment plants . Third-party evaluations of STPs will now be undertaken by top academic institutions, including IIT-BHU and IIT-Delhi, to ensure operational efficiency. Top officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, NMCG, and representatives from the ministries of power, tourism, housing and urban affairs, and environment, along with state officials from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal attended the meeting. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India Gazette
21-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
NMCG organises 'Ghat Par Yoga' to mark International Yoga Day at Yamuna bank
New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): On the occasion of the 11th International Day of Yoga, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised a vibrant 'Ghat Par Yoga' event at the BSF Kayaking Camp in Sonia Vihar, New Delhi, along the banks of the River Yamuna. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from a large number of individuals, including NMCG officials and staff, members of NGOs, the Border Security Force (BSF), students, and children. Celebrated under the global theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health,' the event brought together yoga enthusiasts and environmental advocates for a refreshing morning dedicated to mindfulness, movement, and the message of harmony between humanity and nature. Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director General of NMCG, expressed that practicing yoga along the serene banks of the Yamuna offers a uniquely uplifting and transformative experience. Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director-General of NMCG, said, 'According to our tradition, riverbanks have always played an important role--whether for education or for activities like yoga. However, as rivers became polluted, people lost that connection. Namami Gange celebrates International Yoga Day every year on the banks of the Yamuna, and the symbolic significance of this is to invite people to come to the riverbanks, to experience the river, and to truly feel its presence.' The early morning calm at the Yamuna ghat was filled with the soft sounds of breathing and calming chants. Expert yoga instructors guided the crowd through a well-rounded session of asanas and pranayama, aligning body, mind, and spirit with the soothing flow of the river nearby. Meenakshi, a Yoga Instructor, stated, 'Yoga holds great significance in life. If we cultivate even a small amount of awareness toward our health, we are already connected with yoga.' The event also witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, who welcomed the chance to practice yoga in the peaceful riverside setting and connect with nature. Roshan, a student, said, 'Today, we practiced yoga here, and it feels really good. We know that our ancient civilizations were built along rivers, and inspired by that, we've started doing yoga on the ghats. This is the fourth year that we're practicing yoga at the BSF camp.' NGOs partnering with NMCG also played a vital role, engaging participants through awareness activities. Mohit Krishan, Partner NGO representative, Namami Gange, said, 'We connected people with the Yamuna cleanliness campaign and with yoga. Yoga brings focus, motivation, and a sense of positivity.' Practising Yoga near Yamuna river provides a peaceful setting that inspires mindfulness and wellness. The calm river and natural surroundings create the perfect atmosphere for connecting body, mind, and spirit. Events like NMCG's 'Ghat Par Yoga' unite diverse participants, promoting community, health, and environmental awareness. (ANI)
