The central government's 'Namami Gange' mission has improved the water quality of Ganga river, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Friday.

Shah said the project to clean Ganga, one of the important rivers of the country, has been a success and the government will launch similar initiatives to clean other rivers in the country in coordination with the respective state governments.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/national-mission-for-clean-ganga-conserves-wetlands-in-ganga-basin-275172">National Mission for Clean Ganga conserves wetlands in Ganga basin</a>

Shah was speaking at a ceremony to receive the participants of the 'Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan', a month-long exploratory open-water rafting and kayaking expedition, covering 2,510 kilometres from Devprayag in Uttarakhand to Ganga Sagar in West Bengal.

The event was held from October 10 to November 12 last year and personnel of the three armed forces army, air force and navy participated in the rafting and boating awareness drive that aimed to spread awareness about the importance and history of the river among the people.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sri-lankan-pm-mahinda-rajapaksa-commends-namami-gange-programme-279836">Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa commends Namami Gange programme</a>

We probably had forgotten to preserve and protect Ganga, that is like our mother, over the years. But, the Namami Gange mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 has brought about a lot of change in the quality of Ganga water, Shah said. 
People who visited the 'Kumbh Mela', held in Prayagraj last year, bear testimony to this fact, he said.

Shah said the aim of various Ganga missions is to ensure that people are made aware of the ecological, cultural and historical importance of the river.

We should educate and make aware children in the age group of 15 years about Ganga and its importance and we will see that these children, over the next 60-70 years, will themselves be capable to protect the river, he said.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/national-mission-for-clean-ganga-conserves-wetlands-in-ganga-basin-275172">National Mission for Clean Ganga conserves wetlands in Ganga basin</a>

We need to ensure that strong steps are taken in this direction and we do not have to hang our heads in shame owing to the fact that Ganga is polluted, Shah said.

He said his government has earmarked funds worth Rs 28,000 crore for the clean Ganga mission and out of the 310 schemes envisaged under this, 116 have been completed.

Speaking at the event, Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat said Ganga today is one amongst the ten cleanest rivers of the world and efforts put by the Modi government over the last five years has borne good results.

We are working on a mission mode for the last five years on this subject under the leadership of Modi, Shekhawat said.

The central government's 'Namami Gange' mission has improved the water quality of Ganga river, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Friday. Shah said the project to clean Ganga, one of the important rivers of the country, has been a success and the government will launch similar initiatives to clean other rivers in the country in coordination with the respective state governments.

The central government's 'Namami Gange' mission has improved the water quality of Ganga river, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Friday. Shah said the project to clean Ganga, one of the important rivers of the country, has been a success and the government will launch similar initiatives to clean other rivers in the country in coordination with the respective state governments. Also Read: National Mission for Clean Ganga conserves wetlands in Ganga basin Shah was speaking at a ceremony to receive the participants of the 'Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan', a month-long exploratory open-water rafting and kayaking expedition, covering 2,510 kilometres from Devprayag in Uttarakhand to Ganga Sagar in West Bengal. The event was held from October 10 to November 12 last year and personnel of the three armed forces army, air force and navy participated in the rafting and boating awareness drive that aimed to spread awareness about the importance and history of the river among the people. Also Read: Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa commends Namami Gange programme We probably had forgotten to preserve and protect Ganga, that is like our mother, over the years. But, the Namami Gange mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 has brought about a lot of change in the quality of Ganga water, Shah said. People who visited the 'Kumbh Mela', held in Prayagraj last year, bear testimony to this fact, he said. Shah said the aim of various Ganga missions is to ensure that people are made aware of the ecological, cultural and historical importance of the river. We should educate and make aware children in the age group of 15 years about Ganga and its importance and we will see that these children, over the next 60-70 years, will themselves be capable to protect the river, he said. Also Read: National Mission for Clean Ganga conserves wetlands in Ganga basin We need to ensure that strong steps are taken in this direction and we do not have to hang our heads in shame owing to the fact that Ganga is polluted, Shah said. He said his government has earmarked funds worth Rs 28,000 crore for the clean Ganga mission and out of the 310 schemes envisaged under this, 116 have been completed. Speaking at the event, Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Shekhawat said Ganga today is one amongst the ten cleanest rivers of the world and efforts put by the Modi government over the last five years has borne good results. We are working on a mission mode for the last five years on this subject under the leadership of Modi, Shekhawat said.

'Namami Gange' improved water quality of Ganga: Amit Shah

By Nikhil M Ghanekar

The differences between the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Ministry of Water Resources was revealed in a letter sent by Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar to his environment ministry counterpart.

Dated October 13, the letter, which has been accessed by DNA, has Shekhar pointedly questioning his MoEF counterpart on why had his ministry permitted 10 hydro projects and mining to come up in the Bhagirathi valley. These projects, he said, would dilute the Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone, located in the upper reaches of the Ganga.

The Bhagirathi eco-sensitive area was notified in 2012 to protect the 100 km Gaumukh to Uttar Kashi stretch of Bhagirathi, spread across 4,179 square km.

In his letter, Shekhar said, &quot;Permitting large scale activities like hydro power projects, construction works, mining etc. will severely compromise the environmental concerns and its sensitivity and will have far reaching environmental consequences in the days to come.&quot;

Shekhar added that throwing open this eco-sensitive area for hydro power projects would signal, &quot;impending environment disaster in the ecologically sensitive area.&quot;

It is not the first time the Ministry of Water Resources has taken up this issue. Sources say that that following Shekhar&#39;s letter, Water and Ganga Minister Uma Bharti, too, spoke to her counterpart Anil Dave and expressed her concern about plans to allow dams in the eco-sensitive area. These sources added that despite repeated reminders to the MoEF but so far nothing has been resolved.

Speaking to DNA, Shekhar said, &quot;You cannot shove in anything through the back door, this is a fundamental mistake and it is illegal. They need to realise that this is the last pristine and free-flowing stretch of the Ganga.&quot;

The letter comes in the wake of the MoEF&#39;s meeting on the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone in August. In that meeting, the Uttarakhand state government had sought relaxations in activities allowed in the 4,179 sq km eco-sensitive area. The state government argued that since 10 hydropower projects with a cumulative capacity of 82MW were approved before the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone was notified in 2012, they should be approved for construction.

In the minutes of the meeting, it was stated that the &quot;MoEF &amp; CC could consider inserting a transitional clause to permit the 10 HEP&#39;s (hydropower projects) which were approved prior to the date of notification.&quot; Along with plans to permit hydro power projects, the MoEF said that river-bed mining up to 2m depth could be allowed in the eco-sensitive area.

The MoEF is defending its decisions on grounds that the projects will be approved only after a carrying capacity study is done by scientists. &quot;The Uttarakhand government presented the Zonal Master Plan, but it has defects and requires a lot of changes. We will look into all aspects before approving hydropower projects in the eco-sensitive area,&quot; said Amita Prasad, additional secretary, MoEF.

Meanwhile, the water ministry has panned the Zonal Master Plan. &quot;It is (Zonal Master Plan) is fundamentally wrong because it is not prepared by experts. We have prepared a draft joint affidavit to be submitted in the NGT that has been sent to the environment ministry. We should have experts visit the ESZ,&quot; said Shekhar.

Currently, the NGT is hearing an ongoing matter on the issue pertaining to Zonal Master Plan of the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone.

(This report first appeared on DNA)

The forest ministry has sanctioned 10 hydropower projects in Bhagirathi valley, but the water ministry says it would disturb the ecosystem

By Nikhil M Ghanekar The differences between the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Ministry of Water Resources was revealed in a letter sent by Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar to his environment ministry counterpart. Dated October 13, the letter, which has been accessed by DNA, has Shekhar pointedly questioning his MoEF counterpart on why had his ministry permitted 10 hydro projects and mining to come up in the Bhagirathi valley. These projects, he said, would dilute the Bhagirathi Eco Sensitive Zone, located in the upper reaches of the Ganga. The Bhagirathi eco-sensitive area was notified in 2012 to protect the 100 km Gaumukh to Uttar Kashi stretch of Bhagirathi, spread across 4,179 square km. In his letter, Shekhar said, "Permitting large scale activities like hydro power projects, construction works, mining etc. will severely compromise the environmental concerns and its sensitivity and will have far reaching environmental consequences in the days to come." Shekhar added that throwing open this eco-sensitive area for hydro power projects would signal, "impending environment disaster in the ecologically sensitive area." It is not the first time the Ministry of Water Resources has taken up this issue. Sources say that that following Shekhar's letter, Water and Ganga Minister Uma Bharti, too, spoke to her counterpart Anil Dave and expressed her concern about plans to allow dams in the eco-sensitive area. These sources added that despite repeated reminders to the MoEF but so far nothing has been resolved. Speaking to DNA, Shekhar said, "You cannot shove in anything through the back door, this is a fundamental mistake and it is illegal. They need to realise that this is the last pristine and free-flowing stretch of the Ganga." The letter comes in the wake of the MoEF's meeting on the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone in August. In that meeting, the Uttarakhand state government had sought relaxations in activities allowed in the 4,179 sq km eco-sensitive area. The state government argued that since 10 hydropower projects with a cumulative capacity of 82MW were approved before the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone was notified in 2012, they should be approved for construction. In the minutes of the meeting, it was stated that the "MoEF & CC could consider inserting a transitional clause to permit the 10 HEP's (hydropower projects) which were approved prior to the date of notification." Along with plans to permit hydro power projects, the MoEF said that river-bed mining up to 2m depth could be allowed in the eco-sensitive area. The MoEF is defending its decisions on grounds that the projects will be approved only after a carrying capacity study is done by scientists. "The Uttarakhand government presented the Zonal Master Plan, but it has defects and requires a lot of changes. We will look into all aspects before approving hydropower projects in the eco-sensitive area," said Amita Prasad, additional secretary, MoEF. Meanwhile, the water ministry has panned the Zonal Master Plan. "It is (Zonal Master Plan) is fundamentally wrong because it is not prepared by experts. We have prepared a draft joint affidavit to be submitted in the NGT that has been sent to the environment ministry. We should have experts visit the ESZ," said Shekhar. Currently, the NGT is hearing an ongoing matter on the issue pertaining to Zonal Master Plan of the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone. (This report first appeared on DNA)

India: Water, forest ministries at loggerheads over Ganga projects

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'Namami Gange' improved water quality of Ganga: Amit Shah

India: Water, forest ministries at loggerheads over Ganga projects