Water Min Issues Clarification on The Quint’s Namami Gange Report

The National Mission for Clean Ganga has issued a clarification on The Quint’s story on the Namami Gange project.

According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) the Ganga is among the ten dirtiest rivers in the world. (Photo: iStock)

The National Mission for Clean Ganga, which comes under the Ministry of Water Resources, has issued a clarification in response to The Quint’s news report titled ‘Little Hope for Ganga? Only 1/10th of Budget Spent So Far’ published on 26 April.

The report assessed the progress made under the Namami Gange project on the basis of Ministry of Water Resources and Central Pollution Control Board data, as well as inputs from experts.

Following is the translation of the clarification issued by the National Mission for Clean Ganga in Hindi. (A copy of the clarification has been attached at the bottom.)

“On 27 April 2017, The Quint published an article on the Namami Gange project with regard to which this clarification is published:

It has been said that Namami Gange project is moving at a very slow pace. It has also been mentioned in the story that of the Rs 20,000 crore, only a few lakh have been spent. These figures are not correct.

The Namami Gange project was approved by the Cabinet on 13 May 2015.

In the last two years (2015-2016 and 2016-17), under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG ), Rs 1,665.41 crore have been spent, whereas in the four years preceding this period, NMCG spent only Rs 625.88 crore.

Proper planning is important for the success of any project. Less money is spent when a project is being conceptualized. Even in the initial phases of implementation, less money is spent and only at a latter stage does the expenditure pick up.

For treating sewage, work is in progress in 21 cities. In eight cities, the tender process has begun, and in another six cities, projects have been given the go-ahead. For the 21 cities, permission for the projects will be given as soon as possible.

It has been said in the video that work has not begun on any ghat or crematorium. This is not based on facts. Work is in progress on 50 ghats and 15 crematoriums.

Instructions have been issued to contractors to begin work on 42 ghats and 31 crematoriums. Tendering processes have begun for 90 ghats and 72 crematoriums. In some states, delay in constructing ghats and crematoria was due to unavailability of NOCs (no objection certificates).

To carry on work under the Namami Gange project, the NMCG has been reconstituted as an efficient authority which is authorised to give requisite permissions for the project.”

A copy of the clarification has been attached below: