Image Source Jul 29, 2021 01:02 IST , Updated: Jan 05, 2022 12:02 IST · 2 min read
Shri G Asok Kumar, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti took over as the new Director General for the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Namami Gange, conceived as a Rs 20,000 crore programme in 2014 to clean up the river has so far been allocated Rs 15,074 crore.
Of this only Rs 10,972 crore, or about two-thirds, has been released by the Finance Ministry to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), a body under the Jal Shakti Ministry.
Overall, 346 projects had been taken up at a sanctioned cost of Rs 30,235 crore, out of which, 158 projects are completed.
Namami Gange
Namami Gange Programme was approved as a "Flagship Programme" by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
It has a Rs. 20,000 crore, centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 346 projects.
The main pillars of the programme are:
1) Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring,
2) River-Front Development & River-Surface Cleaning,
3) Bio-Diversity & Afforestation,
4) Public Awareness
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was established in 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 as a registered society.It is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council constituted in 2016, replacing the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA).
NMCG acted as implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986.
NGRBA has since been dissolved in October 2016, consequent to constitution of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (National Ganga Council).
Clean Ganga Fund
Clean Ganga Fund was set up with voluntary contributions from residents of the country and Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) / Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and others.It is set up as a trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, to be headed by Finance Minister.
The secretariat of the Trust is set up in Ministry of Jal Shakti under the Mission Director, Clean Ganga.
The domestic donors to the Fund shall be eligible for tax benefits as applicable in the case of the Swachh Bharat Kosh.
"Clean Ganga Fund" is used for activities outlined under the "Namami Gange" programme for cleaning of river Ganga. It includes - control pollution from agricultural runoff, human defecation, cattle wallowing, waste treatment, ghat redevelopment, R&D etc
The contributions to Clean Ganga Fund falls within the purview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity as defined in Schedule VII to the Companies Act, 2013.
