PM chairs meeting of National Ganga River Basin Authority

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Culture
17-September, 2018 18:32 IST
Dr. Mahesh Sharma releases National Museum Research Bulletin, published after a gap of 16 years

The Minister of State for Culture (Independent Charge) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma released two important publications of the National Museum (M/o Culture), Sindhu Ghati Sabhyata:Ek Parichay (Hindi) and the National Museum Research Bulletin Number 10: Special issue (In House Publication), in New Delhi today. The National Museum Research Bulletin has been revived after a long gap of 16 years.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sharma congratulated the efforts of National Museum to revive the research bulletin which he said will help to generate awareness about the activities of National Museum. Dr. Mahesh Sharma said that although India is a country of diversity, it is bound together by its strong cultural heritage. New discoveries are continuously taking place about our past and new additions are being made to history which must be brought before the people, especially the youth, the Minister explained. He further added that the publications like those brought out by the National Museum have a big role to play in this direction.

The Director General, National Museum, Dr. B. R. Mani in his message said that the research bulletin will now renew the interest of the people and inspire them to have engaging conversations about the National Museums pivotal role in public sphere.

The National Museum Research Bulletin No.10: Special issue has a number of research paper that highlight the collection, display and education aspect that the National Museum engages with. The research bulletin is also illustrated by colored photographs, some of which belong to the Reserve collection of the National Museum, hence making the bulletin appealing to a wider audience. This research bulletin has been revived this time after a long gap of 16 years under the guidance of the Director General, Dr B.R. Mani, who is also the Editorial -In-Chief of the Bulletin.

Sindhu Ghati Sabhyata : Ek Parichay is a Hindi version of An Introduction To Indus Valley Civilization which among the bestsellers at the National Museum. Co-authored by Dr. Sanjib Kumar Singh (Head Publication Department, National Museum) and Dr, Gunjan Srivastava(Deputy Superintending Archeologist, ASI) and Shri Rajesh Kumar( Hindi Translator, National Museum), this book throws light on the splendor of the Indus Valley Civilization. The book is an important contribution to the field as most works on the subject are restricted to the English Language and this version will particularly help the vernacular readers.

Both the publications will be available for sale at the National Museum Reception Counter and will benefit students, scholars, artists, historians, museum professionals and art lovers among other readers



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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Science & Technology
18-September, 2018 13:32 IST
Union Science & Technology minister inaugurates two unique projects including Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Streams for Healthy Reuse project, in Delhi.

Plant has capacity to convert 10 lakh litres of sewage to 3 tonne of bio-fuel per day: Dr. Vardhan

Union Science & Technology minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan today inaugurated a novel holistic Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Streams for Healthy Reuse (LOTUSHR) project at Sun Dial Park in New Delhi that produces clean water which is reused for various purposes, while simultaneously recovering nutrients and energy from the urban waste water, thus converting the Barapullah drain into profitable mines.

Along with that, Dr.Vardhan also inaugurated two bio toilets supported by DBT-BIRAC and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation installed at the Sun Dial Park. This is an attempt to meet the goals set by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and contribution of the Department of Biotechnology, the Ministry of Science and Technology to “Swachhta Hi Seva” movement launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.

Speaking at the inauguration, Union Minister congratulated the researchers and scientist involved with the pilot project and said this plant is a unique example of how waste can be made into a profitable mine. Dr. Vardhan said that this plant, which can convert 10 lakh litre of sewage into clean water and generate 3 tonnes of biofuel ,will be scaled up and will become a model for example for the whole world.

In another unique initiative at the site Department of Biotechnology has undertaken afforestation of marshy flood plains, degraded and unusable land and planted 2281 plant and tree species. These are from 44 indigenous species. This not only cleans the area, mitigates mosquito breeding but also purifies the air and soil. The species and the spacing of the planted material is carefully planned using a technology which allows these trees to grow rapidly and within a short span of two-three years recover a unique ecosystem of birds, insects and animals.

The Local Treatment of Urban Sewage Streams for Healthy Reuse (LOTUSHR) project inaugurated today is a joint initiative of Indian and Dutch scientists. Around a year back DBT in consultation with DDA identified the Barapullah drain, Sarai Kale Khan, in the state of Delhi for setting up on-site experimental testing lab and for the establishment of a pilot plant. DDA leased to DBT, a land measuring 200 Sq meters for a period of 5 years adjacent to the Sun Dial Park for this purpose. The project at the site today demonstrates how science and technology can be leveraged to effectively turn urban waste into profitable mines.

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The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan opening the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018. The Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Renu Swarup is also seen.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visits at opening of the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018. The Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Renu Swarup is also seen.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visits at opening of the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visits at opening of the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visits at opening of the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing at opening of the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan at opening of the “Barapullah Project : Transforming a Drain into a Clean Water Tech Park” to the public, at Sun Dial Park, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi on September 18, 2018. The Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Renu Swarup and other dignitaries are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Earth Science
25-September, 2018 15:37 IST
Union Science & Technology Minister inaugurates air pollution mitigation devices at ITO and Mukarba Chowk in Delhi.

Device can purify air in an area of 500m2; 54 more such devices to be installed by 15th October in Delhi: Dr. Vardhan

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest and Climate change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated air pollution control device WAYU(Wind Augmentation PurifYing Unit) for traffic junctions at ITO intersection and Mukarba Chowk in Delhi today.WAYU is developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) as a part of Technology Development Project being funded by Department of Science and Technology.

Speaking at the inauguration Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that the prototype device that has been indigenously developed has the capacity to purify air in an area of 500 meter square. Dr. Vardhan further added that the device consumes only half a unit of electricity for 10 hours of running and has a maintenance cost of only Rs. 1500 per month. “We are in the process of developing a bigger version of WAYU which can purify air in an area of 10,000 meter square and also the designs of future WAYU devices will have even better aesthetics and can be deployed in bus shelters etc.”, said Dr. Vardhan.

The device works on two principles mainly Wind generation for dilution of air pollutants and Active Pollutants removal. The device has filters for Particulate Matter removal and activated carbon (charcoal) and UV lamps for poisonous gases removal such as VOCs and Carbon Monoxide. The device has one fan and filter for sucking and removing Particulate Matter. There are two UV lamps and half kg of activated carbon charcoal coated with special chemical Titanium Dioxide.

By 15th of October, the ministry plans to install 54 more WAYU devices at various traffic intersections across Delhi.

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The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurating the air pollution control device (WAYU) - Wind Augmentation and Purifying Unit, at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO Intersection, New Delhi on September 25, 2018. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.

The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan addressing at the inauguration of the air pollution control device (WAYU) - Wind Augmentation and Purifying Unit, at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, ITO Intersection, New Delhi on September 25, 2018. The Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Ashutosh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Finance
15-February, 2018 13:45 IST
India Signs Second Loan Agreement with New Development Bank for USD 100 Million for Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring Project for Desert Areas

The Loan Agreement for financing of Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring Project for the Desert Areas was signed between Government of India and the New Development Bank (NDB) on 13th February 2018 at New Delhi. This is the first tranche loan of USD 100 million approved by the NDB under the Multi Tranche Financing Facility of USD 345 million for this project.

The objective of this Project is to rehabilitate the 678 km long Indira Gandhi Canal system built during 1958-63 to prevent seepage, conserve water, and enhance water use efficiency as mandated by both national and state level policies on water use. The execution of the project would multiple benefits such as:

1. Arresting the seepage by rehabilitating the deteriorating canal lining of the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project (IGNP) which needs urgent attention;
2. Rehabilitation of waterlogged areas;
3. Modernization and optimization of the irrigation management practices in the project area by involvement of the water users’ associations (WUA) in the command area
4. Strengthening of drinking water supply and irrigation facilities in the project area

The project implementation period is 6 years. Government of Rajasthan will implement the project primarily through Rajasthan Water Resources Department.

The Loan Agreement was signed by Mr. Govind Mohan, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Shaohua Wu, Director General, Project Financing on behalf of the NDB. The Project Agreement was signed by Mr. Shikhar Agarwal, Principle Secretary, Water Resources Department on behalf of the Government of Rajasthan. The representatives of the Government of India, NDB and the Government of Rajasthan also signed Facility Framework Agreement under which NDB has agreed to provide Multi-Tranche Financing Facility for amount aggregating to USD 345 million to the Republic of India for this project.

The Indira Gandhi Canal is one of the largest canal projects in India. It starts from the Harike Barrage at Harike, a few kilometers below the confluence of the Satluj and Beas rivers in the Indian state of Punjab and terminates in irrigation facilities in the Thar Desert in the north west of Rajasthan state. Previously known as the Rajasthan Canal, it was renamed the Indira Gandhi Canal in 1985 following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The canal consists of the Rajasthan feeder canal with the first 167 kilometres (104 mi) in Punjab and Haryana state and a further 37 kilometres (23 mi) in Rajasthan followed by the 445 kilometres (277 mi) of the Rajasthan main canal, which is entirely within Rajasthan. The canal enters Haryana from Punjab near Lohgarh village then runs through the western part of the Sirsa district before entering Rajasthan near Kharakhera village in the Tibbi tehsil of the Hanumangarh district. The canal traverses seven districts of Rajasthan: Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, and Sriganganagar.

26-September, 2018 16:08 IST
Financial assistance worth Rs.825 Crore for relining of Sirhind Feeder Canal and relining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal

Twin Projects to curb waterlogging in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozpur in Punjab

Central Assistance of Rs. 620.42 Cr. and Rs. 205.758 Cr. for implementation of relining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal and Sirhind Feeder Canal respectively over five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) for Relining of Sirhind Feeder from RD 119700 to 447927 and relining of Rajasthan Feeder from RD 179000to 496000 of Punjab.



Impact:

1. Implementation of these twin projects would help in addressing the problem of water-logging in 84800 Ha of land in Muktsar, Faridkot and Ferozpur districts in South-West Punjab.

1. Implementation of these projects would address the problem of water logging in South-West Punjab and enhance the flows/ water availability in the two canals.

1. Farmers in the area would be benefitted due to stabilisation / improved irrigation in 98,739 Ha of land due to relining of Rajasthan Feeder and 69,086 Ha due to relining of Sirhind Feeder.

Expenditure:

• Funding for CA to the Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind feeder shall be made through NABARD under existing system for funding of 99 PMKSY-AIBP projects under LTIF.

• In addition to existing monitoring mechanism for projects by Central Water Commission, an Expert Project Review Committee may be constituted to oversee the overall implementation of these projects.
• The approved cost of relining of Sirhind Feeder Canal is Rs. 671.478 Cr and that of relining of Rajasthan Feeder Canal is Rs. 1305.267 Cr, at 2015 PL. Of the total estimated cost, Rs. 826.168 Cr would be provided as Central Assistance (Rs. 205.758 Cr for Sirhind Feeder and Rs. 620.41 Cr for Rajasthan Feeder).

• Investment Clearance of Revised Cost Estimates amounting to Rs.671.478 crore and Rs.1305.267 crore for Relining of Sirhind Feeder and Relining of Rajasthan Feeder respectively have been accorded on 6th April, 2016.

• The projects were visited by a team under Chairman CWC during 2016 and by another team under Sh. A. B. Pandya, former Chairman, CWC during 2017. They recommended remedial works to be taken up. The Punjab Government also conveyed its financial concurrence on 26.04.2018.

Background


Sirhind and Rajasthan Feeders take off upstream of Harike Head works and flow through Punjab before crossing over to Rajasthan. The twin canals have a common bank and were constructed in the 1960s as lined (brick) channels to convey water to command areas in Punjab and Rajasthan.

The Government of Punjab has reported considerable seepage loss due to damages in the lining of both Sirhind and Rajasthan Feeders. As a result, apart from reduced flows in these canals, the adjacent areas have been affected by water logging causing huge agricultural losses.

The project would mitigate water logging problem and enhance the flows/ water availability in the two canals.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
01-October, 2018 18:45 IST
Environment Ministry Sanctions River Pollution Abatement Project in Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir

In an effort to supplement the efforts of State Governments in pollution abatement in identified stretches of various rivers through National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for implementation of projects on cost-sharing basis between the Centre and State Governments, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has sanctioned a project for ‘Pollution abatement of rivers Devika and Tawi in Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir. The project is scheduled for completion by March 2021.

Upon completion, the project will have a significant and direct beneficial impact in terms of reduction of pollution load in the two rivers and improvement in their water quality. As full sewerage system will be laid in the town and its entire sewage will be treated, the project will improve the aesthetics and sanitation conditions in Udhampur and support the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan towards ensuring cleanliness in the town.

The total sanctioned cost of the project is Rs. 186.74 crore, will be shared between the Government of India and Government of J&K on 90:10 cost-sharing basis respectively. The share of Central Government in the project will be Rs. 166.86 crore and the share of the State Government will be Rs. 18.08 crore. The Urban Engineering and Environment Department (UEED) is the implementing agency of the project.

The major components under the project include laying of 129.27 kms of sewer lines (which will ensure full sewerage system in Udhampur town), setting up of 3 Sewage Pumping stations and construction of 3 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of 13.60 million litres per day (mld) capacity. The project will also cover non-sewerage works relating to river front development in a length of around 340 metres at 3 bathing ghats, including Mela Ghat (where there is mass gathering during religious festivals/events), construction of 2 improved wood crematoria to minimise wood consumption and ash disposal, as well as public awareness activities.

The main reason for the pollution of Devika and Tawi rivers in Udhampur is discharge of untreated sewage from the town. Presently, no sewerage system and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) exist in Udhampur. The project for ‘Pollution abatement of rivers Devika and Tawi rivers in Udhampur under NRCP has been sanctioned by the Ministry on September 28, 2018.



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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Water Resources
01-October, 2018 15:16 IST
Shram Daan at Two Places in Delhi Organized to Mark Swachhata Hi Sewa Campaign

As part of the ongoing Swacchata Hi Sewa campaign (15th September to 2nd October), the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation organized a Shram Daan event today at Chhat Ghat at ITO along River Yamuna in the National Capital. The focus during the drive remained on freeing the ghat from any kind of solid waste.

Volunteers from the Ministry led by Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri U.P Singh cleaned the Chhat ghat of plastic and other solid waste. Speaking on the occasion Shri Singh said, “The Chhat ghat has seen improvement in terms of cleanliness after WAPCOS took the task of cleaning it on a regular basis. While I thank all who participated in the event today, I urge them to spread the message of keeping our rivers and surroundings clean as involvement of each and every one of us is imperative in achieving this task,”

Additional Secretary Smt. T. Rajeshwari, Joint Secretaries of the Ministry Shri Nitishwar Kumar and Shri Akhil Kumar and CMD, WAPCOS, Shri R.K. Gupta also participated in the event besides more than 100 officials from different departments of the Ministry.

A similar Shram Daan was also organized by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) today at Kalindi Kunj ghat as part of the ongoing Swachhata Hi Sewa campaign. NMCG has also been organizing regular cleaning activities at Kalindi Kunj ghat in south Delhi. Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) along with other officials of the Ministry participated in the event.

While the work of Rejuvenation of Ganga is going on swiftly under the aegis of Namami Gange programme, the cleaning of tributaries of Ganga like Yamuna, Hindon, Ram Ganga, Kosi etc. is also being taken up on priority basis.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Water Resources
03-October, 2018 17:12 IST
Rafting expedition “Mission Gange” to begin from October 5th

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has partnered with Tata Steel Adventure Foundation (TSAF) to launch a month-long rafting expedition of a team of 40 members which will be led by the first Indian woman to scale Mount Everest Ms. Bachendri Pal. The expedition will start from Haridwar on October 5th 2018 traversing a distance of around 1500 km encompassing 8 major towns including Bijnor, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Buxar. It will conclude in Patna in Bihar on 30th October.

Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari addressed the team through a video message. He said that Namami Gange is working hard for cleanliness of Ganga River. “Several projects like sewage infrastructure, ghat cleaning, river surface cleaning etc. are going on and are at various stages of completion. But, these efforts need to be supported by all of us. Hence, public participation is one of the key components of the Namami Gange programme and this expedition also will create awareness at the local level through Ganga Chaupals and other interactions the expedition team will have with the local inhabitants”, the Minister added.

Speaking on the occasion, DG, NMCG Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said: “During the month-long expedition, the team will stop at all major locations and carry out cleaning drives in coordination with NMCG stakeholders like Ganga Vichar Manch, Ganga Praharis, District Ganga Committees, local voluntary organizations and people from all walks of life. Awareness campaigns will be conducted in schools to sensitize students towards Ganga cleaning. Events such as Ganga Chaupal will be conducted along the Ganga to create conversations between stakeholders.”

TSAF Chief and “Mission Gange” expedition leader Ms Bachendri Pal said: “Our expedition is inspired by Government of India’s Namami Gange mission, which has been a very important step towards cleaning the Ganges that has been a life-supporting river for millions in our country. The aim of our expedition is to reach out to as many people as possible, heighten the awareness around keeping this great river clean and make a people’s movement out of the Mission that had started four years ago.”

In the expedition team of 40 members, several are trained mountaineers. Seven of them have climbed Mount Everest. Besides, professionals from backgrounds as diverse as engineering, environmentalists, science etc. are part of the expedition team that is prepared to meet all challenges that they may encounter during the expedition. The team during its stay in the towns will carry out cleanliness drives at ghats and surrounding areas by engaging and motivating more and more people.


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[Hindustani78]

Prime Minister's Office
04-October, 2018 12:41 IST
PM interaction with Mission Gange delegation

A group of about 40 enthusiasts with experience in mountaineering, who are embarking on an expedition to raise awareness on cleaning the River Ganga, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. The group includes 8 mountaineers who have successfully climbed Mount Everest, and is led by Ms. Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The expedition, which has been inspired by the Union Government’s “Namami Gange” campaign, has been named “Mission Gange.” The month long rafting expedition, will see the group travel through the river from Haridwar to Patna, with halts at Bijnor, Narora, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and Buxar. At each of these nine cities, the group will raise awareness about keeping the Ganga clean, and also undertake cleaning activities.

Interacting with the group, the Prime Minister appreciated the group members for undertaking this initiative. He underlined the importance of a clean and vibrant River Ganga. He particularly urged the group to reach out to schoolchildren as part of their awareness activities in the cities they are transiting through.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Water Resources
09-October, 2018 16:59 IST
Seminar on “Environmental issues in Water Resources Projects” organized by CWC

Central Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation today organized a day-long seminar on “Environment Issues in Water Resources Projects” at New Delhi. The seminar was organized at a time when concerns over issues of sustainable development are being raised from several quarters.

Inaugurating the seminar, Shri U.P. Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation said, “We no longer talk of development now. We talk of sustainable development and I am happy that CWC has initiated such a dialogue which is very necessary.” Shri Singh added, “While the pendulum should not swing completely in the direction opposite to development, we can no longer ignore the ecological management. Better management of water resources should be done keeping in mind the ecological concerns and the impacts of the development projects must be studied properly.”

Chairman, CWC, Shri S. Masood Hussain stressed on the need to strike a balance between development and environment. “A kind of split has taken place between development and environment. There is no doubt that environmental issues today are one of the most important concerns not just in water sector but others too as manifests in climate change. Its importance cannot be overemphasized. The challenge in the water resources sector is to balance the need for development and environment concerns while ensuring sustainability.” He added, “The dilemma is that there is not much debate over this issue as a result of which many projects are being stalled. There is an urgent need for a proper scientific discussion in this regard and that is the objective of this seminar.”

During the day-long seminar, the adverse effects of developmental projects in water sector such as displacement of people, submergence of forest and agricultural land, disturbance to biodiversity, flora & fauna , wildlife and e-flow of rivers were raised by several speakers. The need to safeguard against such ill-effects and minimize them through proper Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) plans, Environment Management Plans, Forest Protection Plans etc. was equally emphasized by the speakers. Various experts from different departments discussed at length on “Challenges in Resettlement & Rehabilitation of Water Resources projects”, “Issues in Getting Environmental/Forest/Wildlife Clearances”, “Environmental Flows”, “Aquatic Ecosystem Management - Issues & Solutions” etc.

Raising an important point of inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination, former Secretary of Ministry of Water Resources Shri S.K. Sarkar said that water is a complex and vast subject and crosses several ministries, departments and states. The time has come to think holistically and develop a synchronized mechanism to avoid delays and ensure a healthy environment.

The seminar provided a platform for discussion among experts from stakeholder organizations like Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, CWC, National Water Development Agency, WAPCOS, Narmada Control Authority, Central Ground Water Board, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, National Institute of Hydrology, Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation, National Hydro Power Corporation, State Government of Gujarat, NGPs and others.

The organizers and speakers expressed hope that the suggestions and feedbacks from the seminar will help in informed decision making at the policy level.

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Ministry of Water Resources
09-October, 2018 15:55 IST
Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao Contest: Third & Fourth fortnight prizes announced

The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation announced the winners for the Third and Fourth fortnight of the Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao contest. Dr. N J Devaraja Reddy from Chitradurga (Karnataka), Sh. Eknath Ankush Gopal from Raigad (Maharashtra) and Sh. Jitendra Bhardwaj from Gwalior have won the first, second and third positions respectively for the Third Fortnight during the period of 9th to 23rd August 2018.

Sh. Prince Kumar from Patna, Sh. Sainath Uskaikar from Goa and Sh. Santosh Padhi from Navi Mumbai have bagged the first, second and third prizes respectively for the period of 24th August to 7th September 2018 during Fourth Fortnight. The winners shall be given prize amount of Rs 25,000/, Rs 15,000/- and Rs 10,000/- for first, second and third positions respectively.

Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao contest was launched by the Ministry in collaboration with the MyGov portal of the Government of India with the objective of spreading awareness about water conservation. Any Indian citizen can participate in the contest. He or she needs to shoot an original video on the theme. They are required to upload their entries on YouTube and enter the publicly accessible link on the Video link section of MyGov contest page www.mygov.in. Three winners will be chosen every fortnight till the 4th of November this year.

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation appeals to the people of India to make and upload videos capturing the efforts, significant contributions, best practices in the field of Water Conservation, Optimum Water Utilization and Water Resource Development and Management in different parts of the country. Participants are requested to upload original videos only. The duration of the videos should be minimum two minutes and up to 10 minutes in Hindi, English or any other regional language and must not violate any provision of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 or the Intellectual Property Rights of any third party.

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The Secretary, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri U.P. Singh and other dignitaries at the inauguration of the “Seminar on Environmental issues in Water Resources Projects”, in New Delhi on October 09, 2018.

The Secretary, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri U.P. Singh addressing at the inauguration of the “Seminar on Environmental issues in Water Resources Projects”, in New Delhi on October 09, 2018.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari addressing a press conference on Notification of E-flow of Ganga, in New Delhi on October 10, 2018. The Union Minister for Drinking Water & Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti and the Principal Director General (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Shri Sitanshu R. Kar are also seen.

The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shri Nitin Gadkari addressing a press conference on Notification of E-flow of Ganga, in New Delhi on October 10, 2018. The Union Minister for Drinking Water & Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti, the Principal Director General (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Shri Sitanshu R. Kar and other dignitaries are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Minister for Industries and Commerce, Skill Development and Industrial Training & Environment, Haryana, Shri Vipul Goyal presenting the cheques to the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, as contribution towards Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and Clean Ganga Fund, in New Delhi on October 13, 2018.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Water Resources
24-October, 2018 11:55 IST
Shri Nitin Gadkari Reviews ongoing Namami Gange Projects in Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal

Says work is being carried out on a war footing, 70-80 per cent of work will be completed by march-2019”

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways carried out an extensive and in depth review yesterday, of each ongoing project under the Namami Gange Program in the states of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal. Shri U.P Singh, Secretary, WR, RD & GR, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, officials of NMCG and the respective state governments and the contractors executing each project were present at the review. The undergoing projects of Uttar Pradesh will also be reviewed shortly.

Shri Gadkari directed all stakeholders to expedite the execution of the projects and take proactive steps to resolve bottlenecks wherever they exist. On conclusion of the review he said, “I am happy to see that work is being carried out on a war footing and the Namami Gange Program is going to be very successful. We have also issued the notification for Aviral Ganga, to ensure uninterrupted flow of water in the river. We are constructing STPs and connecting house drainage to sewer lines. Once the projects are completed we will see remarkable change in water quality. The construction of Ghats and Crematoria are also going on and we will complete them by March 2019.”

He further added, “Some projects have been completed, some are under progress and tenders for some projects have been issued. I am hopeful that we will complete 70-80 per cent work in the Namami Gange Program by March 2019.”

National Mission for Clean Ganga has sanctioned over 288 projects on Ganga in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The projects include sewage treatment infrastructure, development of ghats and crematoria, afforestation, river surface cleaning and river front development. Projects have also been sanctioned for some tributaries of Ganga in Haryana, Delhi, UP and Bihar. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation carries out periodic review of all projects to ensure their early completion. The status of projects in the states reviewed yesterday is as follows:

UTTARAKHAND

32 sewerage infrastructure projects (STPs) have been sanctioned in the state, which include Haridwar (4 projects), Muni Ki Reti, Tapovan, Rishikesh ( 2 projects), Devprayag, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Kirtinagar, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandproyag, Chamoli-Gopeshwar, Joshimath, Badrinath and Dehradun. Out of these, 15 projects have been completed, 16 are in various stages of progress and one project is under tendering process. 21 Ghats and 23 Crematoria have been sanctioned, along with 1 River Front Development (RFD) project at Chandi Ghat. Out of these projects 10 Ghats and 9 Crematoria have been completed and work is going on at a fast pace on the other projects.

JHARKHAND

Two sewerage infrastructure projects have been sanctioned at Sahibganj and Rajmahal towns in the state. Both projects are in progress.

12 Ghats and two Crematoria have also been sanctioned. Out of these, three Ghats and one crematorium have been completed. Work on other project is progressing ahead of schedule.

BIHAR

21 sewerage infrastructure projects have been sanctioned in Bihar. Of these, 11 projects are at Beur, Saidpur, Karmalichak, Kankarbagh, Digha and Pahari in Patna. The other STPs have been sanctioned at Buxar, Naugachia, Barh, Sultanganj, Mokama, Hajipur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Sonepur and Munger. 13 STPs in Bihar are at various stages of progress. Tenders for 4 projects have been received and are under evaluation while 3 projects are under tendering and 1 project is to be tendered.

one River Front Development (RFD) project at Patna, 14 Ghats and one Crematorium have been sanctioned and are under construction. In addition, 23 ghats and 2 crematoria have been sanctioned and are currently underway.

WEST BENGAL

16 sewerage infrastructure projects have been sanctioned at Gayeshpur, Kalyani, Bhatpara, Halishahar, Barrackpore, Budge-Budge, Nabadwip, Behrampore, Jangipur, Howrah, Bally, Kamarhati, Baranagar, Kolkata ( Tolly Nullah, Garden Reach ) Maheshtala, Hoogli-Chinsurah. Out of these, the STPs at Gayeshpur, Kalyani, Bhatpara have been completed and work is in progress for Halishahar, Barrackpore and Budge-Budge projects. In addition tenders for 3 projects have been received and are under evaluation, while 5 projects are under tendering and 2 projects are to be tendered.

In addition to the STPs, 16 Ghats and 3 Crematoria projects have been sanctioned in the state and are currently under construction.

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NP/SKP/IA

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation
29-October, 2018 18:07 IST
Twelve Projects Worth Rs 929 Crore Approved Under Namami Gange

Two STP Projects in Delhi at Coronation Pillar and Chattarpur Given Green Signal

The Executive Committee (EC) of the National Mission for Clean Ganga approved 12 projects worth Rs. 929 Crore under the Namami Gange programme in its 16th meeting today.

Two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) have been sanctioned for Delhi for creating 340 MLD waste treatment capacity at a cost of Rs 580 Crore. The first is an STP of 318 MLD capacity at Coronation Pillar. The second is a project in Chattarpur assembly constituency where various sewage pumping stations and 9 STPs of total 22.5 MLD capacity will be constructed. Sewage flow will be collected and pumped to STPs for treatment. The treated water will be used for development/ rejuvenation of eight nearby waterbodies and for irrigation purpose. The Central Government will fund Rs 256 Crore for the project.

For Uttar Pradesh many projects have been approved with total cost of Rs 128 Cr. One existing Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) of 6.25 MLD capacity for textile printing units in Mathura Industrial Area has been taken up for upgradation. Apart from this, one project for treatment of Rampur Drain in Rampur, using NSN-Technology based Bio Oxygenation and another project for treatment of 30 drains and third party inspection of 123 drains in the state has been approved.

For inspection and monitoring of industries, STPs and CETPs by third party technical institutions, an amount of 0.98 Cr has been sanctioned for strengthening of UP Pollution Control laboratories. This project will enable UP Pollution Control Board to better monitor and inspect all Grossly Polluting Industries, STP & CETPs situated in the catchment area of River Ganga and its tributaries.

For West Bengal, two projects have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 50 Cr. One project has been approved for upgrading the STP in Kancharapara from 13 MLD to 18 MLD capacity, along with its operation and maintenance for the next 15 years. Another project has been sanctioned for Hilsa fisheries improvement at Farraka barrage. Implementation of this project will increase the natural stock of Hilsa in the river Ganga, upstream of Farakka barrage through ranching of wild collected Hilsa seed/juveniles. The project will also study and monitor Hilsa migration across the Farakka barrage in the main river Ganga.

Two more projects have been sanctioned in this EC meeting under CSR category which will be funded by corporate groups. INDORAMA Charitable Trust is funding the Ghat and Crematoria Work at Badrinath and Gangotri in Uttarakhand at a cost of Rs 26.33 Cr. Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is taking up renovation and beautification of Ganga River Bank at Katwa, West Bengal at a cost of Rs 0.35 Cr.

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NP/SKP/IA

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Water Resources
01-November, 2018 11:11 IST
NMCG & UN Habitat organize a policy dialogue - Urban Cafe: ‘River for Habitat’ on the occasion of World Cities Day 2018

The National Mission for Clean Ganga partnered with UN Habitat to organize a policy dialogue- ‘Urban Cafe: River for Habitat’ in New Delhi on the occasion of World Cities Day 2018 yesterday. Experts in the sector got together to discuss the deep association that rivers have with various aspects of human civilization – our cities, our economy and various facets of our daily lives, the challenges to maintaining healthy river ecosystems and ways to deal with the same.

Addressing the inaugural session Shri U.P Singh Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation expressed concern about people’s weakening connect with rivers in the modern times and the bad health of many of our rivers. He said that no untreated sewage of industrial effluent should be allowed to flow into rivers, there should be no dumping of solid waste on flood plains, there should be a focus on increasing water usage efficiency in agriculture and reducing extraction of ground water. This will lead to better river health.

Speaking on the occasion DG, NMCG, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra detailed the measures being taken by his organization for cleaning Ganga. He said, “Today, the challenge we face is urbanization vis.a.vis rivers. A survey carried out on the main-stem of Ganga has identified 97 towns contributing to sewage/industrial pollution in the river”. Elaborating on the measures taken by NMCG, to address these issues, Shri Mishra said that innovations such as One City One Operator, Hybrid Annuity Model, 15 year Operations & Maintenance of sewerage infrastructure projects have been introduced. He also talked about the Urban River Management Plan developed by the Consortium of 7 IITs and emphasized that the connect between river and people is essential since the community needs to be involved as stakeholders to monitor the health of the river. Other issues that he pointed out as vital in this regard include managing flood plain encroachments, developing city-specific urban management plan, valuation of river services in economic terms, preserving biodiversity in Ganga, maintaining groundwater recharge, NMCG’s collaboration and convergence with all stakeholders and engaging public participation.

In his key note address Shri Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Advisor, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance said that in order to protect our flood plains we need to find environmentally sensitive ways of using them to build a connect with the people living around them.

Mr. Yuri Afanasiev, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in India said, “Water is to this century, what oil was to the 20th century”. All over the world, our ancestors have referred to rivers such as the Nile, the Danube, the Rhine, the Volga, the Ganga as the ‘Mother’. Talking about NMCG, he said, “NMCG’s integrated approach involving different Ministries needs to be emulated by other river management authorities in India”.

Also speaking at the inaugural session Shri Hitesh Vaidya, Country Manager, UN-Habitat India said that we must find ways to turn challenges into solutions and solutions into opportunities

Shri Partha Mukhopadhyay, Senior Fellow, Centre for Policy Research, Mr. Rene Van Berkel from UNIDO, Prof. Brijgopal, National Institute of Ecology, Dr. Alok K. Sikka, Prof. Vinod Tare from IIT Kanpur, Shri Chetan Vaidya, Former Director SPA, Delhi, Shri Shiv Das Meena from Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Victor Shinde, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, NEERI Shri Abhay Mishra, Writer Journalist, Shri Manu Bhatnagar, INTACH, Ms. Martina Burkard, GIZ. , Dr. Niladri Dasgupta, Wildlife Institute of India and Shri Suresh Babu, from WWF-India were the expert panelists for the various sessions.

The panelists emphasized on the intrinsic relationship between river and economy which has to be a win-win situation for both. River and river basins should be seen as ‘national capital or asset’. They also stressed on developing an Urban River Plan from where the river enters the city and where it exits. Emphasizing the importance of ghats, the experts further noted that not only do ghats connect river to the people but also promote safety of the river and people. The experts further stressed upon advocacy and resolve combined with public participation as vital elements for restoring our river ecosystems.

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[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation
04-November, 2018 15:02 IST
Jharakhand to become ODF by by 15th of this month

Public participation is the key to make Ganga Gram Successful: Uma Bharati

Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Uma Bharati said that with the present rate of sanitation coverage in the state, Jharkhand will become open defecation free state on it’s upcoming foundation day - 15th November. She was speaking in Ganga Gram Swachchhata Sammelan at Rajmahal in Jharkhand . About ten thousand swachhagrahies, Ganga volunteers, youth organization members, students and people from all walks of the life, where majority participants were women, attended the sammelan.

Ganga Gram is a concept to transform banks on the village of River Ganga into ideal villages with emphasis on ODF, Solid and Liquid Waste Management, Water Conservation, Ground Water Recharge, modern crematorium, tree plantation, organic and medicinal plant agriculture being the main components. After making all 4465 Ganga Bank villages ODF, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is working in this direction. In this regard, Uma Bharati stressed upon public participation as the key to make Ganga Bank villages ideal Ganga Grams. She urged people to participate in SLWM activities, not to litter around and pollute water sources, take care of their waste management to promote organic farming etc. Praising the efforts of Sahibganj district in ghat beautification and other cleanliness initiatives, she told the gathering that in past one year, in Ganga Bank revenue land more than 7.5 lakh trees were planted.

Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Parameswaran Iyer highlighted the societal and financial gains of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). He said that in rural India in past four years, sanitation coverage has gone up from a lowly 39 per cent to over 95 percent. Citing reports from organisations such as UNICEF and WHO, he said that an average family in an ODF villages saves Rs. 50,000 annually on it’s medical expenditure, and also that with such a growth SBM would have saved about 3 lakh lives by October 2019. Explaining the concept of Ganga Gram, he urged Panchayats and districts to focus on ODF sustainability and solid and liquid waste management. Underlining the role of Rani Mistries, he emphasized how SBM has led to women empowerment.

Shri Anant Kumar Ojha, MLA from Rajmahal area and Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Jharkhand Aradhana Patnaik also spoke at the event.

The Union Minister also laid foundation of Maskalaiyya Crematorium and ghat, Municipal Waste Water Project at Rajmahal. She also felicitated outstanding Rani Mistries and inaugurated Ganga Gram Exhibition besides visiting newly constructed Kanhaiyya Sthan ghat.

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