Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The Ganga River, revered as sacred and vital for millions, faces severe pollution challenges. Recognizing this, the Indian government launched the ‘Namami Gange’ program in 2014, a flagship initiative to rejuvenate the river. This program operates under the umbrella of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which is the implementing arm. Despite decades of efforts and substantial financial investments, the Ganga continues to struggle with pollution, necessitating a critical evaluation of past approaches and a vision for transformative change. The program aims for integrated river basin management, encompassing pollution control, conservation, and riverfront development.
Namami Gange and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
Namami Gange is an integrated Ganga conservation mission, approved as a flagship programme by the Union Government in June 2014. Its key objectives include:
- Sewage Treatment Capacity Augmentation: Creating new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and modernizing existing ones.
- Ghats and Riverfront Development: Improving and maintaining ghats for religious and recreational purposes.
- Afforestation: Planting trees along the riverbanks to prevent erosion and improve water quality.
- Industrial Effluent Monitoring: Strict monitoring of industrial discharge into the river.
- River Surface Cleaning: Removing floating debris and waste.
- Awareness Activities: Public awareness campaigns to promote river conservation.
The NMCG, registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, is the implementing arm. It provides funding, technical support, and monitoring for projects under Namami Gange. It operates on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model for some projects.
Causes of Mixed Results from Previous Schemes
Prior to Namami Gange, several schemes like the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) (1985) and the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) (1993) were launched, but yielded limited success. Several factors contributed to this:
- Lack of Integrated Approach: Earlier plans focused on isolated interventions (e.g., STP construction) without addressing the entire river basin.
- Poor Implementation & Monitoring: Weak enforcement of pollution control norms, inadequate monitoring of projects, and corruption hampered progress.
- Insufficient Sewage Treatment Capacity: The pace of STP construction was slow, and many existing STPs were non-functional or operated below capacity. (As of 2023, around 32% of sewage generated is treated before discharging into the river - CPCB report)
- Industrial Pollution: Unregulated discharge of industrial effluents, particularly from tanneries and sugar mills, continued to pollute the river.
- Religious Practices & Public Participation: Lack of awareness and participation from local communities and religious organizations hindered conservation efforts.
- Inter-State Coordination: The Ganga flows through multiple states, requiring effective coordination, which was often lacking.
Quantum Leaps for Better Preservation
Moving beyond incremental inputs requires transformative strategies:
- Complete Sewerage Infrastructure: Universal access to sewerage facilities in all towns and cities along the Ganga, coupled with real-time monitoring of STP performance.
- Industrial Pollution Control – Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD): Mandating ZLD for highly polluting industries like tanneries, ensuring no untreated effluent is discharged into the river.
- River Basin Management Authority: Establishing a strong, empowered River Basin Authority with the authority to enforce regulations and coordinate efforts across states.
- Ecological Flow (E-Flow) Maintenance: Ensuring sufficient water flow in the river throughout the year to maintain its ecological health. This requires careful water resource management and regulation of upstream dams.
- Community Participation & Incentivization: Empowering local communities to participate in conservation efforts through incentives, awareness programs, and capacity building.
- Innovative Technologies: Utilizing advanced technologies like bioremediation, phytoremediation, and artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring and pollution control.
- Focus on Non-Point Source Pollution: Addressing agricultural runoff (fertilizers, pesticides) and other non-point sources of pollution through sustainable agricultural practices.
A shift from a purely engineering-focused approach to an ecologically sensitive, holistic, and community-driven approach is crucial for the long-term preservation of the Ganga.
Conclusion
The Namami Gange and NMCG represent a significant commitment to Ganga rejuvenation. However, past failures highlight the need for a paradigm shift. Moving beyond incremental improvements and embracing ‘quantum leaps’ – focusing on complete infrastructure, stringent pollution control, robust governance, and community participation – is essential. A truly sustainable solution requires a holistic, integrated, and ecologically sensitive approach, recognizing the Ganga not just as a river, but as a lifeline and a cultural heritage.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.