Action to be taken soon against industrial units polluting Ganga: Uma Bharti

The central government has asked the pollution control boards to initiate action against industrial units discharging contaminated effluents in river Ganga, Union Minister Uma Bharti informed Lok Sabha on 6 August.

She said the government has asked the pollution control boards to initiate action against such industrial units, in a bid to stop untreated water from flowing into the Ganga.

During the Question Hour, the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister said her Ministry would soon finalise a plan in this regard and send it to the Cabinet for approval.

The government has launched the ambitious 'Namami Ganga' programme to rejuvenate the river which was fully funded by the Centre.

"We are committed to clean Ganga," Bharti said while adding that the people's representatives and the society as a whole needed to work together in this direction.

Bharti said the government proposes to encourage public participation, especially of those living on the banks of the Ganga and nearby areas in its efforts to rejuvenate the river.

An Eco Task Force is being raised which will be primarily manned by ex-servicemen living on banks of Ganga to aid local participation, she said.

Apart from rejuvenation of Ganga, the programme also covers all the tributaries of the river. "Yamuna Action Plan, Gomti Action Plan, Damodar Action Plan are already under operation and work on Ramganga and Kali is under implementation," Bharti said.

Under the programme, an amount of Rs 528 crore has been earmarked for public participation, including towards raising of Ganga Task Force, for a five-year period (2015-2020). Till end of June, Rs 91.75 lakh has been spent.

To a query that less amount has been spent so far, the Minister said enough was being spent and money would be further spent on the cleaning efforts "wisely".

-PTI