The Ganges- Modi's broken promise
Namami Ganga Project –Modi’s broken promise
‘Not a drop of the Ganga has been cleaned so far’. This shocking remark comes from none other than the National Green Tribunal NGT at a Court hearing in January this year. Even after spending Rs 7304.64 crores upto March, 2017, the Ganga continues to be a serious environmental issue the NGT was quoted to having said.
The saga of the Ganga clean up has been witnessed over the years by PIL litigant Mr. M.C. Mehta a Delhi based lawyer. The clean up began in 1985 under the Rajiv Gandhi Govt. but no real improvement has been seen till date.
What is even more surprising is that the campaign to clean the Ganga was the highlight of Modi’s campaign in 2014 in Varanasi. ‘It's my destiny to serve Maa Ganga’ said PM Modi swearing by his 56 inch chest ‘ Chappan inch ki chhati’ when he was elected in May 2014 to Parliament from Varanasi……Now one wonders whether Hawabaazi’ is the right word to depict his promises that seem to vanish in thin air…leading to ‘ Dagaabazi’ against the people that voted him to power.
The river Ganga is important not only in the spiritual context but also because it is thus lifeline to a large population as the river spans out into many states—viz Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, and parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
The Namami Ganga (In the name of Ganga) or Swacch Ganga project was launched with a bang and with a budget whopper of Rs 20000 crore. But looking at the way things are progressing may end up with a whimper and more importantly a loss of face for the Prime Minister, especially when the 2019 general elections are not too far. Though the actual deadline for the project is the year 2020, the Water resources ministry announced an ambitious target of October 2018 and is now caught with its foot in its mouth.
The problem areas associated with the project are:
No reliable data: There is no reliable data with the Centre although it is a central scheme. The ministry relies on State data which is often biased.
Multiple Authorities: There are multiple authorities concerned with the project- The PMO, The Ministry of Water Resources the State Govts., the Central Pollution Control Board, the National Council for River Ganga, the National Green Tribunal, the National Mission for Clean Ganga etc
Slow pace of work: The Rs 20000 crore budget comprises funds for 145 projects of which 72 alone are for sewer treatment. However of the the 72 approved Sewer Treatement Plants only 13 have been completed so far. The tree plantation drive aiming to increase green cover along the river has been initiated only recently in 2016-17 . So also there is inadequate installation of anti pollution equipment along the river. Work on 28 river front development projects and 33 entry-level projects for construction, modernization and renovation of 182 ghats and 118 crematoria have too been initiated lately.
The only plus point is that nearly two-third of the total 15.27 lakh latrines have been constructed which has resulted in large river frontal areas now being open-defecation free.
Directives not implemented: Directives of the Govt and authorities concerned of --- ‘ No Development zones’ banning construction activity within 100 meters of the river, banning mining. guidelines for proper conduct of religious activities, throwing of waste within 500 metres of the river, shifting of leather tanneries have not been strictly enforced .
Blame Game: The blame game is being played to and fro between the Centre and the States.The Minister of Water Resources Sanjeev Balyan blames the previous Samajawadi Party (SP) Govt of Akhilesh of putting a spoke in the wheel of development work. With UP and Uttrakhand now very recently under the NDA , he hopes the situation would improve. But the SP has another story to tell.
But one story and is outcome is certain.It is certainly not ‘Acche din’ for the river and for its people.
