Ganga rejuvenation: Centre gives approval to Rs 2700 crore sewage infrastructure projects
The Centre has given approval to 12 sewerage infrastructure projects worth Rs 2700 crore in the Ganga basin states as part of the ongoing Ganga rejuvenation programme.
The projects are to be taken up in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal and were given clearance at the 46th meeting of the executive committee (EC) of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) recently.
During the EC meeting, afforestation programmes for 2022-23 for Uttarakhand and Bihar were also approved at an estimated cost of Rs 42.80 crore. The projects envisaged under these prorgrammes aim to create an enabling environment for climate resilient and sustainable ecosystem management with community participatory approach.
For Uttar Pradesh, three projects were approved, including a major sewerage infrastructure development one in Prayagraj entailing a cost of Rs 475.19 crore. The Prayagraj project envisages construction of 90 MLD (million litre per day) sewage treatment plant (STP) along with 20 KLD faecal sludge co-treatment facility and effluent station of 90 MLD, interception and diversion works.
Two other projects approved in Uttar Pradesh includes construction of a 50 MLD sewage treatment plant, I&D works at an estimated cost of Rs 264.67 crore at Loniapurva, Lucknow for River Gomti and 24 MLD STP and I&D works at Hathras town for Sengar and Karwan rivers entailing a cost of Rs 128.91 crore.
In West Bengal, a major project for rejuvenation of Adi Ganga river was approved at estimated cost of Rs 653.67 crore.
In Bihar, one project each for Daudnagar and Motihari towns have been approved at estimated costs of Rs 42.25 and Rs 149.15 crore. For Daudnagar, construction of a 10.50 MLD sewage treatment plant along with I&D works and for Motihari, four STPs of 4.6, 6.3, 5.8, 6.3 MLD capacities and I&D works are is envisaged.
For Bihar, four projects of cost enhancement were also approved during the EC meeting, an official statement said.
A major project in Jharkhand was also approved. The project includes construction of five STPs of total 192 MLD capacity (18, 21, 75, 60, 18), interception & diversion and other works at an estimated cost of Rs 808.33 crore in Dhanbad town. This project is for pollution abatement in River Damodar, an important tributary of Ganga. The major project aims to tap all the drains falling into Damodar from the town, which indirectly pollutes Ganga.
With the approval of this project, all projects required for abatement of pollution in River Damodar in Jharkhand have been approved.
Another project titled ‘Scientific exploration of floral diversity near the Ganga river banks for ethnobotanical purposes along with their conservation and economic development of the region via skill development programs’ was approved in the EC for all the five states.
The project has three components including plant biodiversity exploration: floral diversity, ethnobotanical, medicinal aspect and their phytochemical profiling for commercial valuation, training and skill development: stakeholders like farmers, traditional healing practitioners and advanced scientific research & experimentation: soil & water quality; their impact on floral phytochemical; soil microbe interaction & its effect, medicinal plant varieties & exploration of medicinal properties, the statement added.
The project will be implemented in collaboration with Patanjali Research Institute (PRI) & Patanjali Organic Research Institute (PORI), Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
