The government has instituted a team named Ganga Vahini that has been provided the responsibility of protecting the ghats of River Ganga across the entire area that is covered by the river. This is among the various measures that have been announced by the Indian Government in this regard. The government is also looking to train the spotlight on the drains that have been one of the major sources of pollution of River Ganga. There is a proposal to stop the discharge of even treated waste water into the river and use it for industrial or agricultural purposes instead. Uma Bharti, the Water Resources, Ganga Rejuvenation and River Development Minister, has also stated that the riverfront model followed in the instance of Sabarmati will be used for the ghats of Ganga as well.
Take part in Clean Ganga campaign, says Amit Shah
While addressing a gathering at Ahmedabad, Amit Shah requested the people of neighboring states Bihar and Uttar Pradesh to take part in the Clean India Mission as well as the Swachha Bharat Abhiyan. The President of BJP has stated that from the very beginning the Indian Prime Minister has been emphasizing on cleaning up the country as well as the River Ganga and that is why he has taken a number of initiatives as a result of that drive. He felt that as citizens of India, people across the country should take part in these programs.
Pollution control boards rapped by Supreme Court
The woeful condition of River Ganga has elicited a sharp response from the Supreme Court. The apex judicial body in the country has also taken the Central Pollution Control Board and its state level counterparts to task for this. It has gone so far as to say that the work, or rather the lack of it, done by the aforementioned bodies in keeping Ganga free of pollution has been disastrous, frustrating and instances of abject failure.
Clean Ganga and corporate social responsibility
Now, thanks to the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, any donation made to the Clean Ganga campaign would be a part of the corporate social responsibility programs of a business organization. This will be applicable for the Swach Bharat Kosh, the fund for operating the Clean India program, as well. Under normal circumstances, when companies donate to certain funds they are provided tax exemptions. Now the Indian business fraternity is waiting with bated breath for the Central Board of Direct Taxes to provide its response on this issue.
Sagar Islands included in Clean Ganga programme
In keeping with a request from Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the Indian Government has included Sagar Islands as well as some adjoining areas in the Clean Ganga campaign. The decision in this regard was taken at a National Ganga River Basin Authority meeting. Uma Bharti, incidentally, is the vice chairperson of the said body. Rajib Banerjee, the Irrigation and Waterways Department Minister of West Bengal, represented the state at the said meeting. Now, it is expected that the work to rejuvenate the Gangasagar area will start in a short span of time.
