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Concept Note

The attempts to rejuvenate the river Ganga and restore it to its former glory have been going

on for many decades. Amongst the more recent ones and on-going ones have been the Ganga

Action Plan Phases I, II and III. The Phase III better known as Namami Gange is the most

ambitious so far. With the project, now, having been extended till June 2022, offers a dual

integrated approach with pollution abatement, rejuvenation and conservation of the

ecosystem being as the areas of major concerns. The purpose of the programme is to deal

with the existing issues in a holistic manner. Namami Gange works on a wide range of issues

such as Industrial Effluent Monitoring, River Surface Cleaning, river front development,

Afforestation and Bio Diversity Conservation.

One of the most important aims of the River Rejuvenation Projects has been finding

means to progressively increase the water flow in the main river body, so as to facilitate the

dilution of pollutants. This would also mean a subsequent reduction in toxicity in the ground

water and the surrounding soil. Revival of water quality and enrichment of the soil would

provide for better life sustaining activities including encouraging tourism. This would also

facilitate the revival of river ecology and help in turning it into an inland waterway. While

ensuring a healthy habitat, the now endangered aquatic life can be protected.

Some of the positive outcomes of the Namami Gange Programme have been

1. Infrastructure development like setting up Sewage Treatment Plants, development of

river banks etc.

2. Decentralization of authority a bottom up approach where the State governments and

the Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) are accorded a prominent role in the planning

execution and monitoring of the projects both technically and financially

3. Mobilization of resources including encouragement of the Hybrid Annuity-PPP model

for successful completion of the project

4. Knowledge dissemination and awareness building through establishment of the Ganga

Knowledge Centre (GKC)

The positive outcomes have however been riddled with some hiccups and challenges. The

two part webinar series will seek to raise public awareness on the opportunities and

challenges in this mission of national importance. It would seek to understand the challenges

faced during the implementation and smooth running of the programme as well as highlight

narratives to encourage activities like sustainable agriculture, pisciculture, floriculture

tourism, and the contribution of the inhabitants on the river banks in order to keep the river

and the surrounding ecosystem vibrant.

 Agenda

Part 1: The flow of the conversation would begin with

 Monday January 11,2021

3:00-3:05pm: Introduction and Opening Remarks

3:05-3:10pm: Welcome address by Mr Sabyasachi Dutta, Executive Director Asian Confluence

3:10-3:25pm: Speaker 1: Professor Vinod Tare: Founding Head Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies, Professor Department of Civil Engineering IIT Kanpur

3:25-3:40pm:  Speaker 2: Dr Ritesh Kumar: Director at Wetlands International, South Asia

3:40-3:55 pm: Question and Answer/Discussion

3:55-4:00pm: Closing remarks by Mr Sabyasachi Dutta