GANGA ACTION PLAN Introduction
Ganga runs its course of over 2500
kms from Gangotri in the Himalayas to Ganga Sagar in the Bay of Bengal
through 29 cities with population over 1,00,000 (%uFFFDclass-I cities%uFFFD), 23
cities with population between 50,000 and 1,00,000 (%uFFFDclass-II cities%uFFFD),
and about 48 towns. It is a river with which the people of India are
attached spiritually and emotionally. Department of Environment, in
December 1984, prepared an action plan for immediate reduction of
pollution load on the river Ganga. The Cabinet approved the GAP (Ganga
Action Plan)in April 1985 as a 100 per cent centrally sponsored scheme.
2. To
oversee the implementation of the GAP and to lay down policies and
programmes, Government of India constituted the CGA (Central Ganga
Authority)in February 1985, renamed as the NRCA (National River
Conservation Authority)in September 1995, under the chairmanship of the
Prime Minister. The Government also established the GPD (Ganga Project
Directorate)in June 1985 as a wing of Department of Environment, to
execute the projects under the guidance and supervision of the CGA. The
Government renamed the GPD as the NRCD (National River Conservation
Directorate)in June 1994.
3.
The GAP-I envisaged to intercept, divert and treat 882 mld (Million
litres per day) out of 1340 mld of wastewater, generated in 25 class-I
towns in 3 States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. The NRCD had
scheduled the GAP-I for completion by March 1990, but extended it
progressively up to March 2000. While the GAP-I was still in progress,
the CGA decided in February 1991 to take up the GAP-II, covering the
following pollution abatement works:
(a) On the tributaries of river Ganga, viz. Yamuna, Damodar and Gomati.
(b) In 25 class-I towns left out in Phase-I.
(c) In the other polluting towns along the river.
4.
The CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) approved the GAP-II in
various stages during April 1993 to October 1996 . The States of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana were to implement the
GAP-II by treating 1912 mld of sewage. GAP-II is scheduled for
completion by December 2001.
Now we are approaching 2008 but till
now where is the progress Respected Prime Minister of India ? Under
Right to Information Act, 2005 - we all undersigned needs the following
information :-
1). Are you satisfied with the progress of GAP ?
2). How much time it will take to complete the project & how much amount spent on this task till date ?
