20 Feb :National Ganga River Basin Authority is being set up with an aim to rejuvenate the joint efforts of states and the Centre in cleaning the river.In his statement in Parliament on Friday, Minister of State for Environment Namo Narain Meena said the Authority would be responsible for addressing the problem of pollution in the river in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
"This will include water quality, minimum ecological flows, sustainable access and other issues relevant to river ecology and management. Under the new approach the river basin will be the unit of planning," he said.
The need to form such an Authority, Meena said, was felt as hitherto cleaning of the river has been piecemeal and focused more on municipal sewage. The problem is compounded by inadequate flows.
Hence, "it was felt that a comprehensive response is necessary, covering water quality and flow, sustainable access, prevention and control of pollution, food and energy security, in the form of a national mission by giving the river the status of a National river," the minister added.
The Authority will be chaired by the Prime Minister and have as its members, the chief ministers of the concerned states. It will be vested with appropriate powers to carry out its function.
"A notification in this regard will be issued soon," Meena added.