12th Empowered Task Force Meeting on Ganga Rejuvenation Focuses on River Conservation and Infrastructure Development

New Delhi: The 12th meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF) on Ganga Rejuvenation, chaired by Minister of Jal Shakti, C. R. Paatil, brought together senior officials and representatives from multiple ministries and state governments to assess the progress of the ongoing efforts under the Namami Gange program. The meeting, held in the presence of Minister of State Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, included discussions on key initiatives aimed at cleaning and rejuvenating the sacred river Ganga.

Among the attendees were senior officials, including Ashok K. Meena, Officer on Special Duty, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Rakesh Kumar Verma, Additional Secretary, and Rajeev Kumar Mital, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). Representatives from key ministries such as Power, Tourism, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, along with state government officials from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, were also present.

The meeting focused on a detailed action plan for river rejuvenation, with special attention to the reuse of treated water, biodiversity conservation, and the remediation of polluted river stretches. The progress under the Namami Gange program was highlighted, particularly in rural and urban sanitation efforts and the creation of infrastructure.

Paatil emphasized the need for a unified approach among all stakeholders to ensure close monitoring and evaluation of Ganga-related projects. He called for state governments to expedite the submission of Detailed Project Reports for polluted river stretches and ensure that villages along the river are declared Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus.

“Rural and urban sanitation plays a critical role in cleaning the Ganga,” said Paatil, stressing the importance of timely completion of infrastructure projects.

A key topic of discussion was the reuse of treated wastewater. Paatil urged all states to treat wastewater as a valuable resource and align their frameworks with the National Framework for Reuse of Treated Water, which has been released by the NMCG. He directed the Ministry of Power to explore the reuse of treated water in its operations, emphasizing the economic benefits of reducing fresh water consumption in the sector.

The Minister also highlighted the potential for reusing treated water in construction and other sectors and stressed the importance of mainstreaming urban river management plans to improve the health of rivers flowing through cities.

Paatil pointed to the spiritual significance of the Ganga and its potential to boost tourism along its banks. “Harnessing the tourism potential of the sacred river will not only help preserve the Ganga but also contribute to regional economic growth and infrastructure development,” he said.

In line with the goal of river rejuvenation, the Minister emphasized the adoption of natural farming practices along the Ganga basin. The Ministry of Agriculture expressed its support for the initiative, and an action plan will be developed to scale up natural farming activities in the region. This eco-friendly approach, according to the Minister, will contribute to the long-term health of the river and the surrounding ecosystem.

As an institutional development initiative, it was decided to hold a joint workshop on Ganga rejuvenation by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and NMCG to further educate and sensitize stakeholders.

Paatil reiterated the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “The ETF provides a platform for focused deliberation on river-related issues, and all stakeholders must work together to achieve the targets and goals set by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for taking Ganga rejuvenation efforts to the next level.”

He also appreciated the ongoing development of the Smart Lab for Clean Rivers in collaboration with Denmark and IIT (BHU), which will assist in the rejuvenation of smaller rivers in India.