Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD&GR)
signed an MoU in Delhi today with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare (MoA&FW) for speedy implementation of Namami Gange programme. The
MoU was signed by Shri Hari Har Mishra,
Additional Mission Director, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), MoWR, RD&GR and Dr. S.S Tomar, Additional Commissioner, MoA&FW
in the presence of Union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation Minister Sushri Uma Bharti and Union Minister for Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh.
Speaking on
the occasion Sushri Bharti said that signing of this MoU will ensure effective
and efficient implementation of various projects of Namami Gange in
coordination with MoA&FW. The Minister said being a multi-disciplinary
programme, the success of Namami Gange largely depends upon the participation
of other ministries, state governments and local communities. She expressed the
hope that MoA&FW will play a major role in the success of Namami Gange
programme. Shri Radha Mohan Singh promised all required help from his Ministry
to the Ministry of Water Resources for successful implementation of Namami
Gange Programme. He was of the opinion that Namami Gange is a major programme
under taken by the Modi government and expressed the hope that both the
Ministries will put their best together for its success.
As per the
terms of MoU the MoA&FW will develop organic farming in the
villages along Ganga with each Gram Panchayat representing a single cluster,
promote organic farming through awareness programmes, self help groups, mobile
apps etc. The Ministry will also create awareness about balanced use of
chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides promote micro irrigation for water
conservation in Ganga Basin and will encourage livelihood
opportunities and natural farming, based on animal husbandry, along Ganga. The
Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation shall
ensure necessary coordination, and support from the state governments and state
level implementing agencies for various activities to be undertaken by Ministry
of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare as part of Namami Gange programme. The MoU will remain in effect for a period of three
years and thereafter can be extended as mutually agreed between the parties.
The
achievement /progress of the implementation of this MoU shall be monitored by a
steering committee consisting of the Nodal officers from each Ministry. The
committee will meet on periodic basis, once in three months or whenever
necessary to review the performance of this MoU and the agreed list of
activities.
Government of
India has launched “Namami Gange”, integrated Ganga Conservation Mission as an
umbrella programme at an indicative cost of Rs. 12,728 crore for new components
and converging ongoing programmes amounting to Rs. 7,272 crore with an aim to
integrate previous and latest efforts by enhancing efficiency, extracting
synergy and better coordination with all the stakeholders including the line
Ministries of Government of India.
The first MoU
was signed with the Ministry of Railways on December 03, 2015. Subsequently on
January 31, 2016 MoUs were signed with seven participating Ministries namely
Ministry of Shipping (MoS), Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MoHRD),
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Ministry of
Ayush (M/o Ayush), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYA&S) and
Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MoDW&S).
Samir/jk