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