Backgrounder

The Central Government by a Notification dated 20.02.2009, has set up the ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority’ (NGRBA) as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for the Ganga River, to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unit of planning . The Authority will perform its function under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister. It has as its members, the Union Ministers concerned, the Chief Ministers of the States through which Ganga flows viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, among others. The Authority may co-opt one or more Chief Ministers from any of the States having major tributaries of the river Ganga. The objective of the NGRBA is to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach for comprehensive planning and management; and to maintain minimum ecological flows in the river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development.

Key features of the new approach

·         River Basin will be the unit of planning and management. This is an internationally accepted strategy for integrated management of rivers. Accordingly, a new institutional mechanism in the form of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) will spearhead river conservation efforts at the national level. Implementation will be by the State Agencies and Urban Local Bodies.

·         The minimum ecological flows for the entire Ganga will be determined through modeling exercises. NGRBA will take appropriate measures in cooperation with the States to regulate water abstraction for maintaining minimum ecological flows in the river.

·         Attention would also be paid to the restoration of living parts of the river ecosystem for its holistic treatment to enable conservation of species like dolphin , turtles, fishes and other native and endangered species in the river.

Role of State Government under NGRBA

·         The State government will be at the forefront. Implementation will be at the level of State Government/ ULBs. The States may take up steps for comprehensive management of the river in the State through their respective State River Conservation Authorities.

·         The State Government/ ULBs are expected to generate resources through taxes, levies, cess, user charges, etc., for abatement of pollution in the rivers and for proper O&M of the assets created. Funds thus raised may be utilized for infrastructure development including sewage works.

·         During the finalization of the respective State Plans, the States should make adequate provisions in their budgets for meeting O&M expenditure.

·         Compliance of the environmental norms by industries discharging wastewater directly into the river is under the purview of the State Pollution Control Boards. The Boards will need to be strengthened for better enforcement and surveillance of polluting industries located on the banks of the rivers.

·         The public funds for the capital and recurring costs may not be sufficient to meet the demand. The States will therefore have to introduce policies which may attract private sector investments, including from the financial institutions.

Key Functions of the NGRBA

·         The NGRBA would be responsible for addressing the problem of pollution in Ganga in a bolistic and comprehensive manner. This will include water quality , minimum ecological flows, sustainable access and other issues relevant to river ecology and management.

·         The NGRBA will not only be regulatory body but will also have developmental role in terms of planning & monitoring of the river conservation activities and ensuring that necessary resources are available.

·         The NGRBA would work for maintaining the water quality of the river Ganga upto the acceptable standards. The pollution abatement activities will be taken up through the existing implementation mechanisms in the States and also through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) at the pollution hotspots.

·         The NGRBA will ensure minimum ecological flow in the Ganga by regulating water abstraction and by promoting water storage projects.

·         The NGRBA will plan and monitor programmes for cleaning of Ganga and its tributaries. To begin with , it will concentrate on Ganga main stem.

·         The NGRBA would draw upon professional expertise within and outside the Government for advice on techno-economic issues.

·         The technical and administrative support to NGRBA shall be provided by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

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KP