Construction of sewage treatment plants is a priority for the Namami Gange Mission
On October 25, 2021, Prime Minister Modi opened a new state-of-the-art sewage treatment plant in Varanasi during his visit to Uttar Pradesh. The plant attempts to protect and revitalise the Ganga River. According to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has been safeguarding the nirmalta (cleanliness) and aviralta (ease of flow) of the holy river by establishing a broad network of sewage treatment plants to tap the flow of unclean water into the Ganga River.
Prime Minister Modi lay the foundation stone for the sewage treatment project in Varanasi on November 12, 2018. With the completion of the modern sewage treatment plant in Varanasi, all tainted water flowing into the Ganga from Varanasi’s five drains would be completely stopped. The Namami Gange Mission has prioritised the development of sewage treatment plants capable of meeting the needs of the next 10-15 years. The project will also focus on revitalising the entire Ganges flow area, rather than just a few villages and cities.
Prime Minister Modi also dedicated eight sacred kunds (ponds) in Varanasi, in addition to the sewage treatment scheme. Dudhiya, Kalaha, Lakshmi, Panchkosi, Rewa, Kabir, and Bakharia Kunds are among the kunds in Varanasi. The ‘Clean Ganga Fund’ was established to beautify and conserve these ponds as part of the National Mission for Clean Ganga. These kunds, according to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, are traditional man-made water bodies that provide drinking water, groundwater recharge, and rainwater collecting for the region.
Varanasi is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Parliamentary Constituency, and Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are slated for 2022. The NMCG, which serves as the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council, was established in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities order. The National Ganga River Basin Authority was diluted as a result of this ruling. The project’s goal is to thoroughly clean the Ganga and its tributaries.