New Delhi- The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved projects worth Rs 1,062 crore for the conservation and cleanliness of the Ganga River, and for IEC activities during Mahakumbh 2025. The announcement was made after the 57th Executive Committee meeting of NMCG was held by the Director General of NMCG, Rajeev Kumar Mital.

Under the projects, a total amount of Rs 350 crore will be spent for the improvement of the city's drainage and sewage management, including the construction of a 35 MLD capacity STP in Rojitpur, Bihar, and a 20.5 MLD capacity STP in Sharifganj, Uttar Pradesh. In addition, Rs 488 crore will be spent on the interception, diversion, and STP construction of two STPs with capacities of 65 MLD and 48 MLD in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, and a 30 KLD septage co-treatment facility.

For the development of sewage treatment plants (STPs), Rs 76.69 crore has been approved for the construction of three STPs and six interception and diversion structures in Supaul, Bihar. The goal of the project is to intercept and manage six major drains, as well as to operate and maintain the systems for the next 15 years. In Uttarakhand, Rs 2.5 crore has been approved for co-treatment of septage at existing STPs, including setting up plants with a capacity of 150 KLD in Jagjeetpur and 50 KLD in Sarai, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, and Devprayag. The project will significantly improve sanitation and water management in various cities in Uttarakhand.

To enhance cleanliness and awareness during Mahakumbh 2025, an IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activity-based project worth Rs 30 crore has been approved. The project includes decorating the Mela area and city through 'Paint My City' and mural art. Places such as flyovers, large buildings, railway stations, and bus stops will be adorned with wall paintings depicting themes related to the Ganga. Additionally, a 45-day exhibition will be held at a prominent location in the Mela area to showcase the interventions and achievements made under the Namami Gange programme. During this initiative, 1,500 Ganga Seva Doots will be deployed across the fairgrounds to raise awareness on cleanliness and Ganga conservation. The Committee also approved restructuring manpower under the Pollution Inventory, Assessment, and Surveillance (PIAS) project to enhance its effectiveness. The revised organization structure includes 90 sanctioned posts, with a particular focus on strengthening technical capabilities. This will improve the environmental data collection, analysis, and monitoring mechanism, ensuring solid progress in pollution control and management.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the M/o Jal Shakti, State Governments of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh as well as from NMCG.