Ganga not just about 'pooja paath', it is lifeline for millions: Uma Bharti

Bharti says Ganga is polluted by industry effluents, not Hindu rituals

Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti on Saturday said that river Ganga is not just about faith but also provides livelihood to millions.

"Ganga is not just about faith and 'pooja paath', it also gives livelihood to millions..but over the years we have totally neglected this aspect," she said on the of signing an MoU between her Ministry and the Skill Development Ministry here as both, on the occasion of the second anniversary of Skill India Mission on Saturda., formally joined hands to develop skilled manpower for the Namami Gange project.

Uma Bharti said that the MoU will open new vistas of employment for many as it intends to develop skilled manpower for laying sewerage pipelines, plumbing work, construction of toilets, civil masonry work, waste collection and its disposal activities.

It will also develop skills for preparing products from religious waste materials like flowers, leaves, coconuts, hair as well as plastic bags and plastic bottles etc and the proper packaging and promotion of such products.

The MoU will also help in developing skills for operation and maintenance of pumps and submersible turbine pumps.

As per the MoU, the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation will develop the market for reuse/recycle of treated waste water to be released from these pumps and ETPs (effluent submersible pumps) for various non-potable purposes.

It will also ensure necessary coordination and support from the state governments and state-level implementing agencies for various activities to be undertaken by the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry as part of the Namami Gange programme.

The Ministry will also mobilise resources for Pradhan Mantri Namami Gange Kaushal Kendras in 60 districts under the programme, while the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry will take the initiative in developing skills for preparing products from waste materials generated along the ghats.

Uma Bharti said that the "pooja samagri" (articles used in Hindu prayer rituals) does not pollute the river but "just hampers the flow for some time".

"Ganga is polluted by industry effluents, not Hindu rituals."