Centre mulling law against river polluters: Uma Bharti

Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma Bharti on Monday said the Centre is working to bring a law having stringent provisions against the river polluters.

"The government is proposing to bring the law in consultation with states to act against polluting industries as, as many as 764 units are carrying out industrial activities in the vicinity of the river and they have been asked to adopt zero liquid discharge norms," said Uma Bharti, while replying to questions in the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

She said industrial and sewage waste discharged into the Ganga is the primary source of its pollution and not the religious materials.

She reiterated government's commitment to clean the Ganga during its tenure, adding that twenty thousand crore rupees have been allocated for the project.

The minister said the government has decided to implement waste management in the cities along the river to prevent city drains from discharging into the Ganga.

She also informed the House that the ongoing 'Namami Gange' Programme is fully funded by the government and it has not received any foreign funds.

However, earlier the Ganga cleaning scheme had received assistance from World Bank and Japan International Co-operation Agency.

Several countries have also offered technical assistance, she added.