Clean Ganga: Talks to be held to craft long-term policy

A number of Union Ministries tasked with various responsibilities under Clean Ganga mission will come together on Saturday to hold parleys with heads of villages along the river to craft a long-term policy to rid it of pollutants.
Union Ministers Uma Bharti (Water Resources), Smriti Irani (HRD), Nitin Gadkari (Transport and Shipping), Birender Singh (Rural Development), Mahesh Sharma (Tourism), Sarbananda Sonowal (Sports) and Shripad Naik (Ayush) are expected to address the day-long conference to be attended by nearly 2,500 people, including eminent policy-makers and NGOs.
Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand will also take part in the consultations themed 'Swachh Ganga - Gramin Sahbhagita'.

"The consultation and sensitisation programme is a national dialogue on Ganga to facilitate interaction with various stakeholders and draw ideas that will give a better insight for framing a strategic long-term policy for restoration of the Ganges," Water Resources Ministry said in a statement.
During the meet, deliberations will take place on topics of medicinal plants and livelihood, treatment of rural solid waste and cleanliness in villages.
The Ministry will also screen a video of Namami Gange programme, while Ayurveda exponent Acharya Balkrishna will address the gathering on medicinal plants and livelihood in the upper ridges of Ganga.

The NMCG will also launch 'Ganga Vichar Manch', a portal created for initiating a dialogue between various stakeholders.

In addition to this, presentations will be made on different water management models including Ganga Gram, Unnat Bharat Synergy and Seechewal.
"The programme will also feature the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with governments of Jharkhand and Uttrakhand," the Ministry said.
When contacted, Secretary, Water Resources Ministry, Shashi Shekhar confirmed the participation of different ministries in the Mission, saying these were brought onboard nearly a month back.
"We are signing MoUs with other Ministries concerned. As part of the same, the HRD has been asked to figure out if an institution or varsity can be set up to offer courses on applied river sciences," Shekhar said.