Par panel recommends PM-headed authority on Ganga

Expressing concern over Ganga being declared one of the 10 most polluted rivers in the world, a parliamentary committee today recommended setting up of an overarching authority headed by the Prime Minister to cut down on red tape so that the river is restored to its pristine glory.
The Estimates Committee of Parliament, in its report on Ganga Rejuvenation tabled today, said an "overarching and fully empowered" authority headed by the Prime Minister was required to cut down on the red tape involving various ministries and state governments.
Committee Chairman and BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi said it would be preferred that the recommended body is created by a statute and it submits its report to Parliament on a regular basis.

Responding to a question about the need for such a body when the Prime Minister himself was monitoring the Namami Gange programme, Joshi said personal monitoring was not "enough" and he should head the body so that inter-ministry and inter-state issues are settled without wasting time.
Asked whether he sees amphibious planes landing on Indian rivers as envisaged by Transport minister Nitin Gadkari, Joshi said such aircraft "cannot land without water."
He also said aviation fuel can result in polluting the pristine environment around rivers.
"Taking note of the multiplicity of authorities both at the Union and states' level, and having regard to lack of effective synergy between the stakeholders, the committee recommend that an overarching and fully empowered authority, comprising of the representatives of all the concerned Union ministries and state governments be set up for securing the 'nirmalta' (purity) and 'aviralta' (flow) of the Ganga by July 2018," the committee recommended.