Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start the answer by mentioning the context of the launching the Namami Gange project.
• Mention the role played by namami gange project.
• Conclude Suitably.

Introduction

Over time, the increase in population, coupled with unregulated industrialization and unsustainable agricultural practices, have led to a significant increase in pollutants in the Ganga river and its tributaries.

In pursuit of reducing the pollution in River Ganga, the government of India has launched the flagship program called Namami Gange. The program envisages a holistic approach to public policy, technology intervention, and community participation.

Body

Role Played by Namami Gange Project

• Cooperative Federalism: The Namami Gange Yojana is implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga along with its State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs).
• Mains Pillars: The main pillars of the Namami Gange can be depicted as the following:
  
  • Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring.
  • Development of river-front as well as river-surface cleaning.
  • Bio-Diversity & Afforestation.
  • Public Awareness.
• Public Policy: Under the Namami Gange project, the government issued a notification to authorize the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to exercise powers under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
  
  • Due to this, the NMCG also issued directives regulating mining activities on river banks, prohibiting encroachment, and regulating activities like the immersion of idols.
• Technology Intervention: NMCG adopted cutting-edge technologies like satellite imagery, remote sensing, and geospatial solutions which facilitated real-time monitoring of pollutants in Ganga and its tributaries.
• Community Participation: Namami Gange also encourages community participation in cleaning the river.
  
  • It runs an awareness campaign regularly carried out in cities, towns, and villages alongside Ganga through a newly-established community force called “Ganga Praharis”.
  • Through them, the government seeks to transform “jal chetna” into “jan chetna” and turn it into a “jal aandolan”.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court has declared that the right to a decent and clean environment is a fundamental right. In this context, the Namami Gange project is a step in the right direction to clean the river Ganga and should be emulated to deal with pollution in other rivers of India.