Budget issued for cleaning of 6 river stretches in Kumaon

Under the ongoing Namami Gange project in the state for the cleanliness and purity of the National River Ganga, now six rivers of Kumaon will also be as clean as the Ganges. Soon the pollution in the rivers Bhela, Dhela, Kichha, Kosi, Nandhaur and Pilkhar under Udham Singh Nagar district will be curbed.

The central government has released a budget of Rs 199 crore for the tapping of nine sewerage treatment plants (STPs) and 17 drains in six polluted sites along these rivers under the Namami Gange. Udayraj Singh, Additional Secretary and Program Director of Namami Gange Project in the state confirmed this. Under the Namami Gange project, in the first phase, the works related to tapping of STPs and drains are going on in 15 cities from Gomukh, the origin of Ganga to Haridwar, which are now in the final phase. These works have also yielded expected results.

The Pollution Control Board’s report itself states that the quality of the Ganges water from Gomukh to Rishikesh is excellent. The water purity level of Ganga has also improved in Haridwar. In view of all this, the state government knocked at the center in view of making the other tributaries of the Ganga clean as well. In this episode, the action plan of the areas adjoining six rivers in Udham Singh Nagar district of Kumaon division was sent to the National Mission for Clean Ganga.

Earlier, the Center had given its in-principle approval in Namami Gange. Program Director Namami Gange Udayraj Singh said that three days ago, the Center released funds for these rivers. Tender process is being done for these works in Udham Singh Nagar. Soon works related to tapping of STPs and drains will be started in the areas adjoining six rivers.