The Namami Gange Program and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) are two initiatives aimed at rejuvenating the River Ganga. Established in association with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), these projects seek to manage urban rivers through learning from international practices and establishing partnerships.
River-Cities Alliance (RCA) Global Seminar
The NMCG, in collaboration with NIUA, recently organized the ‘River-Cities Alliance (RCA) Global Seminar: Partnership for Building International River-Sensitive Cities’. The primary purpose of this event was to facilitate a platform to discuss and learn good practices for managing urban rivers. This seminar follows a previous RCA meeting, DHARA 2023, held in February 2023, which centered around international best practices for urban river management.
The Role of the National Institute of Urban Affairs
Established in 1976 under the Societies Registration Act 1860, the NIUA is an autonomous research institute focused on urban development and management. Based in New Delhi, India, it disseminates information relating to urban issues and is supported by various government bodies and regional development authorities.
River-Cities Alliance’s Vision and Objectives
The RCA, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), aims to connect river cities and focus on sustainable, river-centric development. It operates on three broad themes- Networking, Capacity Building and Technical Support. The RCA primarily intends to enable Indian cities to learn new approaches for urban river management and offer insights into Indian experiences to international cities.
National Mission for Clean Ganga: An Overview
The NMCG mission, initiated by the National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga, aims at reducing pollution and rejuvenating the Ganga River. Established on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act,1860, it functioned as the implementation arm of the National Ganga Council and has an organizational structure that operates at national, state, and district levels.
Other Initiatives for River Rejuvenation in India
Aside from NMCG, several initiatives have been taken towards river rejuvenation in India. This includes the Namami Gange Programme, which is an Integrated Conservation Mission aimed at effectively abating pollution and conserving and rejuvenating the River Ganga. The Ganga Action Plan, the first River Action Plan undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, aimed to improve water quality. Additionally, the National Water Mission (2010) focuses on integrated water resource management, while the National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) was created under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, with the Ganga declared as the ‘National River’ of India in 2008. Other initiatives like the Clean Ganga Fund, Bhuvan-Ganga Web App, and a ban on Waste Disposal in the Ganga were also implemented.
Past UPSC Civil Services Examination Questions Related to the Topic
An examination of past UPSC Civil Services prelims and mains questions related to these initiatives offers insights into the type of statements related to the NMCG and associated initiatives that may be asked in such competitive exams. Understanding the correct answers to these questions can help in devising an effective strategy for preparing for these exams.