Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission through video conference. The projects include the construction of a 68 MLD (million litres per day) Sewage Treatment Plant, upgradation of the existing 27 MLD at Jagjeetpur and construction of an 18 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Sarai, in Haridwar.
The inauguration of 68 MLD Jagjeetpur project marks the completion of the first sewage treatment project taken up on hybrid annuity mode of Public-Private Partnership.
Addressing the inaugural function, Shri Narendra Modi said the river Ganga from its origin in Uttarakhand to the Ganga Sagar in West Bengal, enriches the lives about half of the country’s population and therefore, the cleanliness of the Ganga is necessary. He said his government moved forward with new thinking and new approach and did not limit the Namami Gange Mission to the cleanliness of Ganga and made it the largest and comprehensive river conservation programme in the country.
The Prime Minister said sewage a number of sewage treatment plants have been built to prevent the dirty water falling into the Gangethat can meet the needs of the next 10-15 year. He pointed out that the Ministry of Jal Shakti is now engaged in the mission of delivering water to every house in the country and about one lakh families are being connected to pure drinking water facilities every day under the Jalajeevan Mission.
Drinking water has been delivered to two crore families of the country in just one year.
The Prime Minister said major reforms related to the farmers, workers and health have been brought in to empower the workers, farmers, youth and women of the country. He criticized the opposition for launching agitation against the reforms in labour and farm sectors.
Shri Narendra Modi said the protestors are humiliating the farmers by setting the agricultural goods and equipment on fire and want to restrain the farmers from selling their produce in the open market.
The other plants inaugurated by the Prime Minister are 26 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Lakkadghat in Rishikesh, five MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Chorpani, and two plants with capacities of one MLD and .01 MLD at Badrinath.
In Muni ki Reti town, the 7.5 MLD Plant in Chandreshwar Nagar will be the first four-storied Sewage Treatment Plant in the country where the limitation of land availability was converted into an opportunity.
The Haridwar-Rishikesh zone contributes about 80 per cent wastewater load into the River Ganga. These plants will play a significant role in keeping the River Ganga clean.
In all, 30 projects are now complete in Uttarakhand for taking care of pollution from 17 towns near the river Ganga. This is a landmark achievement.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated “Ganga Avalokan”, the first museum on Ganga dedicated to showcasing the culture, biodiversity and rejuvenation activities done in Ganga river. The museum is located at Chandi Ghat, Haridwar.
A book, ‘Rowing down the Ganges’, co-published by National Mission for Clean Ganga & Wildlife Institute of India was launched at the event.
The logo of Jal Jeevan Mission and ‘Margdarshika for Gram Panchayats and Paani Samitis under Jal Jeevan Mission’ was also unveiled by the Prime Minister. (With inputs from AIR)
