NATIONAL MISSION FOR CLEAN GANGA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Environment)

Context:  The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Centre's nodal agency responsible for the abatement of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries, has assumed new powers under which it may now permit the discharge of treated sewage and effluent that conforms to the prescribed "norms" into the river, canal or water bodies.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• About: It is a society under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
• Formation: It was formed to act as implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986, and was established to address pollution challenges in the Ganga River.
• New Provisions of Mission Ganga: It allows NMCG to permit the discharge of treated sewage conforming to prescribed norms after considering options like direct reuse for agriculture and industry.

oPermit the discharge of treated trade effluent, which conforms to the norms prescribed under the Act, into the river, canal or water bodies after exploring the option of its direct reuse for purposes such as agricultural use, industrial use, etc.

• Organizational Structure

oNational level: Two-tier management structure and consists of: The Governing Council and Executive Committee.

oAt the state level: State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs): Act as the implementing arm.

oImplementation: It is undertaken across three phases: Entry level, medium term and long term activities.

Namami Gange Programme

• Aim: It is an integrated umbrella programme, aimed to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga and its tributaries by adopting a river basin approach.
• Implementation: It was inaugurated in June 2014.
• Two objectives: Conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga.