**Executive Summary**
This report summarizes the progress and activities under the Namami Gange Mission Phase-II up to December 2025. It highlights the improvements in sewage treatment capacity, water quality monitoring, and biodiversity conservation efforts along the Ganga main stem. The report also details afforestation and other river-edge forestry works implemented to improve habitat quality and riverbank stability.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Sewage Treatment and Capacity:**
* 25 key sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total treatment capacity of 530 MLD have been commissioned and operationalized by December 2025.
* The total sewage treatment capacity created under NGM is 3,977 MLD.
* 218 sewerage infrastructure projects (STPs) costing ₹ 35,698 crores have been taken up for remediation of polluted river areas with treatment capacity of 6,610 Million Liters per Day (MLD). 138 STPs with a capacity of 3,977 MLD have been completed and made operational.
* **Water Quality Monitoring:**
* The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors water quality at 112 locations across five Ganga main-stem States.
* pH and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meet bathing criteria at all locations.
* Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) conforms to bathing criteria in the entire stretch except specified locations in Uttar Pradesh, including Farrukhabad to Purana Rajapur, Kanpur, Dalmau, Raebareli, and D/s Mirzapur to Tarighat, Ghazipur (excluding two locations).
* Biological water quality (BWQ) ranged from ‘Good' to ‘Moderate’ based on biomonitoring conducted during 2024-25.
* **Pollution Levels (2018 vs 2025):**
* In Uttarakhand, the polluted stretch from Haridwar to Sultanpur has been removed.
* In Uttar Pradesh, the Kannauj to Varanasi stretch is partially improved from IV to IV/V (Bijnor to Tarighat).
* In Bihar, marginal pollution remains in the Buxar to Bhagalpur (Bhagalpur D/S→Khalgaon D/S) stretch.
* In West Bengal, the Triveni to Diamond Harbour stretch has improved.
* **Industrial Pollution Abatement:**
* Three Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have been sanctioned.
* Two projects, Mathura CETP and Jajmau CETP, have been completed.
* **Biodiversity Conservation:**
* Integrated biodiversity conservation is a core component.
* Implemented science-based interventions for aquatic and riparian biodiversity.
* Estimated Gangetic Dolphin population at approximately 6,324 in Indian rivers.
* Conservation of native fish diversity through fish ranching.
* Targeted interventions for freshwater turtle conservation.
* Seven Biodiversity Parks in Uttar Pradesh and 5 priority wetlands in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand have been sanctioned.
* **Afforestation and Riverbank Stability:**
* Afforestation and river-edge forestry works are implemented.
* 33,024 hectares have been afforested.
* NMCG successfully implemented the minimum e-flow norms notified in October 2018, ensuring continuous environmental flow in the river Ganga.
* Regular compliance is being effectively monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
* A total of 160 lakhs of Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings have been ranched in the Ganga since 2017.
* Science-based species restoration programme, rescue, and rehabilitation programme for aquatic species like Dolphins, Otters, Hilsa, Turtles, and Ghariyal in collaboration with Wild Life Institute of India (WII), Dehradun and State Forest Department, have shown marked improvements in biodiversity.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** Required to implement and support the Namami Gange Programme efforts for river Ganga and its tributaries.
* **Action Required:** Continue collaborating with the central government, implement projects, and monitor water quality and biodiversity.
**Stakeholder: Central Government (NMCG, CPCB, Ministry of Jal Shakti)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for planning, funding, and monitoring the Namami Gange Mission.
* **Action Required:** Provide financial and technical assistance to State Governments, ensure project implementation, and regularly monitor water quality and biodiversity.
**Stakeholder: Local Communities and Fishermen**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved water quality, increased fish biodiversity, and livelihood opportunities.
* **Action Required:** Participate in conservation efforts and adhere to sustainable fishing practices.
**Stakeholder: Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Turtle Survival Alliance of India**
* **Impact:** Required to support and implement biodiversity conservation, species restoration, and research activities.
* **Action Required:** Continue to implement science-based species restoration programmes, rescue, and rehabilitation programmes for aquatic species.
**Stakeholder: Ganga River Ecosystem**
* **Impact:** Benefits from improved water quality, increased biodiversity, and a healthier aquatic environment.
* **Action Required:** Continuous monitoring and management to sustain ecosystem health.
Key Entities Referenced
Namami Gange Mission: An integrated conservation mission to rejuvenate the river Ganga.
Ganga: The primary river targeted for rejuvenation efforts.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The organization responsible for monitoring the water quality of the river Ganga.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The ministry responsible for the Namami Gange Mission.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
NAMAMI GANGE MISSION PHASE-II
प्रव तथ: 29 JAN 2026 5:09PM by PIB Delhi
Under the Namami Gange Mission (NGM) Phase II, during 2025 (January to December), a total of 25 key
sewage treatment plants with a total treatment capacity of 530 MLD have been commissioned and
operationalised.
Under NGM, total sewage treatment capacity of 3,977 MLD has been created as of December 2025.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), carries out manual water quality monitoring of the river Ganga
at 112 locations across five Ganga main-stem States- Uttarakhand-19; Uttar Pradesh-41; Bihar-33;
Jharkhand-04; and West Bengal-15. As per CPCB report on Polluted River Stretch (PRS) 2025 following
information about Ganga main stem pollution is available:
Ganga Main Stem – State-wise Comparison (2018 vs 2025)
State 2018 Polluted Priority 2025 Polluted Priority Trend/Observation
Stretch (2018) Stretch (2025)
Uttarakhand Haridwar → IV No PRS — Improved and PRS
stretch removed
Sultanpur
Uttar Pradesh Kannauj → IV Bijnor → IV / V Partially improved
Tarighat
Varanasi
Bihar Buxar to V Bhagalpur V Marginal pollution
D/S→ remains
Bhagalpur
Khalgaon D/S
Jharkhand No PRS — No PRS — —
West Bengal Triveni → III Baharampore V improved
→
Diamond Harbour
Diamond
Harbour
Based on the water quality data (median values) of the river Ganga for the year 2025 (January to August),
the following observations are made:(i) pH & Dissolved Oxygen (DO) are the most critical parameters of river health. The pH & DO of River
Ganga meet the required norms for bathing criteria at all the locations of River Ganga.
(ii) Water quality of river Ganga is conforming with the bathing criteria w.r.t. Bio- chemical Oxygen
Demand (BOD) in the entire stretch of river Ganga in Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar & West Bengal,
except the following locations/stretches:
Farrukhabad to Purana Rajapur, Kanpur.
Dalmau, Raebareli.
D/s Mirzapur to Tarighat, Ghazipur (except two locations namely U/s Varanasi, After confluence Gomti &
U/s Ghazipur) in Uttar Pradesh.
As per the biomonitoring conducted during 2024-25 at 50 locations along river Ganga and its tributaries
and 26 locations along River Yamuna and its tributaries, the biological water quality (BWQ)
predominantly ranged from ‘Good’ to ‘Moderate’. The presence of diverse benthic macro-invertebrate
species indicates the ecological potential of the rivers to sustain aquatic life.
The Namami Gange Mission Phase-II, has integrated biodiversity conservation as a core component of
river rejuvenation, alongside pollution abatement and flow management. The Mission is implementing
science-based interventions for the conservation of aquatic and riparian biodiversity, including flagship
and threatened species such as the Gangetic Dolphin, freshwater turtles, native fish species, gharial, otters
and migratory fishes, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, the Turtle Survival Alliance of
India and the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute.
The first-ever country-wide assessment of river dolphins conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India, in
partnership with State Forest Departments, has estimated the population of Gangetic Dolphins in Indian
rivers at approximately 6,324, with the Ganga basin supporting the largest proportion.
Conservation of native fish diversity is being undertaken through fish ranching of indigenous species,
restoration of spawning and nursery habitats and promotion of sustainable fisheries. Targeted interventions
for freshwater turtle conservation include habitat restoration, protection of nesting and basking sites, head-
starting programmes and rescue and rehabilitation.
Afforestation and river-edge forestry works are also being implemented along the river Ganga through
State Forest Departments, with about 33,024 hectares already covered to improve habitat quality and
riverbank stability.
The steps taken by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to improve water quality in the river
Ganga and its tributaries, in pursuit of the objectives of Nirmal and Aviral Dhara, are as follows:
1. A total of 218 number of sewerage infrastructure projects (STPs) costing ₹ 35,698 crores have been
taken up for remediation of polluted river areas with treatment capacity of 6,610 Million Liters per
Day (MLD). 138 STPs with a capacity of 3,977 MLD have been completed and made operational;
2. For industrial pollution abatement, 3 nos. of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have been
sanctioned, i.e., Jajmau CETP (20 MLD), Banther CETP (4.5 MLD) and Mathura CETP (6.25
MLD). Two projects, Mathura CETP (6.25 MLD) and Jajmau CETP (20 MLD), have been
completed;3. NMCG successfully implemented the minimum e-flow norms notified in October 2018, ensuring
continuous environmental flow in the river Ganga. Regular compliance is being effectively
monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC);
4. Biodiversity Conservation: Seven Biodiversity Parks in seven districts (Mirzapur, Bulandshahar,
Hapur, Budaun, Ayodhya, Bijnore and Pratapgarh) of Uttar Pradesh and 5 priority wetlands in Uttar
Pradesh (3), Bihar (1) and Jharkhand (1) have been sanctioned;
5. NMCG, through the State Forest Department, has implemented a forestry intervention project along
the main stem of river Ganga. 33,024 hectares area have been afforested with an expenditure of
about ₹ 414 crores;
6. A total of 160 lakhs of Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings have been ranched in the Ganga since
2017 to conserve fish biodiversity and prey base for river Dolphins, and ensure the livelihood of
fishers in the Ganga basin under the special project implemented by Central Inland Fisheries
Research Institute (CIFRI);
7. Science-based species restoration programme, rescue, and rehabilitation programme for aquatic
species like Dolphins, Otters, Hilsa, Turtles, and Ghariyal in collaboration with Wild Life Institute
of India (WII), Dehradun and State Forest Department, have shown marked improvements in
biodiversity with increased sightings of Dolphins, Otters, Hilsa, Turtles, and other riverine species.
Cleaning of river is a continuous process and Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the
State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution in river Ganga and its tributaries by providing
financial and technical assistance under the Namami Gange Programme.
The information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ
BHUSHAN CHAUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
*****
ND
(Lok Sabha USQ 189)
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2220210) आगंतुक पटल : 142