Executive Summary:
The document outlines the Indian government's response regarding the implementation of the Arth Ganga scheme under the Namami Gange Programme, including initiatives related to the Yamuna River. It details objectives, activities, and monitoring mechanisms for promoting sustainable economic development and river conservation. The response was given on August 7, 2025, in answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3103.
Key Points / Main Content:
Arth Ganga Scheme:
* Aims to strengthen the connection between people and the river through economic activities.
* Key pillars include promotion of natural farming, monetization of treated water and sludge, improvement of livelihood opportunities, and promotion of tourism and cultural heritage.
Yamuna River Development:
* No proposal is currently under consideration for ghat development on the Yamuna River near Kairana, Shamli District.
Pollution Control and Sustainable Activities:
* Jalaj centres have been established to promote awareness and public participation focusing on economic activities for river rejuvenation.
* Natural farming training workshops are organized in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
* A study project is sanctioned to evaluate the impact of natural farming on water usage, energy, soil fertility, and crop productivity.
* A project is sanctioned to document and conserve the biodiversity of the Ganga river ecosystem.
* Jalaj centers have been set up to promote ecotourism, community participation, and conservation awareness.
* Capacity building programs are being implemented to leverage community and local resources.
* A National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Water has been published, with MoUs signed with various ministries for treated water reuse.
* Documentation of architectural, natural, and intangible cultural heritage is underway for both Ganga and Yamuna basins.
Public Participation and Empowerment:
* Awareness campaigns are conducted through Jalaj centres and Ganga Praharis.
* MoU was signed with ImAvatar for promoting Arth Ganga initiative.
* Continuous Learning and Activity Portal (CLAP) provides knowledge on environment, water and river issues.
* Public awareness campaigns, including Ganga Utsav, Nadi Utsav, cleanathons, and plantation drives, are conducted.
Monitoring Mechanisms:
* Progress is reviewed at various levels, including the Empowered Task Force chaired by the Minister of Jal Shakti.
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Jal Shakti:
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation and monitoring of the Arth Ganga scheme and related projects.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor progress, chair the Empowered Task Force, and ensure coordination among various stakeholders.
Local Communities:
* Impact: Benefit from livelihood opportunities, increased awareness, and empowerment through participation in conservation efforts.
* Action Required: Participate in awareness programs, utilize livelihood opportunities, and contribute to river conservation efforts.
Farmers:
* Impact: Encouraged to adopt natural farming practices to improve soil fertility and reduce water and energy usage.
* Action Required: Attend training workshops on natural farming and implement sustainable agricultural practices.
Research Institutions (e.g., WALAMTARI, WII, HESCO, INTACH):
* Impact: Commissioned to conduct studies, implement projects, and provide training related to river conservation and sustainable development.
* Action Required: Conduct research, implement projects, and provide training as per the sanctioned projects and MoUs.
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for formulating state reuse policies based on the National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Water.
* Action Required: Develop and implement state-level policies for treated wastewater reuse.
Key Entities Referenced
Arth Ganga Scheme: A sustainable economic development model under the Namami Gange Programme to strengthen the river-people connection through an economic bridge.
Yamuna River: A major river in India, a tributary of the Ganga River, and the focus of conservation efforts mentioned in the policy.
Namami Gange Programme: An Integrated Conservation Mission approved as 'Flagship Programme' by the Union Government to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
Kairana, Uttar Pradesh: A town in Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh, mentioned in the context of a proposed ghat development on the Yamuna River.
Ganga Praharis: Local community members trained as volunteers to protect and conserve the biodiversity and cleanliness of rivers in the Ganga basin.
Jalaj: Centres established to promote awareness, people participation, and economic activities for river rejuvenation in the Ganga basin.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): The implementing body for the Namami Gange Programme, responsible for addressing pollution and promoting sustainable activities in the Ganga basin.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun: An institution that has set up Jalaj centers on various models such as Dolphin Safaris, Homestays, Livelihood Centers, and Awareness Sale Points etc, to promote ecotourism, community participation, and conservation awareness under the Jalaj: Connecting River and People to Realize Arth Ganga project.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3103
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTH GANGA SCHEME AND DEVELOPMENT OF
YAMUNA RIVER GHAT NEAR KAIRANA
3103. MS IQRA CHOUDHARY
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the objectives and key components of the Arth Ganga Scheme under the Namami Gange Programme
including details of its six verticals;
(b) whether the Government is planning to develop or rejuvenate the Yamuna River ghat near Kairana in
Shamli district, Uttar Pradesh under the Arth Ganga Scheme, if so, the details thereof and if not, the
reasons therefor;
(c) the measures taken under the Arth Ganga Scheme to address pollution and promote sustainable
economic activities along the Yamuna River including initiatives such as Natural Farming and Jalaj;
(d) the steps taken to enhance public participation and empower local communities including the role of
Ganga Praharis and initiatives like ImAvatar and CLAP in context of Yamuna River conservation; and
(e) whether any monitoring mechanisms have been established to evaluate the scheme’s effectiveness in
promoting river conservation and economic development along the Yamuna River and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) Arth Ganga is a sustainable and viable economic development model to strengthen the river people
connect through an economic bridge. Main pillars of Arth-Ganga include Promotion of Natural Framing;
Monetisation and reuse of Treated water and sludge from the STPs; Improvement of Livelihood
opportunities and Promotion of Tourism & Cultural heritage.
(b) No proposal for development of ghat on river Yamuna in Kairana, Shamli District is under
consideration in National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
(c) & (d) In order to address pollution and promote sustainable economic activities in the Ganga basin,
NMCG has established Jalaj centres. These centres promote awareness and people participation with
focus on economic activities for river rejuvenation.
1NMCG has organized Natural Farming Farmers’ Training workshops in coordination with Ministry
of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare along the Ganga basin States.
NMCG has sanctioned a study project titled "Evaluation of Natural Farming practices on water and
energy savings and Enhancement of Soil Fertility & Crop Productivity" to WALAMTARI (Water and
Land Management Training and Research Institute), Andhra Pradesh to evaluate the impact of natural
farming on water and energy usage, soil fertility, and crop productivity.
A project titled “Exploration of Floral Biodiversity near Ganga Banks for Plant Conservation,
Training, and Economic Development of the Region” has been sanctioned to Patanjali. It is a
comprehensive initiative aimed at documenting and conserving the biodiversity of the Ganga river
ecosystem from Gaumukh (Uttarakhand) to Ganga Sagar (West Bengal).
Under the “Jalaj: Connecting River and People to Realize Arth Ganga” project, Wildlife Institute of
India (WII), Dehradun has set up Jalaj centres on various models such as Dolphin Safaris, Homestays,
Livelihood Centers, and Awareness & Sale Points etc, to promote eco-tourism, community participation,
and conservation awareness.
NMCG has sanctioned a project titled “Capacity Building Programme for Leveraging Community
and Local Resources Based on Technology” to Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation
Organization (HESCO). Under this one Arth Ganga Centre at Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and Three Ganga
Resource Centres set up at Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh), Digwara (Bihar) and Sahebganj (Jharkhand).
Around 8,000 people were trained in FY 2024–25 by HESCO through various livelihood programs.
NMCG has published National Framework for ‘Safe Reuse of Treated Water’. The framework gives
guidelines for the formulation of State reuse policy and is intended to build appropriate market and
economic models for the reuse of treated wastewater. MoUs have been signed for reuse of treated water
with Ministry of Power, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has mapped all Ganga districts for
documenting architectural, natural and intangible cultural heritage under their study. A study has been
commissioned for similar documentation for Yamuna basin.
In order to enhance public participation and empower local communities, NMCG is raising
awareness on biodiversity and river rejuvenation through Jalaj centres established across Ganga
basin. These centres also promote awareness on Namami Gange interventions and provide market linkage
to various Jalajs/ SHGs/ NGOs of Ganga basin. Ganga Praharis have been deployed as local community
members trained as volunteers to protect and conserve the biodiversity and cleanliness of rivers in Ganga
basin.
2MoU was signed with ImAvatar for promoting Arth Ganga initiative with focus on livelihood and
public participation.
Continuous Learning and Activity Portal (CLAP) was an interactive online platform developed with
an aim to provide a platform for knowledge on issues related to the environment, water, and rivers
through online quizzes and reference material.
Comprehensive public awareness campaigns have been undertaken to instill a sense of responsibility
and engagement among the public in efforts to clean and conserve the Ganga River. These include -
Ganga Utsav, Nadi Utsav, regular cleanathons and plantation drives, Ghat Par Yoga, Ganga Aartis, etc.
The efforts are also supported by dedicated cadres of Ganga saviours, such as Ganga Praharis, Ganga
Vichar Manch, etc.
(e) The progress under various components of Arth Ganga is reviewed at various levels, including the
Empowered Task Force chaired by Minister of Jal Shakti.
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