Executive Summary:
The Namami Gange Programme (NGP), launched in 2014-15 to rejuvenate the Ganga River and its tributaries, has been extended to March 2026. As of June 2025, 502 projects have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹41,696 crore, with 323 projects completed. Challenges in project implementation include land identification and statutory clearances.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Programme Overview:**
* NGP launched in 2014-15 for Ganga rejuvenation.
* Extended to March 2026.
* 502 projects sanctioned at a cost of ₹41,696 crore, 323 projects completed as of June 2025.
* **Sewerage Infrastructure:**
* 212 sewerage projects undertaken at a cost of ₹34,526 crore.
* Aims to create/rehabilitate 6,540 MLD of STP capacity.
* 136 sewerage projects completed, resulting in 3,781 MLD of STP capacity.
* **Reasons for Delay:**
* Identification of suitable land for STPs.
* Delays in statutory clearances (right of way, permissions for road cutting, NOCs).
* **Monitoring and Review:**
* NMCG actively monitors projects through Project Review Meetings, Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) meetings, and Empowered Task Force (ETF) meetings.
* **River Quality Status:**
* Uttarakhand and Jharkhand do not fall under polluted stretches.
* Polluted stretches identified in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
* Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels are within acceptable limits.
* Biological Water Quality (BWQ) ranges from Good to Moderate.
* **Dolphin Population:**
* Dolphin population increased from 2,500-3,000 (2009) to approximately 6,327 (2021-2023).
* Dolphin presence confirmed in 17 Ganga tributaries.
* **Funds Disbursed:**
* ₹19,679.84 crores disbursed by NMCG from FY 2014-15 to June 30, 2025.
Impact Analysis:
* **Government of India (Ministry of Jal Shakti):**
* *Impact:* Accountable for the rejuvenation of the Ganga and its tributaries through the Namami Gange Programme.
* *Action Required:* Continue monitoring and addressing delays in project implementation, ensure timely disbursement of funds, and oversee the progress of the programme until March 2026.
* **National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the implementation and monitoring of projects under the Namami Gange Programme.
* *Action Required:* Continue monitoring projects, conduct review meetings, address implementation challenges, and ensure efficient use of funds.
* **State Governments (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for facilitating project implementation within their respective states.
* *Action Required:* Facilitate land identification, expedite statutory clearances, and collaborate with NMCG for effective implementation of projects.
* **Implementing Agencies:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for executing projects on the ground.
* *Action Required:* Ensure timely completion of projects, address implementation challenges, and coordinate with NMCG and state governments.
Key Entities Referenced
Namami Gange Programme: Flagship program of the Government of India for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga and its tributaries.
River Ganga: The main river being targeted for rejuvenation under the Namami Gange Programme.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): The implementing agency responsible for disbursing funds and monitoring projects under the Namami Gange Programme.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where stretches of the Ganga River are identified as Priority Class V polluted stretches.
Bihar: A state in India where stretches of the Ganga River are identified as Priority Class IV polluted stretches.
West Bengal: A state in India where stretches of the Ganga River are identified as Priority Class IV polluted stretches.
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP): Infrastructure projects to treat wastewater, a primary cause of pollution in the river Ganga.
River Yamuna: A major tributary of the River Ganga and a focus of biomonitoring efforts.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3209
ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025
NAMAMI GANGE PROGRAMME
†3209. SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV
SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the present status of the Namami Gange programme;
(b) the date on which the said programme was launched and the targets set thereunder;
(c) the reasons for lagging the said programme far behind in achieving its targets; and
(d) the details of the funds spent under the said programme so far?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (c) The Government of India (GoI) launched the Namami Gange Programme (NGP) in 2014-15
for the rejuvenation of river Ganga and its tributaries for five years, up to March 2021 and has been
further extended to March 2026. As of June 2025, a total of 502 projects have been sanctioned at a cost
of ₹ 41,696 crore, out of which 323 projects have been completed. The majority of these projects pertain
to the creation of sewage infrastructure, as untreated domestic and industrial wastewater is the primary
cause of pollution in the river. A total of 212 sewerage infrastructure projects have been taken up at a cost
of ₹34,526 crore for the creation and rehabilitation of 6,540 MillionLitres per Day (MLD) of Sewage
Treatment Plant (STP) capacity. 136 sewerage projects have been completed, resulting in the creation and
rehabilitation of 3,781 MLD of STP capacity.
Some of the projects face delay during the implementation of infrastructure and sewerage
projects due to following reasons:
i. Identification of suitable land for the establishment of new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
ii. The issuance of statutory clearances such as right of way for sewage-related networks,
obtaining permissions for road cutting, No Objection Certificates (NoCs) from competent
authorities like forest and revenue departments;
In order to address and overcome these challenges, the National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG) has been actively involved in closely monitoring the status of the projects. NMCG regularly
conducts comprehensive Project Review Meetings, Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) meetings, and
1Empowered Task Force (ETF) meetings to evaluate progress, identify potential roadblocks and ensure
timely resolutions.
As a result of these measures, out of 502 sanctioned projects 323 projects have been completed,
which is around 64 % of total project sanctioned under Namami Gange Programme.
As per the CPCB report, the remaining Priority River Stretches (PRSs) on the river Ganga, are as
under:
a. Uttarakhand does not fall under polluted stretches (BOD < 3 mg/l);
b. In Uttar Pradesh, stretches from Farrukhabad to Allahabad and Mirzapur to Ghazipur fall under
Priority Class V (BOD 3–6 mg/l);
c. In Bihar, stretches along Buxar, Patna, Fatwah, and Bhagalpur fall under Priority Class IV (BOD
6–10 mg/l);
d. Jharkhand does not fall under polluted stretches (BOD < 3 mg/l);
e. In West Bengal, the stretch from Behrampur to Haldia falls under Priority Class IV (BOD 6–10
mg/l).
Furthermore, the value of Dissolved Oxygen (DO), which is an indicator of river health, has been
found to be within the acceptable limits of the notified primary bathing water quality criteria and is
satisfactory to support the ecosystem of the river along almost the entire stretch of the river Ganga.
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.
Additionally, the population of Dolphins in the river Ganga has shown a marked increase over the
past decade. From an estimated baseline of 2,500–3,000 individuals in 2009, the population rose to
approximately 3,500 in 2015 and further to around 6,327 individuals as per the nationwide survey
conducted during 2021–2023. This represents more than a twofold increase since 2009. In the Ganga
basin, the 2021–2023 assessment across 17 tributaries confirmed dolphin presence in multiple rivers
where they were previously unrecorded, such as the Rupnarayan, Girwa, Kauriyala, Babai, Rapti,
Bagmati, Mahananda, Ken, Betwa, and Sind.
(d) During the period FY 2014-15 to 30 June 2025, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has
disbursed ₹19,679.84 crores to various agencies for implementation of projects/interventions to
rejuvenate river Ganga and its tributaries under the Namami Gange Programme.
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