**Executive Summary**
This report details the progress of the Namami Gange Programme (NGP) from June 2014 to March 15, 2026, outlining the disbursement of ₹21,340 crores for river rejuvenation. It tracks the transition from Phase-I to Phase-II (ending March 2026), noting that 68% of the 524 sanctioned projects were completed by February 2026. Key outcomes include significant sewerage infrastructure expansion, biodiversity conservation achievements, and measurable improvements in water quality across the Ganga main stem.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Financial and Project Overview**
* A total of ₹21,340 crores has been disbursed to implementing agencies, with ₹16,025.97 crores specifically allocated to sewage treatment.
* Phase-II of the programme is sanctioned through March 2026.
* Of the 524 sanctioned projects, 355 are complete as of February 2026, with 208 projects finished within the last five years.
* **Sewerage and Industrial Infrastructure**
* Completed 76 sewerage infrastructure projects in the last five years, adding 3,200 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of treatment capacity.
* Sanctioned 71 new projects aimed at creating an additional 2,210 MLD capacity at a cost of ₹12,641 crores.
* Completed two major industrial pollution abatement projects: Mathura CETP (6.25 MLD) and Jajmau CETP (20 MLD).
* **Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation**
* Afforested 33,024 hectares along the river at an expenditure of approximately ₹414 crores.
* Sanctioned seven Biodiversity Parks in Uttar Pradesh and five priority wetlands across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
* Ranched 203 lakh Indian Major Carp fingerlings to conserve fish biodiversity and support the Dolphin prey base.
* Inaugurated India’s first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance on January 13, 2026; the nationwide Gangetic dolphin population is recorded at 6,324.
* Protected 387 vulnerable nests of the endangered Batagur turtle, achieving a 96.7% hatching success rate.
* **Water Quality Monitoring and Trends**
* Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitors 112 locations; the 2025 report shows the "Polluted River Stretch" (PRS) has been removed in Uttarakhand.
* pH and Dissolved Oxygen levels meet bathing criteria at all monitored locations of the River Ganga.
* Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) conforms to bathing criteria in the entire stretch across four states, except for specific locations in Uttar Pradesh such as Farrukhabad and Kanpur.
* Faecal Coliform levels at major sites like Varanasi and Patna have shown significant decreases between 2014 and 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Implementing and Executing Agencies**
**Impact**
These agencies have received substantial funding (₹21,340 crores) to execute large-scale infrastructure and conservation projects.
**Action Required**
Must complete the remaining 32% of sanctioned projects by the March 2026 deadline and manage the 71 newly sanctioned sewerage projects.
**State Forest Departments and Wildlife Institute of India (WII)**
**Impact**
Responsible for the ecological restoration of the river basin, including afforestation and the rescue of aquatic species.
**Action Required**
Continue species restoration programmes and utilize the newly developed SMART-based riverine patrolling and Dolphin Rescue Ambulance for conservation efforts.
**Local Communities and Fishers**
**Impact**
Benefit from improved river health and sustained livelihoods through fingerling ranching and the citizen-led "Soons-Saathi" network.
**Action Required**
Engage in conservation outreach through Dolphin Clubs and early reporting networks to support biodiversity protection.
**Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)**
**Impact**
Charged with the ongoing manual monitoring of water quality and reporting on Polluted River Stretches.
**Action Required**
Maintain rigorous monitoring at 112 locations, focusing on the remaining polluted stretches in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to ensure they meet bathing criteria.
Key Entities Referenced
Namami Gange Programme (NGP): An integrated conservation mission implemented in phases for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga and its tributaries.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG): The primary executing agency responsible for fund disbursement and implementing projects related to sewage treatment, biodiversity, and afforestation.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The regulatory body responsible for manual water quality monitoring and reporting on Polluted River Stretches (PRS) across the Ganga basin.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The nodal ministry overseeing the Namami Gange Programme and providing official progress reports to the Rajya Sabha.
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal: The five primary main-stem states where the programme’s water quality monitoring and infrastructure projects are centrally applied.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
STATUS OF NAMAMI GANGE PROGRAMME
Posted On: 23 MAR 2026 5:03PM by PIB Delhi
Since inception of the Namami Gange Programme (June, 2014 to 15th March, 2026), the National
Mission for Clean Ganga has disbursed ₹ 21,340 crores to various implementing/executing agencies, of
which ₹ 16025.97 crore are for the sewage treatment projects.
The Government of India (GoI) implemented the Namami Gange Programme (NGP) Phase-I for the
rejuvenation of river Ganga and its tributaries, up to March, 2021. Subsequently, Phase-II was
sanctioned for the period till March, 2026.
Under Namami Gange Programme, a total of 524 projects have been sanctioned, out of which 355
projects (68%) have been completed as on February, 2026. In the last five years, a total of 208 projects
have been completed. The major achievements during the last five years are as follows:
i. A total of 76 sewerage infrastructure projects with a combined treatment capacity of 3200
MLD have been completed in last 5 years.
ii. In addition, 71 new projects are sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹12,641 crores, aimed at
creating an additional treatment capacity of 2,210 MLD.
iii. For industrial pollution abatement, two projects, Mathura CETP (6.25 MLD) and Jajmau
CETP (20 MLD), have been completed;
iv. 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;
v. 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;
vi. A total of 203 lakhs of Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings have been ranched in the Ganga
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);
vii. 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;
viii. Gangetic Dolphin Conservation: Gangetic dolphin surveys covered 8507 km across 28 rivers.
Nationwide Population Status of Ganges dolphin – 6324.
ix. India’s first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance was developed and inaugurated on 13th January,
2026 by the Hon’ble Minister at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, enabling safe rescue
and translocation; 8 Gangetic dolphins were rescued and released.x. A citizen-led Soons-Saathi network (100 volunteers across 250 km), 160 trained personnel,
2,000 sensitised community members, and 15 Dolphin Clubs strengthened early reporting and
conservation outreach.
xi. Gharial Conservation: Gharial assessments across 22 rivers recorded 3,037 individuals, with
habitat models indicating only 5.6% highly suitable habitat, underscoring the need for flow
regulation and habitat protection.
xii. Threatened turtle species including 15 (10 radio tagged) captive hatched Chitra indica, 60
Hardellathurjii (10 radio tagged) and 20 Batagurkachuga (all radio tagged) re-wilded in
Yamuna, Sarju and Ganga rivers, respectively with robust monitoring protocol. Dispersal and
survival maps ready.
xiii. Total 387 vulnerable nest (8257 eggs) of endangered Batagur turtle species were protected in
Chambal through two riverside hatcheries. This ensured safe return of 7979 hatchlings back
into the river, marking an overall hatching success of 96.7%.
xiv. Technology-driven conservation was advanced through the institutionalization of SMART-
based riverine patrolling across 210 km of the Chambal River in Uttar Pradesh.
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, the
following information about Ganga main stem pollution is available:
Ganga Main Stem – State-wise Comparison (2018 vs 2025)
State 2018 Polluted Priority 2025 Priority Trend/Observation
Stretch Polluted
(2018) (2025)
Stretch
Uttarakhand Haridwar → IV No PRS — Improved and PRS
stretch removed
Sultanpur
Uttar Kannauj → IV Bijnor → IV / V Partially improved
Pradesh Tarighat
Varanasi
Bihar Buxar to V Bhagalpur V Marginal pollution
D/S→ remains
Bhagalpur
Khalgaon
D/S
Jharkhand No PRS — No PRS — —
West Triveni → III Baharampore V improved
Bengal →
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.
iii. As per CPCB report, Faecal Coliform (median) primary water quality criteria for bathing is met in
the entire stretch of river Ganga in Uttarakhand & Jharkhand and certain stretches of UP, Bihar and
West Bengal while Faecal Streptococoi (median) the primary water quality criteria for bathing is
met in the entire stretch of river Ganga in Uttarakhand, Bihar & Jharkhand and certain stretches of
UP and West Bengal. Faecal coliform (FC) values at Harki Pauri Ghat is 135 MPN/100mL) and d/s
Haridwar is 140 MPN/100mL in 2025. Value(median) of FC observed at Assighat, Varanasi is 2500
MPN/100mL in 2014 and 790 MPN/100mL in 2025. Value(median) of FC at NIT Gandhi ghat,
Patna is 5400 MPN/100mL in 2014 and 2200 MPN/100mL in 2025 and Patna d/s Ganga Bridge is
3000 MPN/100mL in 2014 and 1950 MPN/100mL in 2025.
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 information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI SHRI RAJ
BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
*****
ND
(Rajya Sabha USQ 3437)
(Release ID: 2244007) Visitor Counter : 158
Read this release in: Urdu , ही