Ganga

NMCG approves 9 projects worth Rs 265 cr to reduce pollution in Ganga

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved nine significant projects worth Rs 265 crore aimed at reducing pollution and enhancing the ecosystem of the Ganga river, according to an official statement. These projects were greenlit during the 56th executive committee meeting chaired by NMCG Director General Rajeev Kumar Mital in New Delhi. One of the projects involves the establishment of an eight kilolitres per day (KLD) capacity Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant in Dalmau of Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, it said. The plant will be supported by a 15 KW solar power Plant and a solar inverter. Valued at Rs 4.40 crore, the project operates on a Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT) model and includes five years of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) to ensure its long-term success. In Bulandshahr district's Gulaothi town, another project focuses on preventing pollution in the East Kali River, a tributary of the Ganga. This initiative, having a budget of Rs 50.98 crore, involves

Kanwar Yatra row: SC extends stay on UP govt order, says can't force anyone

The Supreme Court bench refused to issue any clarification on the July 22 stay order saying 'we have said what needed to be said in our previous order'

Kanwar Yatra 2024: Significance, routes, guidelines & all you need to know

The arduous Kanwar Yatra, undertaken as part of worshipping Lord Shiva, is considered an act of faith and devotion and symbolises the eternal bond between devotees and the deity

Downpour in Haridwar, cars swept away in U'khand's flooded Sukhi river

Heavy rain lashed Haridwar on Saturday afternoon and several cars washed away after flooding in the Sukhi river here. Rainwater gushed into homes and left major roads in the pilgrimage town waterlogged. As the rainfed Sukhi river is generally dry, people habitually park their cars on the dry riverbed. As the river got flooded all of a sudden, the cars were swept away in the swirling waters. The river joins the mainstream of the Ganga a short distance away. People gathered on the bridges over the Ganga near Har ki Pauri to capture the visuals of the floating cars on mobile cameras.

What is the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty that has sparked Mamata-Centre row?

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has written to PM Modi, claiming that the Centre excluded the state govt from discussions with Bangladesh on Teesta water sharing and Farakka treaty

Centre refutes Mamata Banerjee's claim on Ganga Water Treaty review

West Bengal was consulted on the review of the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, sources at the Centre said here on Monday, dismissing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that the state was kept out of the process. The sources said the joint secretary (works) in the irrigation and waterways department of the West Bengal government conveyed in April the state's total demand for the next 30 years from the stretch downstream of the Farakka Barrage. India and Bangladesh signed the Ganga Water Treaty in 1996. The 30-year treaty is due to expire in 2026 but may be extended by mutual agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that India and Bangladesh will begin technical-level talks for the renewal of the 1996 treaty. In a letter to Modi, Banerjee had claimed that the decision to start talks for the renewal of the treaty was "unilateral" and urged the prime minister not to hold any such discussion with Bangladesh without involving the West Bengal government. The

Earthquake 2,500 years ago could have changed Ganga's course: Study

An earthquake around 2,500 years ago could have caused the Ganga river to abruptly change course, according to a new study published. Researchers said the "undocumented" quake, possibly of magnitude 7-8, rerouted the main channel of the river in present day Bangladesh, a country vulnerable to big seismic shocks. "I don't think we have ever seen such a big one (earthquake) anywhere," said study co-author Michael Steckler, a geophysicist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School, US. "It could have easily inundated anyone and anything in the wrong place at the wrong time," Steckler said. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. Originating in the Himalayas, the river Ganga eventually combines with other major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, before culminating in the Bay of Bengal. The rivers form the world's second-largest system, the Amazon being the largest. Many river-course changes, called 'avulsions', including some tha

Ganges, Brahmaputra among major river basins to feel climate change impact

The alarming impact of climate change will be felt on South Asia's major river basins, including the Ganges, Indus and the Brahmaputra, according to a new report. It also noted that critical intersection of anthropogenic activities and shifting climate patterns can spell dire consequences for about a billion people in the area. According to the report -- "Elevating River Basin Governance and Cooperation in the HKH Region" -- on these three rivers, there is an immediate need for a climate-resilient approach to river basin management. The Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) are the freshwater sources of South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia. Water originating from their snow, glaciers and rainfall feed the 10 largest river systems in Asia. The Ganges basin, often regarded as sacred and essential to more than 600 million individuals across the Indian subcontinent, is facing mounting environmental threats. Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and intensive agricultural practices have exacted

NGT asks UP to disclose demarcation of Ganga's floodplain zones in Varanasi

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a report disclosing the steps taken for demarcation of floodplain zones of the Varuna and the Assi, the Ganga's tributaries in Varanasi district. The green panel was hearing a plea claiming that the civic body in the district did not demarcate the rivers' floodplain zones, resulting in continuous encroachment. The plea also alleged illegal discharge of sewage in the rivers. A bench of National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noted a report by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation, according to which 15 nullahs (drains) were discharging partially-untreated sewage in the Varuna, adversely impacting its water quality. The bench, also comprising Judicial Member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Expert Members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, noted an Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board report that said inspection of the 15 drains found three to be tapped, 10 partially tapped and two untapped. I

Union cabinet approves road, construction projects in Bihar, Tripura

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for widening of the 135-km stretch of Khowai-Harina road in Tripura, according to an official statement. The project involves investment of Rs 2,486.78 crore which includes a loan component of Rs 1,511.70 crore (JPY 23,129 million), the statement said. The loan assistance will be from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under Official Development Assistance (ODA) scheme, it added. The project is envisaged to facilitate better road connectivity between various parts of Tripura and to provide alternative access to Assam and Meghalaya from Tripura apart from existing NH-8. "The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for improvement and widening to two lane with paved shoulder of road from km 101.300 (Khowai) to km 236.213 (Harina) of NH-208, covering a total length of 134.913 kms in Tripura," the statement said. The statement noted that development of the project

Ensure no further construction takes place adjacent to Ganga: SC to Bihar

The Supreme Court has directed the Bihar government to ensure that no further construction takes place adjacent to the Ganga River particularly in and around Patna. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Augustine George Masih directed the state government to file an affidavit informing it about the removal of identified illegal structures, which have been raised on the floodplains of Ganga River in Patna. "When the matter is called on for hearing, counsel for the state of Bihar submits that the state has identified 213 unauthorised constructions adjacent to the river Ganga in and around Patna and steps have been taken to remove these encroachments/constructions," the Bench said. "On that date, the state shall report to this court the progress in getting these unauthorised structures removed by filing an affidavit. Such affidavit shall be filed by the chief secretary of Bihar. The state shall also ensure no further construction takes place adjacent to the river Ganga particularly in

Uttar Pradesh govt to leverage network of rivers for cargo movement

Of the 111 inland waterways in India, UP has a dozen waterways in major rivers including the Ganga, Yamuna, Saryu, Betwa and Chambal

'Gangajal is exempted from GST' clarifies govt after Congress mounts attack

Earlier on Tuesday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said that the 18 per cent GST on Gangajal has exposed Nakli Ram Bhakt

Namami Gange members perform 'Ganga Aarti' for long life of PM Modi

They poured milk from the podium into the river and conducted prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat wishing long life for PM Modi

Ganga's tropical storms to intensify by 20% by 2050, finds new research

Fewer yet more intense tropical storms are predicted for Asian rivers, including India's Ganga, according to a new modelling study. By the 2050s, tropical storms in the Ganga could intensify by nearly 20 per cent, the study led by the Newcastle University, UK, projected after performing storm modelling studies on high-resolution data under a high emissions scenario. The storms are, however, projected to become less frequent by over 50 per cent by the same time across both the low-lying delta river basins of Ganga and Mekong, the study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters said. The Mekong river runs from the Himalayan Plateau, its source, through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam and falls into the South China Sea. Due to their limited adaptive capacity and preparedness, low-lying delta systems on the east coast of India and those in Bangladesh and Vietnam are vulnerable not only to the massive damage and losses to life and property caused by .

JP Nadda, CM Dhami attend Ganga Aarti at 'Har Ki Pauri' in Haridwar

In the meeting, Nadda reviewed the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections of the party in Uttarakhand. State President Mahendra Bhatt, MP and former Chief Minister were present in the meeting

Uttarakhand: Ganga's water level in Rishikesh drops after heavy rainfall

According to officials, the water level of the river Ganga at the Parmarth Niketan Ghat has declined in the past twenty-four hours

Following incessant rainfall, Ganga flowing above danger mark in Haridwar

The water level was recorded at 293.25 metres at 9:00 pm on Monday against the danger mark of 293 metres in Haridwar

Nitish orders probe as under-construction bridge on Ganga collapses again

"We will take strict action against the construction company 'SK Singla'. It would be put on the 'black-list' after the investigation is completed," said Additional Chief Secretary,

Bihar: Under-construction bridge on Ganga collapses; labourers feared dead

The construction of the bridge started on March 9, 2015. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had inaugurated the project