High-power body to lead ‘Namami Gange’

The union government is planning to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) on the lines of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the ambitious programme Namami Gange or Clean Ganga initiative. Presently various ministries are involved in the Clean Ganga initiative and setting up of an SPV would combine all the efforts into one coherent plan.

Members of the SPV: It will be headed by an efficient bureaucrat. Chief Secretaries of all States through which the Ganga passes will be made members along with selected municipal commissioners of big cities on the Ganga route.

Issues to be studied: Hydel power projects on the river have been looked as the source of environmental degradation. They said to have affected the follow of the river, affecting downstream areas. All these issues related to hydel power projects will be studied.