Context :

• National Mission for Clean Ganga has made significant progress during FY 2025–26 in strengthening sewage treatment infrastructure and reducing pollution along the Ganga and its tributaries.

Key Points :

• During the year, an investment of about ₹4,700 crore led to the addition of a cumulative treatment capacity of 538.03 MLD (Million Litres per Day) through 18 projects.
• Construction of STPs: A total of 28 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) were completed this year, showing a 27% increase compared to 22 STPs completed in the previous year.
• State-wise Progress: These projects are spread across Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• Uttar Pradesh: This state contributed the most. Capacity added includes 55 MLD in Varanasi (Assi–BHU area), 43 MLD in Prayagraj, and 166 MLD in Agra.
• Bihar: Significant work was carried out in Digha (30 MLD), Kankarbagh (35 MLD), and Bhagalpur (22.5 MLD).
• Jharkhand: The Interception & Diversion (I&D) and STP project at Phusro was completed, adding 14 MLD capacity.
• Uttarakhand: Improvements were made in Udham Singh Nagar (10.3 MLD) and Dehradun (15 MLD), along with works in Haridwar and Muni Ki Reti.
• West Bengal: Infrastructure was strengthened in Jangipur (13 MLD), Chakdaha (15 MLD), and North Barrackpore (30 MLD).
• Monitoring and Transparency: The mission launched the ‘Ganga Pulse Public Portal’ for real-time monitoring and transparency of STP operations.
• Budget Allocation: The Namami Gange Programme has been extended till March 2026, with a budget outlay of ₹3,400 crore for FY 2025–26.

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) :

• Establishment: Registered on 12 August 2011 as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Ministry: It functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Role: It acts as the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council. It earlier served the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which was dissolved in 2016.
• The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was constituted under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986.
• Flagship Programme: It is the main implementing agency of the Government of India’s flagship programme ‘Namami Gange’.

Main Objectives :

• Pollution Control: Effective reduction of pollution through management of sewage and industrial waste.
• Aviral and Nirmal Flow: Ensuring water quality and continuous ecological flow of the Ganga.
• Biodiversity: Conservation and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and riverine vegetation.

Management Structure (Five-Tier):

• National Ganga Council – Chaired by the Prime Minister
• Empowered Task Force (ETF) – Chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister
• NMCG – Central level implementation body
• State Ganga Committees – At state level
• District Ganga Committees – At district level

Eight Pillars of Namami Gange:

• Sewage Treatment Infrastructure
• Riverfront Development (Ghats & Crematoria)
• River Surface Cleaning
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Afforestation
• Public Awareness
• Industrial Effluent Monitoring
• Ganga Gram Initiative