NGBRA approves projects for development of ghats, crematoria

NEW DELHI: A National Ganga River Basin Authority ( NGBRA) panel has approved projects worth Rs 2,446 crore for development of ghats and crematoria along the river to reduce pollution load into it.

Sanctioned by Empowered Steering Committee (ESC) of NGBRA yesterday, the projects will be undertaken in stretches from Haridwar to Uttarakhand border; Garhmukteshwar in Uttar Pradesh; Buxar, Hajipur and Sonepur of Bihar; Sahibganj, Rajmahal and Kanhaiya Ghat of Jharkhand and Delhi.

The projects will be completely sponsored by the Centre, an official statement said.

The ESC also appraised the detailed project report on 'Forestry Intervention in River Ganga', which aims at augmenting water flow and abating pollutant load of Ganga through plantation of trees along it.

The project will be implemented over a period of five years and will cost around Rs 2,294 crore.

The ESC is chaired by Water Resources Ministry Secretary Shashi Shekhar and has members from ministries of Environment and Forests, Finance, Urban Development and Power and governments of five Ganga-basin states.

The Centre has recently appointed a new Mission Director in National Mission for Clean Ganga.

The post was lying vacant for the past few months.