Ganga cleaning challenging, need mission-mode approach: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Describing the task of cleaning Ganga as "challenging", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for an "uncompromising mission-mode approach" to stop further pollution of the river which would require the participation of people as well.

Chairing the fifth meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority in New Delhi here, he said the task of cleaning the Ganga had the potential to generate immense economical activity and bring about a positive attitudinal change in the entire country.

He said the task is "challenging" but it is "our responsibility for future generations" to save the river which is associated with "faith" and "devotion" among millions of Indians, a PMO statement said.

The task is to convert these positive sentiments, into a feeling of responsibility and have an "uncompromising mission-mode approach", Modi said at the meeting which was attended by Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand.

He said the task at hand cannot be accomplished without "Jan-Bhaagidaari" (people`s participation).

The Prime Minister urged the states to pay special attention to development of towns and villages located on the banks of Ganga, and to ensure sufficient awareness in these areas to stop pollution, the statement said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das spoke in detail on the subject and about issues related to their respective states.

The themes mentioned by them included silt management, and single-window clearances for proposals from the states, the statement said.

Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharati, Birender Singh, Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal and Sanwarlal Jat and Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya were also present at the meeting.