Ministries in talks to ensure higher e-flow in Ganga: Government

NEW DELHIL: The government today said the ministries of water resources, environment and power are in discussions to ensure "uninterrupted" higher e-flow from any hydro-power projects such that river Ganga neither gets fragmented nor loses its character throughout its length.

Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Water Resources Sanwar Lal Jat said, e-flow is the quantum of water that must uninterruptedly flow in the river in all the seasons, required for the river to perform all its ecological functions including sustenance of fauna.

"The dams constructed earlier on the tributaries of the Ganga river and on the main stem of the Ganga river for irrigation and hydro power projects have either not kept provision for e-flow or e-flow quantity was very small," he added.

This ministry is in discussion with the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, and ministry of power to ensure uninterrupted higher e-flow from any hydro-power projects such that river Ganga is neither fragmented nor loses its character throughput its length, he said.

Meanwhile, replying to another question on whether the government proposes to enact any criminal law against the offenders, who are polluting river Ganga, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati said, a committee has been formed to examine new legislative measures.

The existing legislations such as the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1986 provides for penal action against the offenders, she added.

Stating that the government has identified that sewage accounts for about 75 per cent of total pollution in river Ganga, she said, almost 3,535 Million Litres per day of sewage is estimated to be generated by class I and II towns on the Ganga main stem.