Transport, tourism hubs along Ganga on agenda: Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Rejuvenation of Ganga may not have found specific mention in the top 10 priorities of the Narendra Modi government, but a kind of mini-cabinet has been formed involving five ministers under water resources minister Uma Bharti to navigate the plan. The ministers are likely to meet in a few days where a composite plan will be discussed for developing the river and its bank for transport, tourism and power generation.

Road transport, highways and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari said that five ministries - water resources, environment, shipping, tourism and power — will put united effort to fulfill the government's "commitment to rejuvenate Ganga".

He said while the stretch between Gangotri and Kolkata will be developed as a National Waterway by the shipping ministry, some portions of the riverbank will be developed for tourism and pilgrimage. Gadkari said there would be provision for light and sound show, special bathing ghats for pilgrims and the government will also explore possibility of generating hydropower at different points by building barrages.

BJP's poll manifesto promises to ensure "cleanliness, purity and uninterrupted flow of Ganga on priority".

Gadkari said a detailed plan will be prepared for dredging of the river to create adequate dwarf for moving cargo and passenger vessels. He added the entire stretch will be divided into three sub-stretches-- Gangotri-Kanpur, Kanpur-Allahabad and Allahbad-Kolkata. "There will be cargo terminals along the waterway," the minister said.

In response to a question on the government's Ganga rejuvenation project environment minister Prakash Javadekar said, "It's an inter-ministerial issue. All the five ministers will sit together and devise the plan."

Since NDA has come to power, it's all about the Ganga and Varanasi. Several ministers have started setting their own target. While urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu has announced "cleanliness drive" in all religious cities" starting with Varanasi, tourism ministry has already planned developing ghats in Varanasi and that too with private investment.

Tourism minister Shripad Yesso Naik has said he wants to develop Varanasi as a tourist city and he will discuss the issue with the Prime Minister.