Cleaning Ganga: Government must get priorities right

This refers to the article, “Clean Ganga: A dream too far?” by Archana Jyoti (July 31). Our failure to clean the holy river Ganga is a national shame even as we have a pool of unmatched talent to assist and colossal funds to back the move.

One of the biggest promises of Narendra Modi-led BJP government was to clean the holy Ganga but the country is still waiting for a pristine Ganga with its profuse life. All efforts have proved hollow. This is absolutely disappointing. Now it appears it is almost impossible to reach the goal of cleaning the Ganga by the promised deadline of March 2019.

So where did we fail? Debaters have opined that while making plans, priorities have been mixed up. One such glaring example is of the thousands of filth-filled drains that are still allowed to be emptied into the Ganga throughout its length. It is clear that there exists a state of non-cooperation and apathy in the execution of the Namami Gange project. Bureaucracy seems to be failing.

Funds are not readily available, and no one is willing to hear sane voices of Ganga warriors. Political leadership seems to have other priorities. This is the last chance for the Government to put its acts together and mend the mistakes with little time at its disposal. It is now or never. Ganga may forever remain filthy.