‘In 33 years, Kanpur achieved only 50% of cleanliness target’

TNN | May 6, 2020, 13:17 IST

The mission to clean Ganga in Kanpur started in 1985 with the launch of Ganga Action Plan-1

In last 33 years, Kanpur has managed to meet only 50% of the target set for rejuvenation of the Ganga.
According to RK Agarwal, former general manager of Jal Nigam, who has looked after projects meant for Ganga cleanliness in the past, all the schemes were run separately due to which the Clean Ganga mission could not get the desired momentum.
Talking to TOI, Agarwal said, “Ganga Action Plan was the first scheme to clean the river which was launched on January 14, 1986 by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The objective of the project was to check pollution and improve quality of water through interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage, and toxic and industrial chemical wastes.”
“Though the plan was officially launched in 1986, its execution had already started in 1985. In Kanpur, GAP-1 started in 1985 and continued till 1990. GAP-2 began in 1991 and continued till 2001. Its execution was extended till 2006,” he said. Agarwal said Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) was responsible for the execution of GAP-1 while Jal Nigam had to look after projects under GAP-2.
“The objective was interception of raw sewage finding its way into the river through open drains and its diversion for treatment,” he said. “Infrastructure could not be used to optimum level as it was not connected," he said.
"The second plan was Namami Gange Mission which included two projects – tapping of Sisamau nulllah and cleaning of sewer line of district -1 area of the city. Sisamau nullah has been tapped while cleaning is being carried out. The third work is setting up of a 15 MLD sewage treatment plant at Panka, " he said.
Two more schemes, JNNURM ( 2006) and Amrit Yojana (2015) could be termed as supporting schemes for Ganga projects.