Namami Gange Achieves Major Milestones in River Rejuvenation
Launched in 2014, the Namami Gange Programme is one of India’s most ambitious initiatives to restore the health of the River Ganga through pollution control, ecological restoration, and community engagement.
With a sanctioned budget of ₹42,500 crore, of which ₹20,424 crore has been allocated till 2023-24, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has already disbursed ₹16,648 crore — 82% of available funds. The financial outlay includes provisions for construction and long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) of sewage infrastructure under the Hybrid Annuity Model, ensuring quality and accountability.
The programme has created 3,446 MLD of sewage treatment capacity, completing 127 projects and 152 sewage treatment plants (STPs), a thirty-fold increase over pre-2014 capacity. The Clean Ganga Fund (CGF), supported mainly by individual citizens, has been used for high-impact projects following rigorous sanctioning procedures.
Continuous efforts have led to significant improvements in Ganga's water quality. In Uttar Pradesh, the stretch from Kannauj to Varanasi improved from PRS III (BOD 10-20 mg/l) in 2015 to PRS V (BOD 3-6 mg/l) in 2022, with 118 out of 135 STPs complying with standards. Bihar's stretch from Buxar to Bhagalpur improved from PRS II (BOD 20-30 mg/l) to PRS IV (BOD 6-10 mg/l), and West Bengal's Triveni to Diamond Harbour stretch moved from PRS III to PRS IV.
Cities like Prayagraj and Varanasi have witnessed significant gains. Prayagraj’s treatment capacity rose from 268 MLD in 2017 to 348 MLD in 2024, with all drains tapped and water quality improving from PRS IV to PRS V. In Varanasi, capacity increased from 100 MLD to 420 MLD, with only one partially untapped drain remaining and similar water quality improvement.
Ecological restoration efforts are reflected in the rising population of Gangetic Dolphins, which grew from 3,330 (+/- 630) in 2018 to 3,936 (+/- 763), now spotted even in previously unreported stretches.
Internationally, Namami Gange has been recognized as one of the UN's Top 10 World Restoration Flagship Initiatives and was awarded the "Climate Smart Utility" title by the International Water Association, underlining India’s leadership in sustainable river management.
