Uttarakhand: In the committee meeting, the Chief Secretary gave instructions to the officers, said – ensure participation of local people in Ganga committees

Chief Secretary Dr. S.S. A meeting of the State Ganga Committee was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Sandhu. The Chief Secretary directed the officers to include people who are wholeheartedly interested in this work in the local community groups formed to ensure participation of local people in the Ganga Committees. He said that the meetings of District Ganga Committees must be conducted within the stipulated time.

The Chief Secretary said that a mechanism should be prepared for social audit and evaluation of schemes from third parties. He said that maximum focus should be given to natural and organic farming in the areas situated on the banks of Ganga in the state. He said that the water treated from STP should be reused for farming, especially in the plain areas, the schemes should be designed in such a way that the treated water can be reused. He said that the livelihood generation program under the scheme should be linked to the House of Himalayas run by the Rural Development Department, this will speed up the expansion of the scheme. He said that schools, colleges and local people should be compulsorily involved in the field of art, culture and tourism.

The Chief Secretary shared the problems being faced in the implementation of the schemes and also sought suggestions from the District Magistrates. Said that if there is a problem of funding in any scheme, then proposals should be sent in the missing link. Funding will be done in a week. Timeline for each level of the schemes should be determined. He also directed the Forest Department to run a continuous campaign to clean the garbage accumulated on the roadsides in the forest area.

Project Director Namami Gange Ranveer Singh Chauhan said that under Namami Gange, work is being done in the areas of Nirmal Ganga, Aviral Ganga, Jan Ganga, Gyan Ganga and Artha Ganga in the state. He said that 62 STPs are to be prepared under the scheme, out of which 42 have been completed, and work on 20 is in progress. Village heads of Gram Sabhas located along the banks of Ganga and its tributaries have been appointed as nodal officers by the District Ganga Committee. Under the IEC activities in the scheme, activities related to the rejuvenation of Ganga are being continuously promoted.

On this occasion, Project Director Namami Gange Manoj Chandran from the Forest Department and other senior officers and District Magistrates from the districts were present through video conferencing.