National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) (Government Schemes & Initiatives)
Why In News:
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is scaling Urban River Management Plans (URMPs) across 63 Ganga basin cities.
About NMCG
NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga) was established in 2011 and given statutory powers in 2016 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
It acted as the implementation arm of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), which was replaced by the National Ganga Council.
NMCG is registered as a Society in 2011 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, functioning under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The Ganga basin covers 11 states and is home to approximately 40% of India's population.
Urban River Management Plans (URMPs)
URMPs are comprehensive city-level action plans for urban rivers, integrating sewage treatment, flood management, biodiversity, and recreational use of river waterfronts.
They address: Sewage treatment plants (STPs), industrial effluent treatment, solid waste management on riverbanks, and ghats development.
The plans follow river-sensitive urban planning principles to prevent encroachment on floodplains.
Key Facts for Prelims
Ganga river originates at Gangotri glacier (Uttarakhand) and drains into the Bay of Bengal at Sagar Island (West Bengal).
Ganga is designated a National River of India (declared in 2008).
National Ganga Council: Apex body chaired by the Prime Minister, overseeing the Namami Gange Programme.
CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board): Monitors water quality of the Ganga and issues reports on pollution levels.