Minister also visits Ganga Tarini, a floating Ganga Museum and Jalaj, a mobile livelihood center on the Ganga

binod takiawala

Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reviewed the ongoing
Namami Gange projects in Varanasi during his visit to the city today. He inspected
the 140 Million Litres Day (MLD) Dinapur Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) from inlet
upto outfall point into Varuna. He was accompanied by Director General, National
Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra.
Union Minister, Sh. Shekhawat instructed the officials of Dinapur STP to conduct
periodic chemical checks to ensure that the sewage does not have any industrial or
other toxic discharge. Under the Namami Gange program, 2 STPs at Dinapur and
Goitha (120 MLD) have been recently completed at Varanasi, of which, the Dinapur
STP was inaugurated late last year by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in
November 2018.
Furthermore, the 50 MLD STP being constructed in Ramana will bolster the existing
sewage treatment capacity of the city and take it to 412 MLD which is adequate to
meet the sewage treatment demand till 2035 and stop untreated sewage from
entering the Ganga in Varanasi.

Shri Shekhawat also inspected all the 84 iconic Ghats of Varanasi by boat with a
particular focus on the 26 Ghats, where the projects of repair/ renovation have been
taken up under the Namami Gange Program. He also reviewed the project for regular
cleaning of the 84 Ghats as well as the river surface cleaning project, both of which
have been put in place under the Namami Gange Program to ensure cleanliness in
and around the river.
Apart from inspecting the Ghats, he also observed the Ghat pumping stations and
tapping of drains. Out of 23 drains, 20 drains have already been tapped. The
remaining 3, including Assi are being tapped through Ramana STP project, which is
to be completed during this year.
The Minister also visited ‘Ganga Tarini’, a floating museum on a house boat which
showcases a film display on Ganga and its rich biodiversity. It is a first of its kind
initiative to inform people about the various facets of the river including the social,
cultural, historical and economical aspects. Ganga Tarini has been developed by the
Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in collaboration with NMCG.
Shri Shekhawat also visited ‘Jalaj’, a boat which moves along the Ghats of Varanasi
and the nearby villages, displaying and selling products prepared by the Ganga
Praharis and local villagers, as a boost to better livelihood opportunities for people
living along the banks of the Ganga. The trained Ganga Praharis also educate the
local people and tourists regarding Ganga river, biodiversity and cleanliness.