OREANDA-NEWS. Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti launched various projects worth Rs. 560 crore under Namami Gange programme at Ganga Barrage in Kanpur today. This includes Rs. 63 crore interception and diversion plan of Sisamau drain, Rs. 397 crore networking schemes and river front development scheme at Bithoor worth Rs. 100 crore. 14 Ghats and five crematoria will be constructed at Bithoor. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said her Ministry will develop market for treated water based on hybrid annuity mode through PPP Model. She said Water Resources Ministry is in the process of signing MoUs for this with various Ministries. Sushri Bharti said “We will follow the due process for Ganga conservation. No decision will be taken in haste so that public money is not wasted”.

Speaking on the occasion the local MP and former Union Minister Dr Murali Manohar said that each one of us is equally responsible for the present state of river Ganga. He said we need to change our attitude towards this holy river. He suggested that a light and sound programme should be prepared depicting the history of Ganga to encourage people’s participation in Namami Gange programme.

It may be recalled that on July 07, 2016 to 231 projects under Namami Gange programme were launched at various places in the states of Uttrakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, West-Bengal, Delhi and Haryana. In Kanpur, construction of 11 Ghats and two crematoria were launched.

Noted dancer Aarushi and her team presented a dance drama based on river Ganga on the occasion.