The Ganga Action Plan was launched on January 14th, 1986 by Shri Rajeev Gandhi, India's then-Prime Minister. Its primary goal is to reduce pollution and improve water quality by intercepting, diverting, and treating domestic sewage as well as current toxic and industrial chemical waste entering the river from identified grossly polluting units. It is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme. This article will explain to you about the Ganga Action Plan which will be helpful in Environment Subject preparation for the UPSC Civil Service Exam.

Ganga Action Plan

• The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) is a government-funded initiative.
• The National River Ganga Basin Authority was founded under this concept, and Ganga was declared a national river of India.
• The Ministry of Environment and Forests took up the first River Action Plan, the Ganga Action Plan, in 1985.
• Since then, the program's scope has expanded to include all of the country's major rivers, with the National River Conservation Plan - NRCP extending the programme to other significant rivers in 1995.

Why need a Ganga Action Plan?

• During the late 1970s, the development in industrialization and urbanization resulted in a significant increase in the discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies.
• This increased level of pollution raised the risk of water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and other illnesses, as well as reduced the supply of clean drinking water.
• Due to behaviors such as open defecation, the release of untreated industrial runoff, and other factors, the major river, Ganga, experienced a significant increase in contamination.
• All of this happened as a result of a lack of public knowledge and no rules in place to keep these sectors under control.

Ganga Action Plan - Objectives

The GAP's ultimate goal is to develop an integrated river basin management approach that takes into account the different dynamic interactions between abiotic and biotic ecosystems.

• Non-point pollution from agricultural runoff, human excrement, cow wallowing, and the dumping of unburned or half-burned bodies into rivers must be controlled.
• Research and development to protect the river's biological variety and increase its productivity.
• New sewage treatment technologies, such as the Up-flow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) and sewage treatment through afforestation, has been developed effectively.
• The use of soft-shelled turtles for river pollution abatement has been proven and found to be beneficial.
• Resource recovery options have been demonstrated, such as methane production for energy generation and aquaculture for revenue creation.
• To serve as a model for implementing comparable action initiatives in other heavily contaminated river segments.

Ganga Action Plan - Phases

Outside agencies role in Ganga Action Plan

• The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has offered technical support for a Development Study on the "Water Quality Management Plan for Ganga" .
• It focuses on four towns: Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, and Varanasi.
• The JICA Study Team/Consultants hired by JICA to conduct the study began working in March 2003 and finished in August/September 2005.
• The study's main goal was to create Master Plans and Feasibility Studies for the four towns' sewerage (including sewage treatment) and non-sewerage components.
• The JICA Study Team had submitted a Master Plan and Feasibility Studies report for sewerage and non-sewerage works in Varanasi town in the first phase during 2004-05, based on which the JBIC had signed an agreement with the Government of India for providing a loan for taking up pollution abatement schemes of the river Ganga in this town at an estimated cost of Rs.540 crore (13.248 billion Yen).
• JICA has received the final Feasibility Study Reports for the remaining three towns of Allahabad, Kanpur, and Lucknow, which include the opinions of the respective organizations.
• The cost of GAP-II projects in the three towns is expected to be Rs.1100 crore (Allahabad-Rs.305 crore, Kanpur-Rs.425 crore & Lucknow-Rs.375 crore).

Conclusion

The Ganga Action Plan prioritized pollution reduction and improved water quality. GAP I places a strong emphasis on sewage interception and treatment facilities. It also prioritized biodiversity conservation, building an integrated river basin management approach, undertaking comprehensive research to promote these goals, and gathering expertise in implementing comparable river clean-up initiatives in India's other dirty rivers.

FAQs

Question: What is the Ganga Action Plan (GAP)?

Question: Who initiated the Ganga Action Plan?

Question: What is the primary objective of the Ganga Action Plan?

Question: What are the key phases of the Ganga Action Plan?

Question: What role does the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) play?

MCQs

1. When was the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) launched?

a) 1974

b) 1986

c) 1992

d) 2000

2. What was the primary goal of GAP-I?

a) Cleaning the Yamuna River

b) Developing sewage treatment plants for the Ganga

c) Promoting agricultural use of river water

d) Establishing wildlife sanctuaries

3. Which organization currently oversees the implementation of the Namami Gange program?

a) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

c) Ministry of Agriculture

d) Ministry of Urban Development

4. What was the key focus of GAP-II launched in 1993?

a) Industrial pollution control

b) Building dams

c) Afforestation

d) Groundwater replenishment

5. Which of the following is NOT part of the Ganga Action Plan’s objectives?

a) Reducing water pollution

b) Improving sewage treatment

c) Increasing agricultural yield

d) Managing industrial effluents

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Question: Analyze the objectives of the Ganga Action Plan and its impact on river rejuvenation efforts.

Answer: The Ganga Action Plan aimed to reduce pollution in the Ganga River by treating sewage, managing industrial effluents, and improving public awareness. Despite building infrastructure for sewage treatment, the plan's impact was limited by poor implementation, lack of maintenance, and delays. While it raised awareness and provided a starting point for future efforts like Namami Gange, it was not fully effective in restoring the river’s health.

Question: Discuss the challenges faced by the Ganga Action Plan and how they have been addressed in subsequent programs like Namami Gange.

Answer: The Ganga Action Plan faced challenges such as inadequate sewage treatment capacity, delayed projects, and improper maintenance. Industrial pollution and untreated sewage continued to affect the river’s health. In response, the Namami Gange program was introduced to provide a more holistic approach, incorporating river basin management, afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and stricter enforcement of pollution control measures.

Question: Evaluate the role of public participation in the success of river cleaning initiatives like the Ganga Action Plan and Namami Gange.

Answer: Public participation is crucial for the success of river cleaning initiatives. The Ganga Action Plan focused on infrastructure development but lacked sufficient public involvement in maintaining cleanliness. In contrast, Namami Gange emphasizes community engagement through public awareness campaigns, stakeholder involvement, and educational initiatives to encourage long-term behavior changes. This approach ensures that citizens are active participants in preserving the river’s health.

Previous Year Questions on Ganga Action Plan

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: Which of the following programs is associated with cleaning and rejuvenating the Ganga River?

A. Project Tiger

B. Ganga Action Plan

C. National River Conservation Plan

D. Project Elephant

Answer: B

Explanation: The Ganga Action Plan was launched in 1986 as the first major government initiative aimed at cleaning the Ganga River.

UPSC CSE Mains 2017 (GS Paper 3):

Question: Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the Ganga Action Plan in cleaning the Ganga River.

Answer: The Ganga Action Plan had some success in building sewage treatment plants and raising public awareness about the pollution of the Ganga. However, it faced several challenges such as inadequate sewage treatment capacity, inefficient project management, lack of proper maintenance, and continued industrial pollution. As a result, while the plan created infrastructure, it did not fully succeed in improving water quality. Subsequent programs like Namami Gange were introduced to address the gaps left by GAP.

UPSC CSE Prelims 2018:

Question: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was set up to implement which of the following?

A. Project Green India

B. Namami Gange

C. National Waterways Program

D. Project Elephant

Answer: B

Explanation: The NMCG was established to oversee the implementation of the Namami Gange program, which is a comprehensive initiative to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River.