Which of the following is NOT the main objective of Ganga action plan?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Understanding the Ganga Action Plan Objectives

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was a program launched by the Government of India to reduce pollution levels in the River Ganga. It was initiated in 1986. The primary goal was to improve the water quality of the Ganga by intercepting, diverting, and treating domestic sewage and toxic industrial chemical wastes.

Main Objectives of the Ganga Action Plan

The Ganga Action Plan focused heavily on reducing pollution at various points along the river. The key objectives included:

Intercepting and diverting domestic sewage before it reached the river.
Setting up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to treat collected sewage.
Controlling the entry of toxic industrial chemical wastes into the river.
Promoting the construction of electric crematoria to prevent the dumping of dead bodies.
Developing riverfront facilities like bathing ghats.
Carrying out research to develop conservation techniques for the river.
Improving public awareness and participation in Ganga clean-up efforts.
Improving the overall water quality of the river to acceptable standards.

Analyzing the Given Options

Let's look at the options provided and see how they align with the known objectives of the Ganga Action Plan:

Option	Description	Is it a main objective of GAP?
1. The generation of electricity	Producing electrical power.	No. The Ganga Action Plan's focus was purely on pollution abatement and water quality improvement, not power generation which is related to dam projects or other water management schemes.
2. Diversion of industrial chemical wastes	Stopping harmful waste from industries from entering the river and diverting it for treatment or safe disposal.	Yes. Controlling industrial pollution was a significant part of the plan.
3. To improve water quality	Making the river water cleaner and healthier by reducing pollutants.	Yes. This was the overarching and primary goal of the entire plan.
4. Treatment of domestic sewage	Cleaning wastewater from homes and communities before it is discharged, preventing untreated sewage from entering the river.	Yes. This was a major component involving the construction and operation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).

Based on the analysis, options 2, 3, and 4 are directly related to the pollution control and water quality improvement objectives of the Ganga Action Plan. The generation of electricity (Option 1) is not listed among the core aims of the Ganga Action Plan, which strictly focused on environmental remediation of the river itself, primarily from pollution sources.

Conclusion on Ganga Action Plan Objectives

Therefore, the generation of electricity is NOT one of the main objectives of the Ganga Action Plan.

Revision Table: Ganga Action Plan Focus

Key Focus Area	Objective Type
Pollution Abatement	Main Objective
Water Quality Improvement	Main Objective
Infrastructure Development (STPs, Ghats)	Main Objective (as means to achieve pollution control)
Industrial Waste Control	Main Objective
Domestic Sewage Treatment	Main Objective
Electricity Generation	NOT an Objective

Additional Information on Ganga Action Plan

The Ganga Action Plan was one of the first major river cleaning initiatives in India. While it faced challenges and did not fully achieve all its goals, it laid the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at cleaning the Ganga and other rivers. The plan was later subsumed under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP). Subsequent efforts like the National Mission for Clean Ganga (Namami Gange) have built upon the lessons learned from the Ganga Action Plan, continuing the focus on pollution control and ecological restoration of the river. The primary focus always remains on environmental aspects like pollution and water quality, not infrastructure projects like power generation which are handled under different development plans.