Comprehensive plan to clean GANGA by 2020: Centre

[Sidhu...Sidhaarth Roy]

A comprehensive plan under "Mission Clean Ganga" was being prepared to ensure that the river will be free from the flow of untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents by 2020............. @3$% @3$% @3$%, the Centre told the Supreme Court today.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest said that for attaining the objective, IITs have been roped in to prepare a comprehensive "River Basin Management Plan" for Ganga and the investment required for creating the necessary infrastrcuture will be shared by the Centre and state governments.

The World Bank has also promised finacial assistance for the project.

It said steps have already been taken in that direction and by a notification on February 20, 2009, National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which is empowered for planning, financing,, monitoring and coordinating authority for river Ganga.