GANGA ACTION PLAN OBJECTIVES AND APPROACH

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by the Government of India in the year 1985 with the objective of abatement of pollution in the River Ganga due to discharge of sewage into the river from point as well as non-point sources. The Plan was renamed the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in the year 1995 and was broad-based to tackle pollution levels in other identified polluted stretches of major rivers, for improving their water quality to the bathing quality standards.

GAP I was launched in June 1985 and declared closed on 31st March, 2000, GAP II was approved in April, 1993 for pollution abatement of remaining works on river Ganga with 3 other rivers Yamuna, Damodar and Gomti. River Mahananda was included in the year 2005-06. NRCP was extended to other Major rivers of the country in 1995. In December, 1996, GAP - II was merged with NRCP. At present, NRCP covers 35 stretches of polluted rivers in 164 towns spread in 20 States. Action Plans for different rivers are being drawn up on the basis of surveys by Central pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).

The approach of GAP was to create sewage treatment plants in the cities along the Ganga so that no untreated sewage is discharged into the river. This was expected to bring the quality of the river water to a desired level.