The 2,500 km long river Ganga is relatively clean in some parts.

Union minister Vijay Goel informed the Lok Sabha that water quality monitoring of river Ganga is being carried out by CPCB from Gangotri to Diamond Harbour.

“The summary of the findings is given below:
 

• The river water quality is conforming to the bathing criteria…at most of the locations during 2011 to 2015.

• The long term assessment of water quality data indicates that the river water quality is not conforming to the notified criteria for bathing… between the river stretches from D/s Raiwala to Haridwar D/s in Uttrakhand, from Kannauj to Trighat in Uttar Pradesh and from Baharampore to Uluberia in West Bengal. However, the stretches falling in the state of Bihar are reported to be relatively clean in term of organic pollution.

• Except for few locations in the upper stretch of the river, the river does not conform to the water quality criteria for Faecal Coliform of 2500 MPN/100ml. “

The minister said that the implementation of the Namami Gange Programme is being monitored closely through regular review meetings at the level of ministry as well as National Mission for Clean Ganga. In addition, field visits are being taken up regularly to review the progress.


The government has taken certain steps to ensure proper and expeditious implementation of Namami Gange Programme. These steps include Establishments of a new structure which empowers National Mission for Clean Ganga to discharge its functions in an independent and accountable manner, National Mission for Clean Ganga have been given higher financial power to sanction the projects, the management structure of NMCG has been strengthened, the funding pattern of projects under Namami Gange have been changed to make it fully funded by the Central Govt and the monitoring mechanism has been strengthened by engaging Tata Consultancy Engineering (TCE).