Namami Gange recognises winners of its first ever national online quiz ‘Ganga Quest’ on World Environment Day

-          Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti emphasised on taking urgent measures for conservation of water and improve its usage efficiency.

-          Concession Agreement signed under ‘once city one operator’ including O & M for 15 years for Howrah, Bally and Baranagar & Kamarhati worth 592 cr

-          Ganga Praharis were recognised for their exemplary work during Kumbh Mela, 2019

-          Books released by WII, C-Ganga and WWF

New Delhi:

National Mission for Clean Ganga marked the celebration of World Environment Day on Wednesday by signing concession agreement for construction and development of new sewage treatment infrastructure of 165 MLD(million liters per day) capacity, rehabilitation of Existing Sewage Treatment infrastructure of 22 MLD capacity and operations and maintenance for 15 years in Howrah, Bally and Baranagar & Kamarhati in West Bengal worth 592 Cr. The project also includes laying of 16 km long sewage infrastructure.

The event was marked by enthusiastic student winners of the first ever National Ganga Quiz ‘Ganga Quest’. The exemplary work of Ganga Praharis during Kumbh Mela was also recognized during the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that World Environment Day all of us have to contribute for the Ganga Cleanliness. We have the culture of conservation of nature as we have always considered them a part of divine, we have to preserve what we believe is divine. He suggested a comprehensive conservation method which includes our rituals of preserving environment and planting more trees coupled with new methods of sustainable development.

Shri Rattan Lal Kataria, Union Minister for Jal Shakti and Social Justice & Empowerment emphasized on water conservation as an effective means for conservation of rivers. ‘River is one of the crucial fresh water sources and therefore it is important to protect and improve the e-flows in the river valley systems. Rivers are also more than just collection of water but a composite system of water, sediments, rocks, aquatic life, plants etc. providing a large number of ecosystem services’ he said.

Other dignitaries present in the event include Shri UP Singh, Secertary, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Dr. Jasper Wick, Deputy Chief of Mission, German Embassy, and Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, DG, National Mission for Clean Ganga among others. The event saw participation from GIZ India, Wildlife Institute of India, National Water Mission, C-Ganga, VA Tech Wabag and more than 45 other international institutes. The dignitaries present during the event released two radio jingles on water conservation by National Water Mission, followed by the release of books including book on village level micro planning for Bio-Diversity of River Ganga and Kumbh Mela 2019 report by WII (Wildlife Institute India), Proceedings of India Water Impact Summit December-2010, Report on improving condition of water bodies in the vicinity of Pulp and Paper Industry and compendium of biodiversity by C- Ganga, report on conserving wetlands in Ganga basin and recommendations from the national workshop by WWF India.

Namami Gange exhibition was one of the major attraction of the event which highlighted construction of STPs, Innovative models of sewerage treatment, Hybrid Annuity Mode, Ghat and RFD development, Protection of Biodiversity and other projects of National Mission for Clean Ganga. Pariticpants of the event were impressed by intuitive touch screen that can procure every information about the river and the project with a swipe. An interactive game based on awareness of Ganga was played by young and elder alike.  

Award Ceremony for Ganga Quest 2019: An online Quiz for awareness and knowledge dissemination about Ganga and Rivers, was launched online on (22nd April, 2019), World Earth Day and ended on (22nd May, 2019) World Biodiversity Day by NMCG in partnership with Tree Craze foundation. Organizations including Wildlife Institute of India, , GIZ and VA Tech WABAG also supported the initiative. Schools under CBSE Board, Navodaya Vidyalayas and other schools and academic institutions participated actively in the quiz competition and approx. 36,500 students/candidates participated in the competition from all corners of the country.

Top 3 performers based on accuracy and minimum time taken in 4 different categories were given prizes and certificates. These 4 categories are: 8th grade or below, 9th – 10th grade, 11th – 12th grade, and all who have competed education from the schools. Bal Bharti Public School and Kendriya Vidyalay were rewarded for maximum students participation in the Quiz.

Felicitation of Ganga Prahris for exemplary voluntary work during Kumbh 2019: A cadre of self-motivated volunteers from the local communities known as Ganga Prahari was created by Wildlife Institute of India. These Praharis were working for biodiversity conservation and cleanliness of the Ganga River with the ultimate objectives of restoring the Nirmal and Aviral Dhara of Ganga. During kumbh 2019 a group of Ganga Praharis did exemplary work, they were recognized by means of felicitation.

Technical session on Gangetic Dolphin : All the participants of the event participated in the technical session on Gangetic dolphin where information like their habitat, conservation methods and interesting trivia on Gangetic dolphin by Professor Sunil Chaudhary from Vikramshila Biodiversity research center, Bhagalpur

The event concluded with an interactive session with Ganga Praharis during which they shared their field experience on conservation of river and its ecosystem followed by Nukkad Natak by Asmita Group on the conservation of environment and Ganga river.