Namami
Gange recognises winners of its first ever national online quiz ‘Ganga Quest’ on World
Environment Day
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Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Jal Shakti emphasised on taking urgent
measures for conservation of water and improve its usage efficiency.
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Concession
Agreement signed under ‘once city one operator’ including O & M for 15
years for Howrah, Bally and Baranagar & Kamarhati worth 592 cr
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Ganga
Praharis were recognised for their exemplary work during Kumbh Mela, 2019
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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.
