Modi calls for 'mission-mode' approach to clean Ganga

QUOTE

The Ganga is associated with the faith of millions of Indians. The task is to convert these positive sentiments into a feeling of responsibility. (The cleaning of the Ganga) cannot be accomplished without people's participation

Narendra Modi, PM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called for an "uncompromising mission-mode approach" to stop further pollution of the Ganga.

He urged the states through which the river flows to pay special attention to the development of towns and villages located on the banks of the river and to ensure sufficient awareness in these areas to stop pollution.

Chairing the fifth meeting of the National Ganga River Basin Authority in New Delhi, the Prime Minister said the task of cleaning the Ganga was a challenging one, but had the potential to generate immense economic activity and bring about a positive attitudinal change in the entire country.

It is “our responsibility for future generations” to save the river, he said.

He said the Ganga was associated with the "faith" and "devotion" of millions of Indians and the task was to convert these positive sentiments into a feeling of responsibility.

He said the task at hand could not be accomplished without "jan-bhaagidaari" (people's participation).

As per the statement, Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das, who were present at the meeting, spoke in detail on the subject and about issues related to their respective states.

The themes mentioned by them included silt management and single-window clearances for proposals from the states.

The five states through which the Ganga flows also includes Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Uma Bharati, Birender Singh, Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal, Sanwarlal Jat and vice-cChairman of NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya were also present at the meeting. The meeting was coordinated by Jaitley and Union Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharati introduced the issues.

SUBHEAD: Nitish meets PM

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since he stepped into office again last month.

In his one-on-one meeting with the Prime Minister at his residence, Nitish said he raised the issue of the implementation of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations and its fallout on his state.

Kumar said he raised the issue of implementation of the Finance Commission recommendations which he contended would lead to an "estimated Rs 50,000 crore loss" to the state.

"We discussed our expectations for help and support for Bihar from the Centre," he said.

"We have made one thing clear to the Prime Minister that Bihar needs assistance because of the new schemes of the government," he said.

The JD-U leader had broken off his ties with the NDA after the BJP decided to launch Modi, the then Gujarat CM, as the party's PM candidate for the General Election.

The PMO termed the meeting a "courtesy call". Though lately there has been speculation about Nitish Kumar coming back to the NDA fold, both sides denied the possibility.