Will seek funds from Centre for Namami Gange: Uma Bharti

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 26

Union Minister for Ganga Rejuvenation and Water Resources Uma Bharti assured Chief Minister Harish Rawat of providing full assistance and support to the Namami Gange project and the upcoming Ardh Kumbh fair.

In a meeting held here on Sunday evening, Uma Bharti praised the efforts and working of the state government regarding the Ardh Kumbh, clean Ganga project and rehabilitation work post June 2013 disaster. She said she would be a connecting bridge between the Centre and the state government.

Bharti said prior to the Ardh Kumbh, which is scheduled for January 2016, the on-field impact of Namami Gange scheme would be seen.

Harish Rawat said the state government had allocated Rs 287 crore for the Ardh Kumbh from its own, while additional proposals worth Rs 120 crore were in the pipeline, for which Central grant was needed instantly.

“I will talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in this regard. Paucity of funds will not be a hindrance for Namami Gange or Ardh Kumbh works. For this, I will be taking personal initiative,” Bharti added.

Mayor Manoj Garg, Water Resource Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani, legislators Swami Yatishwaranand and Sanjay Gupta were also present during the meeting.