Allocation of Funds to NGP
The cleaning of rivers is a continuous process and this Ministry is supplementing the efforts of the States/UTs concerned for effective abatement, conservation and rejuvenation of river Ganga and its Tributaries by providing financial assistance to them under Namami Gange Programme launched in 2014-15. During the Financial Year from 2015-16 to 2020-21, Government of India has released Rs.4,631.40 crore under National Ganga Plan (NGP) and Rs.217.00 crore under Ghat Works, out of which Rs.4,609.44 crore & Rs.231.44 crore under NGP and Ghat works component respectively have been disbursed to the States/UTs concerned for this purpose. Under Namami Gange, overall funds released by Government of India in all four heads of account – Externally Aided Projects (EAP), Non-EAP, NGP and Ghat Works are Rs.10,792.02 crore against which National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has utilized Rs.10,248.46 crore.
Under Namami Gange, NMCG has taken various steps to ensure optimum utilization of funds. The projects of pollution abatement and ecological development are closely monitored and regular review meetings are held with State Government authorities including with the implementing agencies to ensure smooth and uninterrupted progress of projects which results in higher demand of funds leading to better utilization of grants so received from the Government of India. A close watch is also kept on the pace of expenditure through constant review ensuing healthy expenditure progress and optimum utilization of funds. Necessary institutional strengthening has also been taken up imparting momentum to the program. Therefore, there is no underutilization of funds under Namami Gange Programme.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
