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PM Modi first mentioned the notion during the inaugural National Ganga Meeting held at Kanpur in 2019, when he encouraged a change beyond Namami Gange, Government’s flagship effort to clean up the Ganga, to the Arth Ganga model. The latter concerns the long growth of the Ganga and its environs by focusing on river-related economic activity.
At its heart, the Arth Ganga approach strives to connect people to the river through business. During his keynote talk, Ashok Kumar noted that the Arth Ganga initiative “strives to contribute a minimum of 3% of GDP from Ganga Basin itself,” and that its interventions align with India’s commitments to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Jal Shakti has introduced a new project called ‘Arth Ganga’ under the Namami Gange program
- The program aims to boost economic activity along the Ganga’s banks.
- It concerns the long growth of the Ganga and its environs by focusing on river-related economic activity.
Features of the Arth Ganga model
By emphasising business ventures associated with the river, Arth Ganga concentrates on the long-term sustainable growth of the Ganges and the communities around it.
- The first involves Zero Budget Organic Farming, which entails chemical-free farming for 10 kilometres on each side of the river and encouraging cow manure as fertiliser via the GOBARdhan initiative.
- The second is the Revenue sharing and Reuse of Sewage and Wastewater, which aims to utilise treated water for industry and money production for urban local governments (ULBs).
The government is focusing on six verticals under Arth Ganga. Let’s know them in brief :
Zero Budget Organic Farming
Promotes cow manure as fertilisers through the GOBARdhan programme to encourage organic farming and to avail the benefits of chemical-free farming for 10 km on each side of the river.
Sludge and Wastewater Monetization and Reuse
Reusing treated water for agriculture, industry, and revenue generation to urban local bodies are the goals of the Revenue and Reuse of Sludge and Wastewater project (ULBs).
Opportunities for Livelihood Generation
By establishing habits where locals may sell regional goods, medicinal herbs, and Ayurveda, there are opportunities to generate income.
Boosting public involvement
Increase public involvement through strengthening the relationships between the many river stakeholders.
Promote Tourism & Heritage
Promote boat tourism, adventure sports, and yoga events to promote Ganga’s cultural history, tourist industry, and surroundings.
Promote institutional development
It will help to promote institutional development for better water governance by strengthening local government.
World Water Week 2018
World Water Week is commemorated every year during the final week of August.
The SIWI (Stockholm International Water Institute) annually hosts a conference to commemorate the week.
World Water Week began in 1991 as the (Stockholm Water Symposium) in the Swedish capital.
The subject for 2022, “Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water,” allows us to see water in new and exciting ways.
Operational Aspect Of Arth Ganga Model
- The JMVP (Jal Marg Vikas Project) seeks to establish the Ganges as a safe method of passage and is being carried out with World Bank technical and financial help. ‘Project Arth Ganga’ envisions reengineering the JMVP via community involvement, emphasising economic activity in the vicinity of the Ganga river.
- Tiny jetties all along Ganga would be built as part of the “Project Arth Ganga,” which aims to stimulate economic activity along the river banks in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
- Around 40 floating docks and ten sets of Ro-Ro terminals were proposed for the Ganga in the four Gangetic belt states, lowering the logistical cost for farmers to transfer local goods.
- The ‘Arth Ganga’ project will assure large-scale skill training and development of public/private sector capabilities, giving advantages in terms of trade and market access, local community economic enhancement, and passenger facilitation.
- “Project Arth Ganga” will catalyse economic growth in the Ganga basin, generating more than Rs 1,000 crores in economic benefit over the following five years.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the idea of Arth Ganga at the inaugural National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur in 2019. In his speech, PM Modi asked people to switch from Namami Gange, the initiative’s flagship effort to clean the Ganga River, to Arth Ganga, which aims to develop the river network and surrounding areas sustainably. The government intends to create a number of development initiatives under Arth Ganga that can support business ventures based on the river network.
