Context:
Under the Namami Gange Programme, turtles are introduced to clean the Ganga and rejuvenate the nearly 2,600km river network.
Key points
- Turtles play a role in clearing rotten or half burnt human bodies as well as flowers dumped into the river.
- During the assessment of the river’s pH levels (i.e. acidic nature) at various locations, the water quality was found suitable for bathing.
- Improvements in biochemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform and dissolved oxygen levels were seen during river water quality checks.
- It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in 2014
- Budget outlay: Rs.20,000 Crore
- Twin objectives:
- Effective abatement of pollution
- Conservation and rejuvenation of national river Ganga.
- Nodal Department and Ministry: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- Implementing agency: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)
- Pillars of the Programme:
- Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
- River-Surface Cleaning
- Afforestation
- Industrial Effluent Monitoring
- River-Front Development
- Biodiversity
- Public Awareness
- Ganga Gram