Lucknow, July 9 (Representative) To make the Maha Kumbh 2025 a grand affair, the Uttar Pradesh government has granted approval to three projects under the Namami Gange Mission with an aim of enhancing basic infrastructure for cleanliness, with a combined budget of Rs 211.08 crore, official sources said here on Monday. Sources said that in Deoband a project valued at Rs 134.71 crore has been sanctioned for interception, diversion and sewage treatment plant upgrades. Besides, in Barikala, Lucknow, approval has been granted for enhancing sewage treatment plant’s capacities, with an allocated budget of Rs 27.02 crore. These decisions were taken in the 55th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, chaired by Director General Rajiv Kumar Mittal. The state government is placing special emphasis on cleanliness at the Maha Kumbh. In this regard, a budget of Rs 152.37 crore has been allocated for cleanliness-related infrastructure. Under this project, the construction of 54,400 toilets and a primary solid waste collection system will be undertaken. The objective is to create temporary sanitation facilities for pilgrims visiting the Maha Kumbh, along with ensuring better cleanliness and river water during the event.
During the Maha Kumbh, a project worth Rs 55.57 crore has been approved to fully tap and treat 22 drains originating from Prayagraj. The primary goal of this project is to intercept and completely treat sewage from these drains, ensuring the uninterrupted flow and purity of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers during the Maha Kumbh. In addition, approval has been granted for the IPSA-Kumbh project with an estimated cost of Rs 3.14 crore. This initiative aims to assess the temporary impact of population on sewage infrastructure and river water quality, developing better strategies for future collective projects along riverbanks. The project will utilise remote sensing and GIS technologies for monitoring and managing basic sewage infrastructure ensuring the quality of the Ganga River. This scientific study will be conducted by a consortium of leading institutions, including IIT Roorkee, IIT-BHU, TERI and Hokkaido University, under the Namami Gange programme.
In Deoband, a project worth Rs 134.71 crore has been approved for interception and diversion, as well as STP works. The objective of this project is to construct and implement measures to intercept, divert, and treat pollution from local water bodies, thereby enhancing sewage infrastructure. Meanwhile, in Barikala, Lucknow, approval has been granted for a project to increase the capacity of a treatment plant from existing 1 MLD to 3.5 MLD at the cost of Rs 27.02 crore. This upgrade aims to strengthen the current sewage treatment infrastructure. The National Mission for Clean Ganga is making relentless efforts to ensure that pilgrims receive clean and pure water at this sacred site, without contamination from sewage. Through the Mission, the Indian government is not only providing them with a clean and conducive holy place but also working for the comprehensive welfare of all residents living along the riverbanks.