• The country’s river cleaning initiative commenced with the introduction of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985.
• Subsequently, the scope of the program expanded to encompass other rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in 1995.
• The execution of pollution abatement measures operates on a cost-sharing basis between the Central and State Governments.
• These initiatives involve various activities such as the collection, transportation, and treatment of municipal sewage, River Front Development (RFD), Low-Cost Sanitation (LCS), Electric Crematoria, and Improved Wood-Based Crematoria, among others.
• Both the Central and State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees are actively involved in addressing the prevention and control of industrial pollution.
• The primary objective of the NRCP is to enhance the water quality of the country’s major rivers by implementing pollution abatement initiatives.

MEASURES TO CONSERVE SMALL RIVER

Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), launched in 2019, aims to promote water conservation and water resource management. The JSA Series has specific themes and focuses for each year:

• 2021 Theme: “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls”
• Focus: Covering all blocks of all districts.
• 2022 Theme: “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls”
• Focus: Spring shed management, protection of watershed management, etc.
• 2023 Theme: “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”
• Special focus on 150 Water Stressed Districts (WSDs) of the country.

Five-fold intervention:

• Rainwater harvesting & water conservation
• Enumerating, geo-tagging & making inventory of all water bodies
• Preparation of scientific plans for water conservation
• Setting up Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts
• Intensive afforestation
• Awareness generation.

Other Water Conservation Initiatives:

• Amrit Sarovar Mission (2022):
  • Aim: Developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district as part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Namami Gange Programme (2014):
  • Aim: Integrated rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
  • Mapping tributaries and smaller tributaries with their catchment area and wetlands.
  • GIS-based inventory of small rivers with additional district-wise information.
• National River Conservation Plan (NRCP):
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme for pollution abatement in identified stretches of rivers (excluding Ganga basin).
  • Provides financial and technical assistance to States/UTs on a cost-sharing basis.
• Small River Rejuvenation & Conservation Plan:
  • 19 rivers identified and taken up by the Uttar Pradesh government, including River Manorama, River Varuna, River Tedi, etc.
• Mission Water Conservation:
  • Aims to develop an actionable framework for gainful utilization of funds.
  • Ensures synergies with schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
• Mass Awareness Programs:
  • Conducted through various training sessions, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and trade fairs to promote water conservation initiatives, including rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater.
• National Water Awards:
  • Constituted under the Ministry of Jal Shakti to recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations working in water conservation.
• Weekly Water Heroes Contest:
  • Objective: Promote the value of water and support country-wide efforts on water conservation and sustainable development of water resources.

National River Conservation Plan

Under the National River Conservation Plan the river Sal project in Goa was sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. The aim of the plan is to prevent the pollution of rivers and improving water quality.

The activities under the National River Conservation Plan include following

• Sewage treatment plants for treating the diverted sewage.
• Low-cost sanitation works to prevent open defecation on riverbanks.
• Public awareness and public participation.
• Electric crematoria to ensure proper cremation of the bodies brought to burning Ghats.