The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved the Action Plan 2025 for the River Cities Alliance (RCA), focusing on integrating river-sensitive urban planning across India’s expanding cities.

Launched in 2021, the River Cities Alliance is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, now with one hundred forty-five member cities. The Alliance promotes comprehensive urban river management, building institutional capacity and supporting Urban River Management Plans (URMPs).

This year’s plan will prioritise training for River-Sensitive Master Planning (RSMP), including onboarding RCA cities in Tamil Nadu. Five cities, including Kanpur and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, have developed URMPs. Twenty-five more plans will be prepared in the first phase, supported by the World Bank.

NMCG is also steering URMP development for Delhi to redefine its rivers as vital ecosystems. States like Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal have formed committees to guide efforts.

Knowledge exchange events, thematic expert groups, and weekly case studies will further support the initiative. Public awareness programmes and financial advisory services will aid cities in sustainable river management.

Source: Press Information Bureau Delhi