Status Of Namami Gange Programme And Progress

25 Mar 2026 CW Team

Since its inception in June 2014 the Namami Gange Programme has disbursed Rs 213,400 mn to implementing agencies up to 15 March 2026, of which Rs 160,259.7 mn were for sewage treatment projects. The Government implemented Phase I through March 2021 and sanctioned Phase II until March 2026. A total of 524 projects have been sanctioned and 355 projects, representing 68 per cent, were completed by February 2026 with 208 completions in the last five years.

In the last five years 76 sewerage infrastructure projects with a combined treatment capacity of 3,200 MLD have been completed and 71 new projects were sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 126,410 mn to add 2,210 MLD of treatment capacity. Two industrial pollution abatement projects at Mathura and Jajmau with capacities of 6.25 MLD and 20 MLD have been completed. Forestry interventions have afforested 33,024 hectares with expenditure of Rs 4,140 mn.

Conservation measures included seven biodiversity parks in Uttar Pradesh and five priority wetlands across three states, and the ranching of 20.3 mn Indian Major Carp fingerlings to conserve fish biodiversity. Species restoration and rescue programmes have shown improved sightings, with a nationwide Ganges dolphin population estimated at 6,324 from surveys covering 8,507 km. India’s first dolphin rescue ambulance launched in January 2026 enabled the rescue and release of eight Gangetic dolphins.

The Central Pollution Control Board monitored water quality at 112 locations on the main stem across five states and reported that pH and dissolved oxygen meet bathing norms at all monitored sites. Biochemical oxygen demand broadly conforms to bathing criteria in several states though certain stretches in Uttar Pradesh remain non conforming, and biomonitoring at 50 locations on the Ganga and 26 on the Yamuna found biological water quality predominantly from good to moderate, according to the Minister of State for Jal Shakti in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

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