Why in the News?
The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, issued a notification to amend the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016.
Institutional arrangement and initiatives for Sewage Treatment in IndiaÂ
- As Water is a ‘State Subject’ under the Seventh Schedule (Article 246).
- It is the responsibility of the States/UTs to ensure the cleanliness and development of rivers.Â
- National Urban Sanitation Policy (2008) made local governments responsible for behavioural change, total sanitation, and 100% safe waste disposal.Â
- The 74th Constitutional Amendment (1993) decentralized the water supply and sanitation services from the state government to the Urban Local Bodies (ULB)Â
- As per the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution), Act 1974:
- Industrial units and local bodies are required to install STPs and Effluent treatment plants (ETPs to treat their sewage before discharging into the river.Â
- However, there is no specific act dedicated to the management of wastewater in India.Â
- Other initiatives include components of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Smart Cities Mission, Namami Gange program and National River Conservation Plan.
