India, Germany Sign Agreement on Namami Gange

An Implementation Agreement for Ganga Rejuvenation under the Namami Gange Program was signed in New Delhi last week between the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and German International Cooperation (GIZ) of Germany.

The objective of the agreement is to enable responsible stakeholders at National and State level to apply integrated river basin management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga.

This will be based on Indo-German Knowledge exchange and practical experience on strategic river basin management issues, effective data management system and public engagement.

The project will closely cooperate with other National and international initiatives including Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) and ‘Sustainable Environment-friendly Industrial Production’ (SEIP).

The project duration is three years i.e. from 2016 to 2018.

‘Namami Gange’ Program, is a flagship scheme of Government of India with a renewed impetus to decrease river pollution and conserve the revered river Ganga.

In this connection, the Indian Government solicited support from various countries to rejuvenate the Ganga. Government of Germany, with its vast experiences in cleaning and rejuvenating European rivers such as Rhine, Elbe and Danube, was keen to join hands for collaboration with Government of India.