Policy Update
Ashi Verma
Background
The Ganga supports more than 400 million people. It gives them water to drink, land to farm, and a reason to pray. But it also carries the waste of cities, factories, and towns along its 2500 km stretch. That is the core problem. For many years, cleaning the Ganga has been a national priority.
In 2014, the Namami Gange Mission was launched. The first phase, 2014-2020, focused on visible work. Ghats were cleaned, drains were intercepted, and campaigns were run. Infrastructure was built, but the main issues remained. Many cities still discharged more sewage than they could treat. Treatment plants often stopped working because there was no budget for electricity and maintenance. And local people were treated as beneficiaries, not as partners. Learning from these gaps, Namami Gange 2.0 was launched for 2021-2026 with a different approach. The goal moved from just “cleaning” to “rejuvenating” the river as a living system. To do this, the mission was built on three pillars that are River Health, Sewage Management and Community Participation.
The first pillar is River Health.The focus here was to restore the river’s natural flow, protect biodiversity, and reduce pollution at the source. The second pillar is Sewage Management. This meant building new STPs in towns along the Ganga and making sure existing ones run properly through long-term operation contracts. The third pillar is Community Participation . Through initiatives like Arth Ganga, the plan was to connect the river’s health with people’s livelihoods so that farmers, industries, and local communities become part of the solution.
Figure.1
Source:- Ministry of Jal Shakti ( Department of Water Resources)
Functioning:-
Namami Gange 2.0 worked differently from Phase 1. Instead of only doing visible cleanup, it tried to fix the system behind the problem. For implementation, projects like STPs were often taken up under (Design, Build, Operate and Transfer) DBOT and funded through the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). In DBOT, a private company designs, builds and operates the plant for a fixed period. Under HAM, the government pays 40% during construction and the rest in installments over 15 years. All the work was organized around the three pillars.
River Health :- The first pillar goal here was to make the Ganga a living river again, not just a clean drain. For this, the mission focused on maintaining environmental flow so the river does not dry up in stretches. Projects were started to protect aquatic species like the Ganga dolphin and turtles. Tree plantation was done on the banks to stop soil erosion and filter runoff. To watch the river at the local level, “Ganga Praharis” and “Ganga Doots” were trained. These were local volunteers who monitored pollution and spread awareness in their villages.
Sewage Management :- The second pillar was the biggest chunk of money and work in 2.0. The target was to ensure 100% treatment of sewage before it enters the river. New STPs were built in towns along the Ganga. But the bigger change was in how plants were run. The government moved to a “Hybrid Annuity Model” and “DBOT model”. In simple words, the same company that builds the STP also runs it for 15 years. The idea was to stop the old problem of plants shutting down after inauguration because no one paid for electricity or staff. Interception of drains and reuse of treated water for farming and industry was also pushed.
Community Participation :- Phase 2 tried to connect people’s livelihoods with the river. This was done through “Arth Ganga”. Under this, farmers were promoted to do natural farming to reduce chemical pollution. Self-help groups were given work in waste collection and making products from waste. Tourism and small businesses on ghats were encouraged so that local communities could earn from a clean river. Schools and colleges were also involved in campaigns to keep people engaged.
Namami Gange 2.0 tried to function as three things together. An ecology project, an infrastructure project, and a people’s project.
Performance:-
Five years of Namami Gange 2.0 were meant to shift the focus from building infrastructure to showing real results. On the ground, the picture is mixed. Ecologically, there was slow but visible progress. Environmental flow was maintained in major stretches, which helped keep the river running even during peak summer. Over 50,000 hectares of afforestation was carried out along the banks to control soil erosion, and more than 7000 “Ganga Praharis” were deployed for local monitoring and awareness. Wildlife also showed signs of recovery, with a slight increase in dolphin sightings in some areas. At the same time, industrial discharge and plastic waste in urban stretches remain a serious problem, so water quality is still uneven across the river.
The biggest investment went into sewage management. More than 140 new ( Sewage Treatment Plant) STPs were completed or commissioned along the Ganga, adding over 2000 MLD of new treatment capacity. The shift to 15-year operation contracts was a key change because it stopped the old pattern of plants shutting down after inauguration. Drain interception was also completed in over 100 towns. However, the challenge of scale persists. Many cities are generating sewage faster than the new capacity can treat, and reuse of treated water for farming and industry is still limited.
On the community side, the mission tried to link the river with livelihoods. Natural farming was promoted in 4000+ villages, self-help groups got work in waste management, and ghat-based tourism picked up in places like Varanasi, Patna, and Haridwar. Participation has grown in numbers, but most decisions are still taken from the top. Local panchayats and communities are involved, yet they are not leading the planning.
Namami Gange 2.0 succeeded in building stronger infrastructure, better monitoring, and wider participation. But the final goal of consistently clean and usable water across the entire stretch is still a work in progress.
Impact :-
Figure.2
Projected Impact Indicators under Namami Gange 2.0, 2021-2026
Source: Compiled from NMCG Mission-II targets, PIB Cabinet Approval 2021, and Ministry of Jal Shakti projections
Slight improvement in river ecology : Maintaining environmental flow helped keep the Ganga running in key stretches, even during peak summer. Over 50,000 hectares of afforestation along the banks reduced soil erosion. Dolphin and aquatic life sightings increased in some areas. The deployment of 7000+ “Ganga Praharis” also raised awareness in villages about keeping waste out of the river.
However, industrial discharge and plastic waste in urban areas continue. As a result, water quality remains uneven across different stretches of the river.
Better control over urban sewage: The biggest change came in sewage management. 140+ new Sewage Treatment Plants added 2000+ MLD of treatment capacity. The 15-year operation contracts ensured plants did not shut down after construction. Drain interception projects were also completed in 100+ towns.
The challenge is that urban sewage generation is growing faster than treatment capacity. Also, the reuse of treated water for agriculture and industry is still very limited.
More livelihoods and awareness, less local leadership:
Through “Arth Ganga”, natural farming was introduced in 4000+ villages. Self-help groups found work in waste management and making products from waste. Ghat-based tourism and small businesses saw growth in Varanasi, Patna, and Haridwar.
Emerging Issues:-
As Namami Gange 2.0 moves beyond infrastructure creation, new challenges are shaping the next phase of river rejuvenation. These issues will decide if the gains made so far can be sustained.
1.Gap between capacity created and sewage generated:-
140+ new STPs added 2000+ MLD capacity, but urbanization is growing faster. Many cities are already producing more sewage than plants can treat. Without parallel planning for future load and better reuse of treated water, the treatment gap will widen again.
2. Industrial pollution and non-point sources :-
While domestic sewage is being tapped, industrial discharge remains poorly monitored in several stretches. On top of that, agricultural runoff, plastic waste, and solid waste dumping are non-point sources that STPs cannot address. Water quality remains uneven because of this.
3. Weak local ownership and decentralized governance:-
Most projects are still planned and monitored from the top. Panchayats, ULBs, and community groups participate, but do not lead. Without giving them funds, training, and authority, long-term operation and maintenance of assets will remain dependent on central support.
4. Climate variability and environmental flow:-
Irregular rainfall, droughts, and floods are making it harder to maintain minimum environmental flow. Afforestation and biodiversity efforts are also vulnerable to climate stress. The mission will need adaptive plans to keep the river alive during extreme weather years.
The infrastructure foundation is set. The next battle is about management – closing the capacity gap, controlling pollution beyond sewage, empowering local bodies, and building climate resilience. Without this, the impact will plateau.
Way Forward:-
To turn the foundation built by Namami Gange 2.0 into sustained outcomes, the focus must shift from construction to better management:
1. Future-ready Planning: STPs should be designed for the next 10-15 years of urban growth, not just current needs.
2. Water Reuse : Treated water must be reused for farming, industry, and groundwater recharge to reduce freshwater demand.
3. Incentives & Pricing : Strong incentives and proper pricing mechanisms are needed to bridge the gap between sewage generated and treatment capacity.
4. Management over Construction: The priority should be efficient operation and maintenance rather than building more infrastructure alone.
Planning for sewage treatment has to look ahead. STPs must be sized for the next 10-15 years of urban growth, and treated water should be reused for farming, industry and groundwater recharge. Without strong incentives and pricing for reuse, the gap between what cities generate and what plants can treat will keep growing.
At the same time, the focus has to move beyond domestic sewage. Industrial effluents still go largely unmonitored in several stretches, and enforcement remains weak. Non-point sources are an even bigger blind spot. Plastic at ghats, solid waste dumping, and agricultural runoff cannot be handled by STPs alone. Scaling up waste management, expanding natural farming, and making “polluter pays” real on the ground are essential to keep water quality from slipping back.
Ownership also needs to change. Projects are still run from the top, while Panchayats, ULBs and community groups mostly play a supporting role. Giving local bodies funds, technical capacity and authority over operation and maintenance will build accountability. Initiatives like “Ganga Praharis” and self-help groups can be formalized into river management committees with clear budgets and responsibilities.
The mission must be climate-smart. Environmental flow cannot be a fixed number in an era of droughts and floods. Afforestation should prioritize native species and link to livelihoods. Restoring wetlands and setting up early warning systems will help the river absorb climate shocks instead of breaking under them.
References:-
1. NMCG – Namami Gange Programme Overview
2. PIB – Cabinet Approval for Namami Gange Mission-II*
3. NMCG Annual Reports 2022-24
4. NMCG – Hybrid Annuity Model & 15 Year O&M
5. NMCG – Afforestation & Environmental Flow
6. Jal Shakti – Arth Ganga Framework
7. CPCB – Water Quality & STP Inventory Report 2023
8. WWF India – Ganga Praharis & Biodiversity
9. – National Framework for Reuse of Treated Water 2023
About the Contributor:-
Ashi is pursuing B.A Program (History and Political Science) from Maitreyi College (NCWEB) South Campus Delhi University with a major in Political Science. She is passionate about governance, public policy, social issues and digital innovation, with a keen interest in research, academic writing, and data documentation. Through research and policy analysis, she aims to contribute to evidence-based policymaking and create meaningful social impact.
Acknowledgement :-
I am deeply grateful to IMPRI – (Impact and Policy Research Institute) for providing me with the academic platform and resources to undertake this study on Namami Gange 2.0 (2021-2026) Assessing River Rejuvenation, STP Infrastructure and Community Participation Policy. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Central Pollution Control Board for their publicly available reports and data which formed the basis of this analysis.
Disclaimer:-
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IMPRI (Impact and Policy Research Institute) or any other affiliated organisation. The information presented in this article is based on publicly available government sources and is intended solely for academic and research purposes
Name of the Reviewer :- Prisha Sachdeva and Kavin Aditya
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