annexures - Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

ANNEXURE-2BACKGROUNDERNGRBA-ITS OBJECTIVES, APPROACH AND FUNCTIONSThe Central Government, by a notification dated 20.2.2009, as set up 'National Ganga RiverBasin Authority' (NFRBA)as an empowered planning, financing, monitoring and coordinatingauthority for the Ganga river,in exercise of the powers conferred under the Environment(Protection) Act,1986. The Prime Minister is ex-officio Chairperson of the Authority, and it hasas its members, the Union Ministers Concerned and the Chief Ministers of states through whichGanga flows, viz., Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, amongothers. The objective of the Authority is to ensure effective abatement of pollution andconservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with the river basin as the unitof planning. The functions of the Authority include all measures necessary for planning andexecution of programmes for abatement of pollution in the Ganga in keeping with sustainabledevelopment needs.Key Features of New ApproachRiver basin will be the unit of planning and management. This is an internationally acceptedstrategy for integrated management of rivers.Accordingly, a new institutional mechanism in the form of National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA) will spearhead river conservation efforts at the national level. Implementation will beby the State Agencies and Urban Local BodiesThe new strategy will take into account the competing demands on water and will seek toensure minimum ecological flows. STPs minimise the pollution load up to discharge standard ofBOD of 30mg/litre requiring dilution to achieve river water quality of 3mg/ litre.The minimum ecological flows or the entire Ganga will be determined through modellingexercises.The NGRBA will take appropriate measures to regulate water abstraction for maintainingecological flows in the river.Functions of NGRBAThe NGRBA would be responsible for addressing the problem of pollution in Ganga in a holisticand comprehensive manner. This will include water quality, minimum ecological flows,sustainable access and other issues relevant to river ecology and management.The NGRBA will not only be regulatory body but will also have developmental role in terms ofplanning & monitoring of the river conservation activities and ensuring that necessaryresources are available.The NRGBA would work for maintaining the water quality of the river Ganga upto acceptablestandards. The pollution abetment activities will be taken through the existing implementationmechanisms in the State and also through special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) at the pollutionhotspots.115