World Bank inks three agreement in New Delhi

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi:World Bank to extend one billion dollar loan to India for river Ganga cleaning project :India and the World Bank today signed three agreements in New Delhi for cleaning the Ganga River, besides strengthening Rural Livelihoods and Biodiversity Conservation in the country. The World Bank will provide one billion US Dollars for the River cleaning project, while a credit worth approximately 24 million dollars will be given for the other two projects. Speaking on the occasion, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said that the objective of Ganga project is to stop the flow of untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluent into the River by 2020.
Ramesh Minister added that the two protected areas, one each in Uttarakhand and Gujarat, will put in place a complete new model of managing the protected areas while safeguarding the livelihoods of local communities. He said that the new models will be later applied in other areas of the country as well.The investments will be made in four key sectors, wastewater collection and treatment, industrial pollution control, solid waste management, and riverfront management to reduce pollution in a sustainable manner.
Media reports that the Ganga basin accounts for nearly one-fourth of the country’s landmass and the basin is home to more than 400 million people. The river faces great challenges from expanding population, urbanization and industrial growth, apart from ever increasing pollutants.