Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
India

Ganga conservation in Jaitley's list of priorities

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Jul, 2014 11:47 AM
    Cleaning Ganga, linking of rivers and beautification of river banks were on top of the agenda of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who set aside Rs.2,037 crore for an integrated Ganga development project in the union budget 2014-2015.
     
    The project will focus on conservation and improvement of the 2,525 km river flowing from the Himalayas and to the Bay of Bengal and considered holy by the Hindus.
     
    "I propose to set up integrated Ganga conservation mission called 'Namami Ganga' and set aside a sum of Rs.2,037 crore for this purpose," said Jaitley who presented his maiden budget Thursday.
     
    He announced Rs.100 crore for linking of rivers which, he said, can give "rich dividends" to the country.
     
    "Unfortunately the country is not uniformly blessed with perennial rivers. Therefore, an effort to link the rivers can give rich dividends to the country. It is time that we made a serious effort to move in this direction. To expedite the preparation of the detailed project reports, I propose to set aside a sum of Rs.100 crore," Jaitley said.
     
    To beautify the river ghats or banks, which he termed "historical heritage" of the country, Jaitley doled out Rs.100 crore in the budget.
     
    "I propose to set aside a sum of Rs.100 crore for ghat development and beautification of river front at Kedarnath, Haridwar, Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna and Delhi in the current financial year," said Jaitley.
     
    He announced that a NRI fund for conservation of river Ganga will be set up.
     
    "To harness their (NRI) enthusiasm to contribute toward the conservation of river Ganga, an NRI fund for Ganga will be set up which will finance special projects," Jaitley said.
     
    Meanwhile, Environmentalist Sunita Narain Thursday raised questions on allocations on clean energy and Ganga conservation that were announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his maiden budget Thursday.
     
    On enhanced clean energy cess on coal, which has been increased from Rs.50 to Rs.100 per tonne, Narain - also the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment - said Jaitley did not spell out what will be done with this money.
     
    "Currently, roughly Rs.3,000-3,500 crore is collected in the National Clean Energy Fund, but not much is spent. The Fund is important as it signals the need to make dirty coal more expensive to use. But the money is frittered away in many small projects," Narain said in a statement.
     
    She expressed her reservations on duty exemptions and other mentions of solar and renewable energy in the budget.
     
    "What the budget does not appreciate is the fact that the biggest future of solar energy in the country will be in decentralised and off-grid solutions - smaller power plants that provide clean energy to millions across India's grid and remote villages that have electricity lines but no power.
     
    "Instead, budget 2014 falls back on the 'big' solar plants - announcing Rs.500 crore for ultra mega solar power plants," Narain said.
     
    On the cleaning Ganga fund enhanced to Rs.2,037 crore, Narain said Jaitley said nothing about the re-direction needed to clean the river.
     

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Kashmir: Process of abrogating Article 370 has begun, Omar fumes, RSS hits out

    Kashmir: Process of abrogating Article 370 has begun, Omar fumes, RSS hits out
    The row over article 370 escalated Wednesday with Jammu and Kashmir's political parties as well as Congress opposing any move to revoke the constitutional provision guaranteeing special status to the state and the RSS stressing that the state would remain an integral part of India and attacking Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for suggesting otherwise.

    Kashmir: Process of abrogating Article 370 has begun, Omar fumes, RSS hits out

    Meet Punjab's ministerial family - the Badals!

    Meet Punjab's ministerial family - the Badals!
    The Badal family now has a chief minister, a deputy chief minister, a union cabinet minister and two state cabinet ministers.

    Meet Punjab's ministerial family - the Badals!

    Now, drugs take a toll on Akali Dal

    Now, drugs take a toll on Akali Dal
    It is Punjab's best kept secret and yet is talked about in virtually every household in the state. The rampant drugs racket and substance abuse in the state have now come to haunt its political elite, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal.

    Now, drugs take a toll on Akali Dal

    Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties

    Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties
    A day after taking oath of office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday held wide-ranging discussions here with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on a range of issues including terrorism with a hope to start a new chapter in their strained bilateral ties.

    Modi, Sharif discuss terrorism; hope for new page in ties

    Team Modi takes charge, promises clean, effective governance

    Team Modi takes charge, promises clean, effective governance
    A new Indian government took charge Tuesday with most ministers visiting the offices of their allotted portfolios, some even to two-three offices, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who began with an early meeting at his South Block office.

    Team Modi takes charge, promises clean, effective governance

    Kejriwal released from custody on furnishing personal bond

    Kejriwal released from custody on furnishing personal bond
    Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was Tuesday released from Tihar jail here after a court ordered his release from judicial custody in a defamation case.

    Kejriwal released from custody on furnishing personal bond