Why in news? Tourism Ministry to prepare comprehensive plan for developing tourism circuits along the Ganga in line with Arth Ganga

Highlights

• Union government’s flagship Namami Gange programme, conceived to improve the sanitation levels in the Ganga, is geared towards conservation, tourism and providing livelihoods.
• Tourism circuits, organic farming and cultural activities, exhibitions and fairs have been planned in 75 towns along the main stem
• Agriculture Ministry to build organic farming and natural farming corridors
• Union Urban Affairs Ministry focus on mapping drains and solid waste management
• Environment Ministry was scaling up afforestation and conservation  to protect the Gangetic river dolphin.
• Focus:

1. Expeditiously completing projects
2. Every Ganga district was expected to develop a scientific plan and health card for at least 10 wetlands
3. Adopt policies for reuse of treated water and other by-products.

What is Arth Ganga ?

• Concept introduced by Prime Minister Modi (first National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur in 2019)
• It is a shift from Namami Gange, to clean the Ganga, the model of that focuses on the sustainable development of the Ganga and its surrounding areas, by focusing on economic activities related to the river.
• Project’s interventions are in accordance with India’s commitments towards the UN sustainable development goals.

What are the Features of the project?

• Under Arth Ganga, the government is working on six verticals.

1. Zero Budget Natural Farming: Involves chemical-free farming on 10 km on either side of the river, and the promotion of cow dung as fertiliser through the GOBARdhan scheme.
2. Monetization and Reuse of Sludge & Wastewater : Seeks to reuse treated water for irrigation, industries and revenue generation for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
3. Livelihood Generation Opportunities: Creating haats where people can sell local products, medicinal plants and ayurveda.
4. Increase public participation: Increasing synergies between the stakeholders involved with the river.
5. Promote the cultural heritage and tourism of Ganga and its surroundings, through boat tourism, adventure sports and by conducting yoga activities.
6. Promote institutional building by empowering local administration for improved water governance.

About River Ganga

• It is a trans-boundary river of Asia flows through India and Bangladesh.
• The Ganges continues into Bangladesh, in the name of Padma.
• It is then joined by the Jamuna, the lower stream of the Brahmaputra, and eventually the Meghna, forming the major estuary of the Ganges Delta
• Discharge : Farakka Barrage
• Prayag :
• Vishnuprayag: Dhauliganga joins the Alaknanda
• Nandprayag: Nandakini joins
• Karnaprayag : Pindar joins
• Rudraprayag : Mandakini joins
• Devprayag : Bhagirathi joins the Alaknanda to form the Ganges
• Tributaries:
• Left: Ramganga, Garra, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Koshi, Mahananda Brahmaputra
• Right: Yamuna, Tamsa (Tons), Karamnasa, Sone, Punpun, Falgu, Kiul, Chandan, Ajoy, Damodar
• Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage gather at the Ganges River
• National Park : Rajaji National Park, Jim Corbett National Park, and Dudhwa National Park.
• Basin covers
• Countries : India, Nepal, China, and Bangladesh
• Eleven Indian states: Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Delhi.
• Critically endangered species : Gharial and South Asian river dolphin.