NewzVille Desk
The 20th Meeting of the Empowered Task Force (ETF) was held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C. R. Paatil. The meeting reviewed the progress of the Namami Gange Programme and deliberated on key interventions aimed at accelerating river rejuvenation through improved sewage infrastructure, scientific water management, safe reuse of treated wastewater, ecological restoration, groundwater management, Nature-based Solutions and enhanced coordination among stakeholders.
The meeting was also joined by MoS Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Chaudhary along with key stakeholders from various ministries and state governments, including Secretary, Department of Water Resources, Archana Varma; Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ashok K.K Meena; Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) Rajeev Kumar Mital; JS&FA Department of Water Resources Gaurav Masaldan; and with senior officers of NMCG and participating states.
The meeting reviewed the status of sewage infrastructure, DPR preparation and appraisal, land availability, Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater (SRTW), aquifer mapping, wetlands, City Sanitation Action Plans (CSAP), aerial drainage mapping and regular meetings of State Ganga Committees. It was informed that the revised DPR for the Barauni Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) has been received and sent to IIT-BHU for appraisal, while the DPR for Shantipur STPs in West Bengal has been approved by the Executive Committee. Bihar and West Bengal have notified their policies on reuse of treated wastewater, while Jharkhand is in the process of obtaining State Cabinet approval.
