Namami Gange – Cleaning Ganga with Smart Technologies : : Vaid ICS Institute

October 23, 2026

Namami Gange – Cleaning Ganga with Smart Technologies
Syllabus: GS-3 (Environment, Pollution, Water) | GS-2 (Government Schemes)

Launched in June 2014 as a Flagship Programme.
Aim: Clean and rejuvenate River Ganga.
Nodal Body: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Two main goals:
1. Stop pollution
2. Restore the river’s health

Key Numbers:

Namami Gange does not use only one technology.
It chooses the right technology based on:

This is why different places have different solutions.

1. For Big Cities (Large STPs)

Technology	Simple Meaning	Advantage	Places
Food Chain Reactor (FCR)	Uses natural food chain of bacteria and organisms	30–40% less electricity, smaller size, removes nutrients	Kanpur, Prayagraj
Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR)	Treats sewage in one tank in batches	Fully automatic, clean water	Most new STPs
NEREDA	Bacteria form heavy granules that settle fast	50% less space, 40% less power	Haridwar, Varanasi

For Cold & Hilly Areas (Uttarakhand)
Electrocoagulation

3. For Places with Less Land

Multi-Storey STP → India’s first 4-storey STP at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh (7.5 MLD). Saves land in hills.
Johkasou (Japanese) → Ready-made small plants. Easy to install. Used in hotels, ashrams, tourist places.
Soil Biotechnology (SBT) → Uses soil, plants, earthworms. Almost zero electricity. Used at Devprayag.

4. For Villages & Small Places

Constructed Wetlands → Natural ponds with plants (reeds, canna) that clean water. Low cost, creates green space. Used at Bithoor and Chunar.
Faecal Sludge Management (FSSM) → For houses without sewer connection. Tankers collect waste and treat it. Important for full coverage.

5. Extra Smart Features

Biogas from sludge generates electricity (Varanasi STP meets 50% of its own power need).
Solar panels on STPs.
Sludge turned into bio-fertilizer instead of dumping in river.
Old sewers repaired and dirty drains intercepted.

Earlier problem: STPs were built but stopped working due to lack of money or staff.

New Solutions:

Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM):
Government pays 40% cost. Private company builds and runs the plant for 15 years. Payment depends on performance. Ensures good quality water (BOD < 10 mg/L).
One City – One Operator:
One company runs all STPs of a city (example: Kanpur). Saves money and brings expertise.

Water quality improved – Dissolved Oxygen now above 6 mg/L in many places.
Gangetic Dolphin and Hilsa fish have returned in some stretches.
Treated water is reused for farming and industry.
UN recognised Namami Gange as one of the Top 10 World Restoration Flagships.
Same model is now being used for Yamuna and other rivers.

Challenges:

Way Forward: