Latest news with #DistrictGangaCommittee
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
World Environment Day: Noida citizens unite for Yamuna's revival
NOIDA: Dozens of young volunteers, civic officials, and environmental groups joined hands for a cleanup and awareness drive on Thursday morning on the banks of Yamuna river located in Sector 94, Noida, showcasing their shared sense of environmental responsibility. The event, organised by the YSS Foundation to mark the World Environment Day (June 5) in collaboration with the District Ganga Committee (Gautam Budh Nagar), Noida authority, forest department, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and other civil society groups, involved volunteers cleaning the riverbank, collecting plastic waste, and raising awareness about sustainable lifestyles. 'Plastic pollution is no less than a modern demon—it silently damages our soil, our rivers, and even our minds and economy. Today's effort is not just a cleanup exercise, it's a wake-up call for all of us,' said officer on special duty (OSD, health) Indu Prakash. The official described plastic pollution a modern-day 'demon', warning its far-reaching effects on mental well-being apart from environment. 'When youth take ownership of environmental issues, real change becomes possible. Our aim is not just to clean the Yamuna for a day but to spark a movement where every young person feels responsible for the environment. This river is not just water—it's life, heritage, and future all at once', said Sachin Gupta, director, YSS Foundation. The event was participated included deputy divisional forest officer, Abhishek Kumar, District Ganga Committee official Amit Kumar, president Sharda Hope and Harmony Foundation Prashant Rathore, director YSS Foundation Gupta, senior social activists Vikram Sethi and Durga Prasad Dubey, teams from Noida authority's health department and Yuva Shakti volunteers. Attendees also vowed to protect the Yamuna, reduce plastic usage, and commit to continuous efforts for river cleanliness, underscoring the urgency of sustained civic action in view of escalating environmental challenges. Organisers also stressed that such grassroots participation is essential for the success of broader initiatives like the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Gomti's revival drifts off course as Dist Ganga Committee meets after two months
Amid the search for concrete steps to improve the Gomti's deteriorating health, the District Ganga Committee (DGC) meeting held here on Tuesday turned out to be a big disappointment. The committee met after a gap of two months. (Mushtaq Ali/HT) Contrary to the expectations, the meeting, chaired by chief development officer (CDO) Ajay Jain in the absence of the Lucknow district magistrate, failed to come up with any effective plan to curb the flow of around 280 MLD (million litres per day) of untreated sewage into the river. Its focus was rather on planning new gateways and pathways in the name of beautification. Faecal coliform in the river, at Kudiaghat in the state capital, is 40,000 MPN (most probable number)/100ml against the maximum permissible limit of 2,500 MPN/100ml, according to the latest data available with experts. At Nishatganj bridge and Pipraghat, it was 49,000 and 79,000 MPN/100ml in March. Despite the high pollution levels, the committee, on Tuesday, confined itself to discussions only on the construction of gateways and a mandap on the Gomti. There was no dialogue even on deteriorating dissolved oxygen (DO) levels—a key marker for aquatic life—which drops from 10.7 mg/L at Manjhighat to just 2.9 mg/L at Kudiaghat, and then to a deadly 1.6 mg/L at Pipraghat. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), which is an indicator for organic pollution, rises from 3.10 at Manjhighat to 8.20 at Kudiaghat and peaks to 12 at Pipraghat — levels far beyond safe limits for human use. Flows 960 km through 16 dists In 2014, when the Central government set up the Namami Gange Programme a sum of ₹ 20,000 crore was sanctioned for the rejuvenation and conservation of the Ganga. Also called National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), its state units are headed by chief secretaries of the respective states. At the district level, the programme's implementation is done by District Ganga Committees that are headed by district magistrates with DFOs as their member secretary. The Gomti also comes under the scope of the programme since it is a major tributary of the Ganga. It originates from Madhotanda in Puranpur block of Pilibhit and meets the Ganga at Kaithi Ghat in Ghazipur. It covers a distance of 960 km and passes through 16 districts. DGC planning Gomti Aarti, beautification When concrete mechanisms to conserve and preserve the Gomti did not evoke the desired results, the district committee, in its meeting held on Tuesday, looked beyond sewage treatment plant (STPs) and discussed appealing to the religious sentiments of people when they ask them to keep the Gomti clean. CDO Ajay Jain was the nodal officer who chaired the meeting and divisional forest officer (DFO) Sitanshu Pandey, the member secretary, was among those present. Both officials did the icebreaking by briefing members about the formation of Gomti Task Force and how the district administration was always relentlessly working for the conservation of the river. During the meeting, the irrigation department was requested to find a particular location along the ghat where a grand gateway could be constructed and a mandap could be built for daily Gomti Aarti on the lines of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi and Haridwar. For the construction of the gateway and 'aarti' mandap, four places were identified. They are: Kudiya Ghat, Ghaila Ghat, Laxman Mela Ground and another one near the G20 ghat. While the irrigation department has been tasked with identifying the area, PWD officials were asked to send the estimate regarding this, which would be sent to the State Mission for Clean Ganga for its approval and funding. Jaldoot and a member of the DGC NK Verma claimed that the idea of a gateway was proposed by him, and it was included in the minutes of the meeting. The DFO said a massive tree plantation would be taken up all along the river ghats and several departments would be allocated saplings. It was also discussed that Ganga village committee meeting halls would be constructed in places from where the Gomti flows so that locals willing to render their services to keep the river clean could hold their periodical meetings there. Meanwhile, the DFO said the Gomti Task Force was bound to play an important role in conserving the river and the district committee would help in spreading public awareness. The task force, a specialised unit by Indian army's territorial wing, has been formed under the aegis of Namami Gange with approval from the Union ministry of defence. Its objective is to rejuvenate and protect the Gomti. Its responsibilities are monitoring the pollution level in the river, spreading public awareness, patrolling the riverbanks and ghats so that no waste is littered on the river, stabilising riverbanks and to seek assistance during natural disasters.
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Noida to save environment with people's drive
GREATER NOIDA:The Gautam Budh Nagar administration is all set to involve local residents in a major environmental push to protect wetlands and crack down on pollution through an upcoming plantation drive, officials said on Friday. Chairing a joint meeting of the District Ganga Committee and Environment Committee on Thursday, additional district magistrate (ADM) (finance & revenue) Atul Kumar directed officials to transform an upcoming plantation drive whose date is yet to be finalised into a mass movement by involving the RWAs, students, NGOs, and industrial units, said an official aware of the development. Departments have been asked to finalise sites for tree plantation by next meeting, and ensure 100% geo-tagging of all previously planted trees. The ADM also stressed on transparency and verification, calling for immediate submission of plantation audit reports. 'This plantation drive must not be another checkbox activity. We want it to become a true people's movement involving RWAs, school students, NGOs, and industrial units. Departments must finalise plantation sites, geo-tag all previous plantations, and submit verified audit reports without delay. Transparency is non-negotiable,' said Kumar. On environmental violations, official were told to launch joint crackdowns on overloaded trucks and vehicles carrying uncovered construction material—major contributors to dust pollution in the region. Immediate FIRs have been mandated in cases of garbage burning, with strict penalties for violators. Development authorities have also been ordered to take concrete action to manage construction & demolition waste and legacy garbage dumps, ensuring adherence to NGT and pollution board norms. In a boost to Ganga and Hindon river cleanliness efforts, a special sanitation campaign will soon be launched along the banks, including at Sector 94 and Chhijarsi ghats, district officials said.
