Main Objective of the Ganga Action Plan

Ganga Action Plan (GAP): Cleaning India's Sacred River

Launched by the Government of India on June 14, 1985, the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was a 100% centrally sponsored scheme with a single overarching goal:

Primary Objective

Pollution abatement of the River Ganga to restore its water quality to at least "Bathing Class" standards (BOD ≤ 3 mg/L, DO ≥ 5 mg/L, Total Coliform ≤ 10,000 MPN/100 ml).

Strategy: Interception, Diversion & Treatment

• Interception & Diversion (I&D): Capture raw sewage flowing directly into the river via nalas (drains) and divert it to treatment plants.
• Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs): Build/upgrade STPs along the 2,525 km course (Gangotri to Ganga Sagar) covering 25 towns in Phase I, later expanded.
• Low-Cost Sanitation: Community/pour-flush toilets in rural areas to stop open defecation near banks.
• Industrial Effluent Treatment: Enforce Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) / effluent standards for grossly polluting industries (tanneries, distilleries, pulp & paper, sugar).
• Riverfront Development: Crematoria (electric/improved wood), bathing ghats, solid waste management.

Phases & Evolution

• GAP-I (1985–2000): Focus on 25 Class I towns in UP, Bihar, WB.
• GAP-II (1993–2004): Extended to tributaries (Yamuna, Damodar, Gomti) and more towns.
• Namami Gange (2014–present): Integrated conservation mission (₹20,000 cr) subsuming GAP, adding biodiversity, afforestation, public awareness, and real-time monitoring.

Persistent Challenges

• Massive population density (400M+ in basin).
• Inadequate sewerage networks & STP capacity utilization.
• Industrial non-compliance & illegal dumping.
• Funding delays, O&M failures, governance fragmentation.

While GAP reduced point-source pollution, the Ganga remains heavily polluted. Namami Gange aims for a holistic, basin-wide approach with stricter accountability.