World Bank to provide 400 million dollars to enhance support for rejuvenating River Ganga

Government has said that World Bank will provide 400 million dollars to enhance support for rejuvenating the Ganga. Finance Ministry said, the World Bank and the Government yesterday signed a loan agreement in this regard. The Second National Ganga River Basin Project will help stem pollution in the iconic river and strengthen the management of the river basin which is home to more than 500 million people.

 

The 400 million dollar operation comprises a loan of 381 million dollar and a proposed Guarantee of up to 19 million dollar. The agreement for the loan was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Qaiser Khan, Acting



Country Director (India), on behalf of the World Bank. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khare said that the Ganga is India’s most important cultural, economic and environmental resource, and the government’s Namami Gange program seeks to ensure that the river returns to a pollution-free, ecologically healthy state.

 

The new project will extend the Government and World Bank’s engagement in this critical national programme to make the Ganga a clean, healthy river. The World Bank has been supporting the government’s efforts since 2011 through the ongoing National Ganga River Basin Project.