National River Conservation Plan (NRCP)

The Centrally sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is being implemented by the central Government jointly with the State Government on a cost-sharing basis. The pollution abatement works under NRCP presently cover identified polluted stretches of 39 major rivers in 185 towns spread over 20 States in the country. The sanctioned cost of the projects under NRCP is Rs . 8100.48 crore (including Rs.433 croreincurred under GAP-I). A sewage treatment capacity of 4417 mld has been created under River Action Plans.

Pollution Abatement Works  So far
The following pollution abatement works are taken up:
(i)                 Interception and Diversion works to capture the raw sewage flowing into the river through open drains and divert them for treatment . (I&D)
(ii)               Sewage Treatment Plants for treating the diverted sewage. (STP)
(iii)             Low Cost Sanitation works to prevent open defecation on river banks . (LCS)
(iv)             Electric Crematoria and Improved Wood Crematoria and Improved Wood Crematoria to conserve the use of wood and help in ensuring proper cremation of bodies brought to the buring ghats. (EC&IWC)
(v)               River Front Development works such as improvement of bathing ghats etc. (RED)
(vi)             Other Measures like plantation, public awareness etc.

Funding Pattern for NRCP
The funding pattern for the river cleaning programme has undergone several changes over the years. The GAP Phase I which started in 1985 was a 100% Centrally funded scheme. The funding pattern has changed to 50:50 between the Central Government and the State Governments in 1993. This was revised again to 100% GOI funding w.e.f. 01.04.1997. The funding pattern is 70:30 between Centre and States with effect from 01.04.2001. The Yamuna Action Plan is being implemented with a funding pattern of 85:15 between the Central Government and the State Governments.

Fund Outlay for NRCP in  XI Plan
An amount of Rs. 2065 crore has been provided in the XI Plan (2007-2012) for works under NRCP against the estimated requirement of Rs. 8303 crores, as assessed in the Report by the Working Group on Rivers, Lakes and Aquifers constituted by the Planning Commission.
Shortcomings in Implementation
A town approach adopted instead of a holistic river basin approach before constitution of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA).
(i)                 Increasing gap between requirement of Sewage treatment infrastructure and actual pollution load being tackled due to continuous increase in population in towns along the river banks, inadequate financial resources invested in river cleaning.
(ii)               Delays in completion of schemes due to lack of inter-agency coordination at field level, delays in acquisition of land for STPs & Pumping stations, contractual problems, court cases, etc. leading to cost overruns.
(iii)             Shortage of Skilled manpower and regular staff and inadequate provision of funds by the States and ULBs for O&M of the sewage treatment infrastructure.
(iv)             Erratic/ non-availability of power supply for operation of operation of assets, under – utilization of STPs, in some cases , due to non-conveyance of sewage generated in the absence of upstream systems such as branch sewers & house connections.
(v)                Lack of involvement of civil society in the programme.