A CAG report has come to light regarding the ambitious scheme Namami Gange being run by the Central Government to clean the country’s longest river Ganga. A major part of the money given by the central government to improve the sewerage system of Patna under Namami Gange has not been spent, due to which the project is running behind its schedule.
According to the CAG report tabled in the Bihar Assembly, the Bihar State Ganga River Conservation and Program Management Society (BGCMS) has not spent Rs 684 crore out of the funds given by the Center during the last four years.
The report said that out of the funds received between the financial years 2016-17 to 2019-20, only 16 to 50 percent of the funds have been utilised. At the same time, the National Mission for Clean Ganga has also released the next installment of the fund without ensuring the expenditure of the amount released in the previous installment, as a result of which about Rs 683 crore has been deposited in the savings account of BGCMS.
Questioning the sewer system of Patna in the CAG report, it was said that after Kolkata in eastern India, the sewer system of Patna is more than 200 years old, whose condition is very bad.
Due to paucity of sewer system, the quantity of Total Coliform (TC) and Fecal Coliform (FC) increased from 9000 MPN/per 100ml in the year 2016-17 and 3100 MPN/per 100ml both in 2019-20 to 1,60,000 MPN. /100 ml is done. At the same time, the report finally said that the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (BIDCO), which is responsible for the implementation of the project, has also failed to adhere to the prescribed time limit for completing the works.
The Managing Director of BIDCO said that they have not received the CAG report yet, but we will soon complete the work of all STPs in Patna.