Ganga Ghats

Ganga Ghats
National Mission for Clean Ganga has sanctioned a project “Development of Area around Assi Ghat, Varanasi” under National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) at an estimated cost of Rs. 27.28 crores. The project is to be implemented by Government of Uttar Pradesh. However the works on the project have currently been stopped under directions of Hon’ble High Court.

Under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assisted Ganga Action Plan-II (GAP-II) project at Varanasi, Ghat Improvement at an estimated cost of Rs. 496.90 crore is being undertaken at 26 bathing ghats and 9 dhobighats at Varanasi. Work of improvement of 11 bathing ghats has been completed; repair & renovation work for 7 bathing ghats is in progress while work for remaining 8 ghats is yet to be awarded. Of the 9 dhobighats, 6 ghats are to be developed a new while 3 existing ghats are to be improved. The work on construction of 2 new dhobighats and improvement of 3 existing ghats has been awarded and work is in progress. While work for 4 new dhobighats is yet to be awarded.

Uttar Pradesh State Programme Management Group (UPSPMG) has submitted a concept note on “Ghat & Kund development in the city of Varanasi (Development of area around panch pandav kund, Pushkar Kund and Trilochan-Gola-Nandeshwar Ghats, Varanasi heritage tour and IEC & capacity development activities)”. The concept note has been approved by NMCG and State has been requested to submit the DPR for the same.

During 2014 – 15, a budgetary provision of Rs. 100 crore was kept for Ghat works for beautification of River fronts including ghats of Varanasi. The State Governments have been requested for expediting proposals for river front development by suitably selecting the locations on the banks of Ganga and taking action for preparation of DPRs.

This information was given by Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Prof. Sanwar Lal Jat in a written reply in Lok Sabha 30 APRIL.