Namami Gange Gets Its ‘Bhagirath’? 80 Per Cent Ganga To Be Clean By March, And 100 Per Cent By 2020, Says Gadkari

Speaking at a book launch yesterday (6 December), Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that he expects 70-80 per cent of the Ganga to be cleaned by the end of March next year, and the river to be fully cleansed by March 2020, reports The New Indian Express. He also said that road construction is right on track to hit 40 km a day by next March.

"By the end of March, 70-80 per cent of the Ganga will be cleaned, and my feeling is that by March 2020, the river will be 100 per cent clean," Gadkari stated.

He stated that Rs 26,000 crores is going to be spent for cleaning up the Ganga under the National Mission for Clean Ganga.

As Gadkari also holds the portfolios of roads & highways and ports & shipping, he was also questioned about the dip in GDP growth in the second quarter. GDP growth had sobered to 7.1 per cent from 8.2 per cent growth in the first quarter; however Gadkari stated India remains the fastest growing major economy in the world.

He also said that a lot more work needs still needs to be done to upgrade road infrastructure, even as road construction has risen from 2 km to 28 km per day during Gadkari’s tenure. He revealed that 12 new expressways are presently under construction across the country.