Nitin Gadkari, the Indian minister responsible for the Ganga rejuvenation portfolio, has received a £50 million commitment for his project during his recent three day visit to London. He confirmed the news in a press conference last week. At an Indian Journalists' Association dinner, he mentioned Anil Agarwal of Vedanta Resources and Ravi Mehrotra of Foresight Shipping as contributors, along with the Hinduja family and Sri Prakash Lohia of the Indorama Corporation. The four major players will develop and improve ghats and other infrastructure work at Haridwar, Gangasagar, Patna and Kanpur.
Gadkari also announced Shiva Nadar's name, stating that he has pledged £20 million for the Varanasi segment of the river. He said he hoped to roll out a green replica of London's iconic red double decker buses in India. “The Patna riverfront responsibility has been given to Anil Agarwal. We have a plan but they can change the plan... and for 15 years they are responsible for maintenance and operation.”
“Ravi Mehrotra is ready to take Kanpur,” he added. Speaking about the Indian government, he said they were planting 100 million trees along riverfronts. “And we are planning to clean the lakes, gardening, landscaping, and things that are important from the tourism point of view.” The idea, the minister said, was to give the responsibility of maintaining the banks of the holy river, to corporates and industries. “The big people, those who are having an emotional attachment with Ganga. This is the plan.”
“Pollution of water is a big problem in the Ganga. Many people from India, their faith, respect, and sentiments are related to the Ganga and I feel your cooperation is s a big part,” Gadkari said. The minister was in London to attend the 30th Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation and drum up support among UK corporates for his Clean Ganga Mission, a project for which the Indian government has committed £2 billion.
