Read the paragraph below and answer the given question:
Ganga Action Plan Phase I (GAP I) was the first attempt of Government to clean the river Ganga. The plan was formulated on the basis of a comprehensive survey of the Ganga basin carried out by the CPCB in 1984. According to the CPCB survey, the total sewage generated from 25 Class I towns in 1985 was estimated as 1340 million litres per day (mld). Out of this, due to resource crunch, pollution abatement works corresponding to 882 mld only (65% at that time) were taken up under GAP Phase I. To accomplish this task, a total of 261 projects of pollution abatement covering these 25 towns in three States were sanctioned at a cost of 462 crore. Of these, 259 projects have been completed and the remaining two projects of sewage treatment plants in Bihar (STPs at Patna & Munger) are in the final stage of completion. These projects have been delayed due to litigation and the State Government has been asked to complete the same at the earliest. The GAP I was declared closed in 31st March, 2000. The completion cost of GAP Phase I including the cost of these two works is ₹452 crore out of which an expenditure of ₹433 crores has been incurred by the State Governments. Under this plan, a sewage treatment capacity of 865 mld has been created.
The main objective of Ganga action plan is:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → to clean the river ganga from pollution
Option (1) to create recreational activities at the banks of Ganga — Incorrect. The Ganga Action Plan was a pollution-control programme. It aimed at building sewage treatment plants so that only treated sewage is discharged into the river, not at recreation on its banks.
Option (2) to promote religious activities at Ganga banks — Incorrect. The plan was about cleaning the river of pollution, mainly untreated sewage, not about promoting religious activities on its banks.
Option (3) to increase Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of Ganga — Incorrect. BOD measures how much organic waste the water carries; a higher BOD means more pollution. The plan aimed to lower the river’s BOD by treating sewage, not to increase it.
Option (4) to clean the river ganga from pollution — Correct. Under the Ganga Action Plan the Ministry of Environment and Forests set up sewage treatment plants so that only treated sewage goes into the river. Its aim was to clean the Ganga of pollution.
NCERT Extract:
Microbes in Sewage Treatment – “… The Ministry of Environment and Forests has initiated Ganga Action Plan and Yamuna Action Plan to save these major rivers of our country from pollution. Under these plans, it is proposed to build a large number of sewage treatment plants so that only treated sewage may be discharged in the rivers.”