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set to make 250 cities as members session. The main factors that stood
of the RCA before the next annual out during the discussion include
meeting of RCA. 'Water Centric Approach, STP/
fSTP Development with Sewerage
Mr. G. Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG
informed the gathering that the Network, Wastewater Management,
DHARA 2024 will take place in Revival of Water Bodies, Nature-
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and the based Solutions and Groundwater
focus area of the next annual meet Recharge' to be done in sync with
would be the implementation and the city's requirements. Speaking at
action taken under Urban River the session, DG, NMCG said that
Management Plans. Calling RCA an during the research on ‘Catch the
example of working jointly towards Rain’ campaign, it was found that
the cause of River Rejuvenation, there was an immense mismatch
Mr. Kumar said that for Arth in the data being shared amongst
Ganga, NMCG has collaborated different bodies.
with various stakeholders to work
on the six verticals of Arth Ganga A session on ‘financing River
He said that due to industrialization including Zero Budget Natural Related Projects & Interventions’,
and urbanization, the dirty water farming for “more Net income, which was chaired by Ms. Richa
contaminates the rivers, which was per drop”, Monetization and Misra, Joint Secretary and financial
earlier not taken care of. However, Reuse of Sludge & Wastewater, Advisor, Do WR, RD & GR,
under the leadership of the Hon’ble Livelihood Generation Public Ministry of Jal Shakti. The session
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Participation, Cultural Heritage & outlined the different national and
Modi, Namami Gange Programme Tourism and Institutional Building. international funding available for
was launched. Besides, a lot of Memorandums of Understanding river-related projects. International
work is being done in recharging (MoUs) have been signed by organisations such as the World
groundwater. NMCG with 10 stakeholders for Bank, Agence française de
implementation of Arth Ganga. development (AfD), Embassy
Talking about the ecology, he said of Denmark, Department for
that it is our moral responsibility to He emphasized the importance International Development (DfID),
plant trees, which is directly linked of rainwater harvesting and said KfW Development Bank, Japan
with the availability of good oxygen that every city should have natural International Cooperation Agency
as well as clean water. “It is only when fillers as promoted under the Catch (JICA), and Private Enterprises
our rivers will be clean and flowing the Rain campaign launched by (through CSR activities) participated
that we will be able to develop Jal the Hon’ble Prime Minister on in the session. Other session included
Marg across the country,” he said, the occasion of World Water Day ‘Inclusive Riverfront Development’,
adding, “It is for the first time that 2021. He exhorted the Municipal Solid Waste Management’, ‘Nature-
the issue of river pollution is being Commissioners to plan in the next 3 based Solutions’, Inclusive city-
addressed holistically.” He also months so that maximum rainwater wide Sanitation’, ‘The Role of
emphasized the importance of Jan is harvested in the coming monsoon Groundwater for Healthy Rivers’
Andolan in making this programme season. and ‘State-of-the-art Research for
a success. “To mark the Azadi ka Day 2 of DHARA 2023 witnessed River Management’.
Amrit Mahotsav and under the diverse sessions on various aspects
leadership of the Hon’ble Prime of river rejuvenation. The inaugural DHARA 2023 had strong synergies
Minister, the district administrations session of Day 2 on ‘Stories from with the Urban20 (U20) initiative
have been asked to transform local RCA Cities’ was chaired by Mr. G. under the ambit of India’s G20
ponds into Amrit Sarovars. Water Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG. The Presidency. One of the thrust areas
conservation is one of the most experiences from the member- of U20 is to promulgate urban
important focus areas under Azadi cities of Aurangabad, Ayodhya, water security. Healthy rivers have
ka Amrit Mahotsav,” he added. The Gwalior, Moradabad and Pune a vital role to play in enhancing the
Minister said that the target has been were shared during the interactive overall water security of any city.

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