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about the cooperation between
India and Denmark on sustainable
and reliable water and green agenda.
“Water is a source of life, but it is
also essential to the quality of life.
Partnership with India is more than
just technology, it is about cities,
communities, access to clean water
and creating a world that is better
and more sustainable”, he noted.
programmes with focus on biodiversity. The sightings of
holistic and sustainable ecosystem Gangetic Dolphin, Turtles and He said that in 2020, India and
comprising water, land, food, energy, Hilsa fish have increased indicating Denmark joined forces to form
economic and urban development. the improved health.” a strategic partnership with water
as one of the key pillars of the
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Mr. Shekhawat said that India has collaboration to ensure clean
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union commitment investments of more water for a growing population.
Minister for Jal Shakti reminded than 240 billion dollars in the water With Denmark equipped with
how the history of mankind and sector and is also implementing the best technology and adding
civilization thrived on the banks of the largest dam rehabilitation new regulations to improve their
the rivers. “The connection between programme in the world as well as water sector, he aimed to make
the rivers and the people is not just efforts to restore the groundwater Denmark climate neutral by 2030.
sacred, but the rivers are worshipped situation in the country. He emphasized that with necessary
and revered as Mothers in India,” he Mr. Shekhawat emphasized the technology, right framework
said, adding, “Ganga has a special importance of public participation conditions, and good partnerships,
place in Indian context as it is a holy in making Namami Gange a success we can together recover from the
and pristine river and caters to 43% and acknowledged the contribution emerging water crisis.
of the population and form around of the local people living on the He said that good cooperation
23% of the geographical area. banks of the river, who came between government, businesses
together to make the Namami
Mr. Shekhawat said that Namami Gange Programme a success. “With and especially, between countries
Gange Mission was launched in millions of people connecting is essential. To come up with new
2014 under the leadership of Prime and interacting with the riverine solutions and make our communities
Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in ecosystem, there has been a massive more resilient against effects of
view of the deteriorating health surge in awareness on river related climate change, we need to come
of River Ganga and its ecosystem issues,” he said. Mr. Shekhawat together and share our technologies,
due to urbanization on its banks. noted that in comparison to other he remarked.
“Namami Gange Mission was river restoration programmes in Giving an overview of the Namami
launched with a mandate and vision the world including the Danube Gange Programme, Mr. G. Asok
for restoring Nirmalta and Aviralta and Thames, NMCG was able to Kumar, Director General, National
of River Ganga. furthermore, the get positive results in Clean Ganga Mission for Clean Ganga expressed
aim is to not just restore Ganga Mission in just 6-7 years. his privilege to speak about one of
to its pristine glory, but also help India’s flagship programmes, which
the local population connect with H.E. Magnus Heunicke, Minister has now become one of the flagship
its traditional wisdom,” he said, for Environment, Denmark programmes of the World.
adding, “NMCG has successfully remarked that water is of utmost
created a robust sewerage treatment importance for millions of DG, NMCG mentioned the five
infrastructure across cities and people for their health, economy, important pillars of Namami
towns along the Ganges resulting ecosystem, biodiversity, culture, Gange Programme – Nirmal
in improved water quality and history, and religion. He spoke Ganga (unpolluted river), Aviral

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