The government today said that it has approved 20,000 crore rupees for rejuvenating the Ganga river. The Namami Ganga programme envisages cent per cent funding by the central government to clean the entire river. Informing this in the Lok Sabha, water resources and Ganga rejuvenation minister Uma Bharti in a written reply said that during this financial year 2750 crore rupees have been allocated including 100 crore rupees for ghat works.

She said the state project management group would monitor the work. Ms Bharti said the defence ministry has agreed to raise one battalion initially for the logistics. She informed the Uttar Pradesh state pollution control board has issued closure directions to 98 tanneris for operating without the consent of the Board on the directions of the National Green Tribunal.