Context: Recently, the Prime Minister reviewed the plans being envisaged for implementing “Project Arth Ganga” which implies a sustainable development model with a focus on economic activities related to Ganga.
About Arth-Ganga project

• This project will result in inclusive growth and play a key role in the generation of enormous employment opportunities in the National Waterways stretch.
• Almost half of the Indian population lives around the Ganges River belt in which about 1/5th of all India’s freight originates and 1/3rd terminates in the states around Ganges Belt.
• Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is deploying small floating jetties and ten (10) Ro-Ro vessels for easier and cost-effective transportation of goods/cargo 
• Ministry of Shipping is developing Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) Freight Village and Sahibganj (Jharkhand) Industrial Cluster-cum-Logistics Park with an objective of creating synergy with Inland Waterways at the cost of Rs. 200 crores. 
• National Waterway-1 will act as the main conduit of connection with Nepal in a trilateral manner, which is from Varanasi to Nautanwa (280 km), Kaughat to Raxaul (204 km) and Sahibganj to Biratnagar (233 km).

Significance

• With the call to ‘Reform, Perform and Transform’,  Cargo volume on Ganga will be increased by 4 times with special focus on developing inland waterways.
• The Arth-Ganga project will boost economic development and inclusive growth for farmers, small traders and villagers.
• Farmers should be encouraged to engage in sustainable agriculture practices, including zero budget farming, planting of fruit trees and building plant nurseries on the banks of Ganga.
• Priority would be given to women Self Help Groups and ex-servicemen organizations for these programs.
• Creation of infrastructure for water sports and development of campsites, cycling and walking tracks etc. to tap the ‘hybrid’ tourism potential of the river basin area- for religious purposes as well as adventure tourism.
• The Farmers will get a better return for their produce as the transportation of goods would become easier and cost effective by this. It will improve ‘Ease of Living’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business.’

Initiatives taken so far

• The Arth-Ganga project is a sustainable development model with a focus on economic activities related to River Ganga.
• The Jal Marg Vikas Project aimed to develop river Ganges as a safe mode of navigation and is being implemented with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank.
• ‘Project Arth Ganga’ envisages to re-engineer the JMVP by involving the local community to energise the economic activity along the Ganga river bank.
• The Ministry of Shipping has taken several initiatives in the last few years which has resulted in substantial growth in-terms of increasing Inland Cruises from 3 to 9, Cargo from 30,00,000 MT to 70,00,000 MT, and Vessels in-flow from 300 to 700.
• Development of small jetties have been carried out for the benefit of small communities especially for farmers, traders and general public in the 1400 km stretch of National Waterway-1 from Banaras to Haldia.
• National Waterway- 1 will act as a main conduit of connection with Nepal in a trilateral manner, i.e. from Varanasi to Nautanwa (280km), Kaughatto Raxaul (204km) and Sahibganj to Biratnagar (233km).
• Earlier Nepal was connected by Kolkata and Visakhapatnam Ports for transporting cargo. Now, Inland Waterways, particularly NW-1 will be allowed under the Treaty for Transit of Cargo between Government of India and Government of Nepal.