Context: Minister of State for Jal Shakti has informed Lok Sabha about the Arth Ganga Model and the initiatives taken to promote the reuse of treated water.

Arth Ganga Model

• Origin: In 2019, PM first introduced the concept of Arth Ganga during the first National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur where he urged for a shift from Namami Gange (cleaning of Ganga) to the model of Arth Ganga. 

• Definition: The Arth Ganga focuses on the sustainable development of the Ganga and its surrounding areas, by focusing on economic activities related to the river.

• The Arth Ganga model seeks to use economics to bridge people with the river. It strives to contribute at least 3% of the GDP from the Ganga Basin itself.

Features: Under Arth Ganga, the government is working on six verticals:

1. Zero Budget Natural Farming: It involves chemical-free farming on 10 km on either side of the river, and the promotion of cow dung as fertilizer through the GOBARdhan scheme. 

2. Monetization and Reuse of Sludge & Wastewater: It seeks to reuse treated water for irrigation, industries and revenue generation for Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

3. Livelihood Generation Opportunities by creating haats where people can sell local products, medicinal plants and ayurveda. 

4. Increase public participation by increasing synergies between the stakeholders involved with the river. 

5. Promote the cultural heritage and tourism of Ganga and its surroundings, through boat tourism, adventure sports and conducting yoga activities. 

6. Promote institutional building by empowering local administration for improved water governance.

Key initiatives taken by the government to promote the reuse of treated water

• National Framework for Safe Reuse of Treated Wastewater: It has been published by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).The framework gives guidelines for the formulation of State reuse policy and is intended to build appropriate market and economic models for the reuse of treated wastewater.

• Centre of Excellence(CoE) on water reuse has been established in partnership with The Energy Research Institute (TERI) on Water Reuse at the TERI Headquarters in New Delhi. 

• Thermal Power Plants(TPPs) are required by the Ministry of Power’s Tariff Policy 2016 to use treated sewage water from Sewage Treatment Plants(STPs) operated by municipalities or other local authorities located within a 50 km radius.

• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has formulated a charter based participatory approach to facilitate the industries for water recycling and pollution prevention in major industrial sectors like Pulp & Paper, Sugar, Textile and Tannery in river Ganga main stem states.

• Industry Specific Improvement: Reuse and recycling of wastewater in Industries has been promoted in water intensive grossly polluting industrial units along river Ganga.