Namami Gange Mission Progress Update 2025-2026

The Ministry of Jal Shakti provided a comprehensive update on the Namami Gange Mission-II (NGM-II) achievements through a written reply in Lok Sabha. During 2025, the mission implemented 70 sewerage infrastructure projects, including the commissioning of 25 sewage treatment plants (STPs). As of June 2026, the programme has generated 4,263 MLD of sewage treatment capacity under the Namami Gange Programme.

River Pollution Status Improvement

According to the CPCB report on Polluted River Stretch (PRS) 2025, the Ganga main stem shows significant improvements compared to 2018. Uttarakhand's stretch from Haridwar to Sultanpur, previously classified as Priority IV, has been completely removed from the polluted river stretch list. West Bengal shows improvement with its stretch moving from Priority III to V classification. Uttar Pradesh shows partial improvement with pollution shifting from Kannauj to Varanasi to Bijnor to Tarighat, remaining at Priority IV/V. Bihar maintains marginal pollution levels from Bhagalpur D/S to Khalgaon D/S at Priority V, while Jharkhand continues to have no polluted stretches.

Biodiversity Conservation Achievements

Bio-monitoring conducted during 2024-25 at 50 locations along River Ganga and its tributaries and 26 locations along River Yamuna showed biological water quality predominantly ranging from 'Good' to 'Moderate'. The programme has documented 3,037 gharials through scientific surveys covering 7,680 km of river stretches, leading to the preparation of the National Gharial Conservation Action Plan. Significant infrastructure includes the establishment of the National Centre for River Research at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, and four Aquatic Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centres along with India's first Dolphin Rescue Ambulance.

The mission has rescued and rehabilitated approximately 6,800 aquatic animals. Conservation breeding programmes have produced more than 1,500 freshwater turtle hatchlings, with 711 turtles released into River Ganga and 893 gharial yearlings and 1,899 turtles released into their natural habitats. The programme supports the release and monitoring of Critically Endangered Red-crowned Roofed Turtle through Turtle Survival Alliance Foundation India (TSAFI).

Fisheries and Habitat Restoration

Scientific assessments documented 215 fish species (206 native and 9 exotic) in River Ganga. In collaboration with ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), NMCG has ranched approximately 2.05 crore fish seeds comprising Indian Major Carps, Mahseer and Hilsa in the Ganga and its tributaries. The programme has developed seven 'Ganga Biodiversity Parks' in Uttar Pradesh and conducted afforestation over 33,024 hectares using native species across five Ganga basin States. Community participation includes mobilization of more than 5,500 'Ganga Praharis' across 113 districts.

Wetland Conservation and Dolphin Population

NMCG has supported scientific identification and prioritization of ecologically important wetlands across Ganga basin States, assisting in preparation of Wetland Management Plans and notification under Wetlands Rules, 2017. Wetland restoration has expanded across Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, resulting in the Government of Uttar Pradesh recently notifying 20 wetlands. According to the first nationwide population estimation (2021–2023), the estimated population of Gangetic Dolphin in India is 6,327 individuals.

Comprehensive Pollution Abatement Measures

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has undertaken 219 sewerage infrastructure projects with an estimated cost of ₹35,970 crores, targeting 6,610 MLD sewage treatment capacity. Of these, 146 projects with 4,263 MLD capacity have been completed. For industrial pollution abatement, three Common Effluent Treatment Plants have been sanctioned: Jajmau CETP (20 MLD), Banther CETP (4.5 MLD) and Mathura CETP (6.25 MLD), with Mathura and Jajmau CETPs completed.

Additional measures include successful implementation of minimum e-flow norms notified in October 2018, monitored by Central Water Commission; conservation and restoration of priority wetlands as Nature-based Solutions; riparian afforestation and restoration of degraded riverine habitats; protection of Gangetic Dolphin, gharial, freshwater turtles, and indigenous fish species; strengthening ecological monitoring through WII and ICAR–CIFRI; and expanding community-led conservation through Ganga Prahari network.