The central government is planning to develop 75 sites along the Ganga River as eco-tourism hubs. The move is aimed at promoting sustainable tourism. The initiative will give a boost to the National Mission for Clean Ganga. By Karan Kaushik
75 sites along river Ganga to be developed into hubs of sustainable economic development and tourism
The union government plans to develop 75 sites along the banks of river Ganga and its tributaries as eco-tourism hubs. The initiative has been recently launched by Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The move aims to promote sustainable tourism. Under this initiative, the government will promote activities like village tours, river walks, jungle safaris, and biodiversity watches.
The government will also help homestays, and health and wellness centres at the chosen sites. The initiative is aimed at providing a sustainable environment for the marine life supported by the Ganga. The central government has undertaken several initiatives under its flagship programme Namami Gange Project for the conservation of the river.
One of the major objectives of MoU is to identify 75 villages in 5 states and designate it as ‘Sahakar Ganga Grams’.
It will also facilitate marketing of natural farming/organic produce under brand #Ganga through creation of market linkages, etc. #ArthGanga #NamamiGange pic.twitter.com/5sw7zVBnH7— Namami Gange | #IndiaFightsCorona (@cleanganganmcg) August 16, 2022
The latest initiative is aligned with the government’s Arth Ganga mission to provide livelihood activities. As part of the initiative, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has already started the development work at 26 sites across six states. With this project, the government aims to develop the river basin as an economic hub and boost livelihood generation. The initiative is also in accordance with the government’s Jalaj initiative for the rejuvenation of the river.
The government will assign specific activities to the chosen sites based on their geographical conditions and the availability of natural resources. Some of the states where these sites have been selected include Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.
Naitala and Matli Village in Uttarkashi, Katiya and Sukratal Ghat in Muzaffarnagar, Sangam ghat in Prayagraj, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Sanjhekhali Sundarban Tiger Reserve, and Gharial Centre in Morena are among the prominent sites selected for the project.
Feature and hero image courtesy: Shutterstock
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