IN National Ganga River Basin Project

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The objectives of the National Ganga River Basin Project for India are to support the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in: (a) building capacity of its nascent operational-level institutions, so that they can manage the long-term Ganga clean-up and conservation program; and (b) implementing a diverse set of demonstrative investments for reducing point-source pollution loads in a sustainable manner, at priority locations on the Ganga. There are two components to the project, the first component being institutional development. The objectives of this component are to build functional capacity of the NGRBA's operational institutions at both the central and state levels, and to provide support to associated institutions for implementing the NGRBA program. Its sub-components include: (i) NGRBA operationalization and program management, (ii) technical assistance for Urban Local Body (ULB) service providers, and (iii) technical assistance for environmental regulators. The second component is the priority infrastructure investments. The objective of this component is to finance demonstrative infrastructure investments to reduce pollution loads in priority locations on the river. The four main sectors of investments are: municipal wastewater management, industrial pollution control, solid waste management and river front management. The investments are intended to exemplify, among other attributes, the high standards of technical preparation and implementation, sustainability of operations, and public participation envisaged in the NGRBA framework. This component will also support innovative pilots, for new and transformative technologies or implementation arrangements.