Banaras has always been identified with Baba Vishwanath but Modiji said that he had been called here by the Ganga. Ganga was thus present in the election atmosphere. When he extended the cabinet, he established a ministry for the Ganga. Some unprecedented things have happened in these elections. This is the first time in the world that a Ministry has the name of a particular river in its title.
On October 20, there was a meeting of the Empowered Steering Committee in which they prepared an agenda which was approved in a meeting of the Ganga River Basin Authority. In this meeting, representatives of all five concerned states as well as of all concerned Ministries were present. In the end, we took some decisions about the Ganga's aviralta (unimpeded flow) and nirmalta (unpolluted flow). We will begin to implement these decisions in 45 days. The impacts of these will be seen over varying periods, with some making themselves felt in one-and-a-half years and the others in twice that time.
I invited the man who had created the original concept to Delhi and organised a meeting with officials there. Now, I will organise a meeting where all the corporators of the cities along the Ganga from Gangotri to Gangasagar will be invited. A presentation on the Sabarmati will be done, which will show them how this riverfront development needs to be done.
I have determined that this riverfront development will be done (in Varanasi), keeping in mind all the respect that is due to this city. All the components that go together to comprise an unpolluted river will be looked after.
We have determined that the treated and untreated waters will not enter the Ganga. We have requested the industries to present us with their pollution treatment plans. The state and national Pollution Control Boards have also met. I asked them to tell us how pollution can be prevented from entering the Ganga. The Ministry is ready to give any assistance that is needed but the pollution must be stopped.
I have had a very clear talk with the industries. The Kanpur tanneries and slaughterhouses have extended their full support to making the Ganga pollution-free. They have put forward the challenges they are facing and I have directed the state Pollution Control Board to pay attention to these challenges and work towards relieving them. So far, the governments of all the five states concerned have extended their support to the Ministry and have entered into the minutes that they will follow all its directions.
I say that this unity and this cooperation has been brought about by Ma Ganga and not by us. I am just the face of a massive dedicated effort and many blessings.
I will again say that after Bhagirath, Modi-ji has been born to work for the Ganga. With these words I do pranaam to all those on the dais and my namaskaars to the audience.
'Ganga Maiyya ki Jai'.