Meerut: Union minister Nitin Gadkari today said the central government is giving priority to making river Ganga pollution free and there is no dearth of funds for the Clean Ganga mission.
Projects worth crores of rupees have been launched to make river Ganga pollution free. A number of ghats and gardens would be built on its banks boosting tourism and provide a source of income for at least 10 lakh youths, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
He was speaking at a symposium on preservation of river Ganga organised at Chaudhary Charan Singh University here, which was also attended by a number of leaders including Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.
The government alone can’t keep the Ganga clean. It can make the river pollution free by spending Rs 20,000 crore but the society has to come forward to keep it that way, Bharti said, adding the Supreme Court, political parties, media all are united in cleaning the river.
“I have dedicated myself for the Ganga. My life would find its true success once I succeed in making the river pollution free and I will succeed in my endeavour,” she said.
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Gadkari noted that with the Rs 6,000 crore worth Delhi-Meerut expressway, the commuting time between Delhi and Meerut will be just 40 minutes.
He also announced the construction of Hapur-Bulandshahr highway and Meerut-Najeebabad expressway with an estimated cost of Rs 1,600 crore and Rs 2,000 crore respectively.
The Union Minister assured that work on all the above-mentioned projects will begin before January 26 next year, and will be completed within two years.
He added that Rs 5,000 crore will be spent on tree plantation along the highway.