The execution of the identified works for cleaning and conservation of the Ganga river in the State will be accelerated. This was decided at a meeting of the State executive committee of the State Ganga River Conservation Authority chaired by Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar at the Secretariat on Monday.

Besides the ongoing projects for cleaning the Ganga, it was informed during the meeting that locations along the Ganga and its tributaries have been identified where pollution abatement works are required for cleaning the Ganga.

As many as 132 locations had been identified for prevention of raw sewage dumping into the Ganga, informed Kumar, adding that provision of 730 community toilets had been proposed to meet the needs of floating population and tourists.

He further said that 159 locations had been proposed for construction of proper electric or improved wood-based crematorium on the banks of Ganga and its tributaries. A total of 1223 bio digester toilets, 509830 household toilets, 10 locations for conservation of aquatic life, 46 locations for disposal of flowers and other pooja materials, 38 locations for traditional livelihood projects, capacity building of local bodies, river front development activities had been identified, he added.

Officials present in the meeting were informed that for annual plan of 2014-15, Rs. 64.54 crore has been earmarked for the purpose of municipal waste water treatment, industrial pollution, river front development and solid waste management.  Municipal waste water treatment will be done at Muni-ki-Reti,  Dhalwala (Rishikesh), Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gopeshwar, Joshimath, Uttarkashi and Srinagar, while river front development will be done at Tapovan, Muni-ki-Reti, Swargashram and Rishikesh. Solid waste management work will be done at Muni-ki-Reti, Dhalwala and Tapovan.

Additional chief secretaries Rakesh Sharma, S Raju, Power secretary Umakant Panwar, additional secretaries AS Hyanki, Sowjanya and others were present on the occasion.