Report flags persistent Ganga pollution despite ₹43,060cr cleanup, Centre replies
What's the story
The Indian government has defended its efforts under the Namami Gange program, which aims to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga, after a Bloomberg investigation revealed that large stretches of the river remain polluted despite the government's allocation of ₹43,060 crore over a decade to clean it. The probe, which analyzed a decade's worth of satellite data covering nearly 2,000km of the river and conducted independent water testing, found no significant improvement in water clarity along most parts of the river.
Progress report
Government cites improvements in water quality, sewage treatment infrastructure
Responding, the government pointed to improvements in water quality and sewage treatment infrastructure as evidence of progress.
"Can a few satellite indicators and samples from 12 locations judge a river that flows nearly 2,500 km through five states?" the Namami Gange X account replied to the report.
It cited Haridwar as an example where sewage treatment infrastructure has improved.
Infrastructure progress
Increased sewage treatment capacity and industrial compliance
The Central Pollution Control Board's 2018 assessment had classified the Ganga downstream of Haridwar in Priority Class IV, which later improved to Class V before being removed from the list of polluted stretches.
It said similar improvements were recorded along the Kanpur-Varanasi stretch.
The government also highlighted its efforts to increase sewage treatment capacity.
It said the Ganga's main stem states generate around 10,160 million liters of sewage daily, with available treatment capacity at approximately 7,820 million liters per day.
Twitter Post
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Can a few satellite indicators and samples from 12 locations judge a river that flows nearly 2,500 km through five states?
— Namami Gange (@cleanganganmcg) November 13, 2026
The Bloomberg investigation relies on satellite readings of turbidity, algae and surface temperature, plus samples around Kanpur and Varanasi. Useful… https://t.co/fT04W1T2kl
Future goals
Acknowledgment of ongoing challenges and broader rejuvenation efforts
Projects adding another 1,996 million liters per day are under implementation, it added.
It further said that industrial compliance in the Ganga basin has also improved from 39% in 2017 to an impressive 86% by 2025.
It also claimed that the effectiveness of water quality was tested at Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh, when millions took the holy dip.
"No health-related complaints were reported," it said.
At the same time, the government acknowledged that pollution continues in some stretches.
Official statement
Response to Bloomberg's findings on enforcement and coordination issues
The government has also responded to Bloomberg's findings on patchy enforcement, stressing that the distinction between sanctioned project costs and actual expenditure is important.
It said as of September 2026, 531 projects worth ₹43,064 crore had been sanctioned, with 371 completed, while ₹21,845 crore had been disbursed or spent by implementing agencies since the program began.
It ascribed the expenditure pattern partly to the Hybrid Annuity Model, where payments are linked to plant performance and spread over approximately 15 years.