IDEAthon launched by Jal Shakti ministry

On May 2, 2020, the National Mission for Clean Ganga operating under Ministry of Jal Shakti launched “IDEAthon”. It focuses on “The Future of River Management” to explore how the COVID-19 crisis will change the river management strategies.

Highlights

• The IDEAthon event examined how social angle of rivers can be leveraged to address the crisis. 
• It also discussed about the lessons taught by COVID-19 crisis.

Outcomes

• The event finalized that more attention is required towards river management. 
• Also, it highlighted the interconnectivity of cities with the river. 
• The river cities require special focus in creating awareness about the ecological importance and economic potential of the rivers to help the cities.
• The IDEAthon had created a framework called River Management in a city’s Urban river management plan.
• The Namai Gange Programme is to bring out a policy based on the suggestions provided by IDEAthon.

Namami Gange

• The Namami Gange, also called the National Mission for Clean Ganga was launched in 2011. 
• The initiative focuses on controlling the pollution of River Ganga. 
• The main pillars of the mission include sewerage treatment, industrial effluent monitoring, bio-diversity, development of river surface cleaning, afforestation, and public awareness.
• In order to implement the scheme India has joined hands with Germany