New Delhi, Oct 03: India and Japan today signed an agreement to study the water quality of river Ganga for the second phase of the Ganga action plan and prepare a master plan to control pollution in the river.
Japan will take up the two-year study with logistics and data support of India, according to the agreement signed by a M Gokhale, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Yoshiyuki Hoshiyama, leader, preparatory study team of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The main objectives of the 'development study on water quality management plan for ganga river' are to formulate a master plan for water quality management for Ganga river, to formulate feasibility studies for the high priority projects identified in the master plan focussing on Kanpur, Allahabad Varanasi and Lucknow.
We will also study the other rivers and Ganga's branches in these areas, he said adding sewage discharge system will also be studied.
We will float a tender in Japan for a consultant and the study team for this project and start the work as soon as possible, Hoshiyama said.

Bureau Report