Sonia writes to PM on Ganga Action Plan

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 4. The Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, today asked the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to set up an independent committee to examine the second phase proposals of the Ganga Action Plan for Varanasi.

As the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Mrs. Gandhi wrote a letter to Mr. Vajpayee stating that a final decision should be taken by the National River Authority chaired by him on the basis of recommendations of this independent technical evaluation committee instead of leaving it to lower authorities in view of the prevailing controversy.

Referrring to the proposals, she said, the National River Conservation Directorate was considering two alternate proposals for the second phase at Varanasi.

One proposal was prepared by the U. P. Jal Nigam and forwarded by the State government while the other was on the basis of an alternative technology with the help of international support and contained in a project feasibility report which has received the backing of Varanasi city corporation.

Mrs. Gandhi said she was informed that the Corporation-backed report was based on internationally accepted technology, involving lower installation, operational and maintenance cost.

It would also not require any land acquisition and was designed to obviate the need for dumping any sewage in the seven-kilometre bathing area along Varanasi ghats.

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Section  : National
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