India seeks German support for Ganga rejuvenation

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati Wednesday called for Indo-German cooperation in rejuvenation of the Ganga river.

“Work has to be done with regard to access and analysis of the feasibility and prospects for and Indo-German cooperation for Ganga rejuvenation,” Bharati said at a meeting with a German delegation here.

Germany’s Environment and Nature Conservation Minister Barbara Hendricks was leading the delegation.

During the meeting, Bharati identified several potential areas for cooperation on the lines of Indo-German Energy forum.

Support was sought for river basin planning, researches, technical cooperation on selected issues like river rejuvenation strategies, setting up of realistic time frame, basin wide monitoring and evaluation, according to a statement.

There could also be financial cooperation on selected issues as innovative financing models for industrial and urban pollution, assistance to manage funds, selected public and or private investment funds, the statement added.

The German delegation said they are willing to assist in Ganga rejuvenation in view of their success in the rejuvenation of Rhine and Denube rivers.

During Indo-German negotiations, Germany committed 3 million euros to support Ganga rejuvenation, it said.