Context

• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under its 'Namami Gange' program has taken up an initiative to conserve the wetlands in Ganga River Basin.
• The difference in the Namami Gange Project is primarily to rejuvenate the river through increasing the base flow and aquifers recharge and conservation of wetlands because that forms the part of one of our `Aviral Dhara' which is to maintain the environmental flow in the river.
• So, in a first step the programme is aimed at conserving wetlands in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• The NMCG in collaboration with the State Wetland Authorities will help in identifying and preparing Integrated Management Plans for management and conservation in the Ganga basin.
• The program is also aimed at involving the community in the wetland conservation process through the Wildlife Institute of India. Apart from the government's efforts, NMCG has also appointed a team to educate the people in contributing to the rejuvenation of these water bodies.
• Ecosystem-based and community-led models of rejuvenation of wetlands for enhancing `Aviralta' and `Nirmalta' of the river and water conservation in the Ganga basin are being integrated into the Namami Gange Programme.