The North News
New Delhi, December 8
The Centre has approved the creation of a “digital twin” of the Ganga to support data-driven decisions under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Ministry of Jal Shakti told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. The project, to be developed at IIT Delhi’s Centre of Excellence, will use artificial intelligence, hydrological modelling and mathematical simulations to analyse groundwater stress, identify pollution hotspots and monitor basin-wide water resources. The government has also sanctioned a hybrid-annuity Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in Siliguri, West Bengal, aimed at reducing pollution in the Mahananda river. Valued at ₹361.86 crore, the scheme includes the construction of interception and diversion systems and a sewage treatment plant. Officials said the hybrid annuity model links payments to the actual performance of sewage treatment plants, addressing long-standing concerns over inadequate operation and maintenance by private concessionaires. Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary shared the information in response to a parliamentary question.
Under the model, only 40% of capital costs are paid during construction, while the remaining 60% is released over 15 years as annuity—dependent on meeting key performance indicators. The government said the arrangement ensures greater accountability and risk-sharing between the public and private sectors. No user charges are levied, with the entire cost covered through central grants to state governments.
In a separate development, the National Institute of Hydrology has been tasked with a glacier-melt study across the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda basins, covering major glacier systems such as Gangotri, Satopanth and Chorabari. The project will assess glacier mass balance, melt-runoff contributions and the impact of rising temperatures, using satellite data, field studies and hydrological models. A Web-GIS dashboard will be created for real-time monitoring by NMCG.
