Together, we endeavour to underpin the monitoring of the Ganges’s water quality: We are happy to announce that the cooperation between PTB and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to strengthen the water monitoring of the Ganges River officially started in November 2018.
After initial assessments of the situation at that time, a kick-off workshop took place at NMCG in New Delhi on 19 February 2019. NMCG organized this one-day workshop to mark the occasion of its collaboration with the project, “Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for Water Quality Monitoring of the Ganges River”.
The objective of the project is to improve the quality of data used for monitoring the Ganges River through improved sampling and analysis of the water samples based on recognized quality assurance measures as well as improved coordination between all competent bodies.
With the participation of key stakeholders, a foundation for a concrete action plan for the project was laid down. The approach to improve the data quality for water monitoring in a joint project by PTB and NMCG was well received by the audience. The project seems to have come at exactly the right moment, as it complements the work of many different actors on the rejuvenation of the Ganges River by supporting an improved data basis for political decision making.
Project Coordinator Patrick Dolle pointed out that accurate monitoring of water quality is crucial to be able to show the progress that is being made by all the stakeholders in the rejuvenation of the Ganges River and that the success of the project depends on a good collaboration.
The workshop brought together the relevant stakeholders for water quality monitoring of the Ganges River, including – among others – the Central Pollution Control Board as well as four of the five State Pollution Control Boards of the Ganges River basin, the Central Water Commission, Center for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies, National Physical Laboratory, relevant research institutes, non-governmental organizations and international development cooperation partners.
