Ganga (Ganges) to be declared as national river

Government of India has decided to declare Ganga as a National River and also to set up a high powered Ganga river Basin Authority to protect the ancient river from pollution and other degradation. The proposed authority will be headed by Prime Minister himself and will have as its members Chief Minsiters of all states through which Ganga flows. The details will be worked out. A PMO release said that there is a need for integrated approach that sees the river as an ecological antity and addresses issues of quantity in terms of water flows along the issues of quality.