The government has notified River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016. Under the order, the government has constituted National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred to as National Ganga Council), under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per para 42 of the notification, prior approval from National Mission for Clean Ganga is required for following matters, relating to river Ganga and any area abutting river Ganga or its tributaries, if required to implement the decision of National Ganga Council.
i. Engineered diversion and storage of water in River Ganga without affecting the flow of water downstream of the River Ganga;
ii. Construction of bridges and associated roads and embankments over the River Ganga or at its River Bank or its flood plain area;
iii. Construction of Ghats or extension of any existing Ghat;
iv. Construction of jetties;
v. Construction of permanent hydraulic structures for storage or diversion or control of waters or channelisation of River Ganga or its tributaries;
vi. Deforestation of hill slopes and notified forest and other eco-sensitive areas.
The catchment area of river basin and its water shed has been demarcated and made available in the River Basin Atlas, 2012 and is also available in public domain in Ganga Bhuvan portal.