The Union Budget for 2026-27 has allocated ₹3,100 crore to the National Ganga Plan under the Namami Gange Mission-2, which is a slight increase over the revised ₹2,687 crore for 2025-26, but it remains below the initial goal of ₹3,400 crore. The Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation will receive a total of ₹19,912.98 crore, up from last year. Looking more closely, it appears that Ganga rejuvenation in the Budget 2026-27 is focused more on controlling pollution through infrastructure than on a full ecological revival.

However, it’s still well below the original ₹25,276.83 crore expected. Interestingly, the Budget speech didn’t mention rivers, including the Ganga, even though their budgets increased on paper.

Where the Money is Going: Mostly to Engineering

Budget papers indicate that most of the funds continue to go to sewage treatment plants (STPs), wastewater systems, and pipelines. Projects supported by other countries (EAP) through groups such as the World Bank, JICA, and ADB will receive ₹600 crore, up from ₹450 crore last year. This funding typically supports large, expensive city projects, often through public-private partnerships, which keeps the focus on a technical approach to cleaning the river.

On the other hand, the part of the program that covers administration, monitoring progress, and smaller projects will receive ₹2,500 crore, which is still less than the ₹2,900 crore discussed earlier. It’s worth noting that there’s no specific budget for restoring natural water flow, protecting floodplains, supporting biodiversity, or helping people who depend on the river for their livelihoods: all key to the river’s recovery as an ecosystem.

Also Read: Budget 2026 Backs Natural Fibers With New Scheme For Textile Industry

Infrastructure Gains Are Real but Partial

We’ve seen some capacity expansion due to infrastructure spending. In Uttar Pradesh alone, four large sewage treatment plants (STPs) began operating this year – two in Agra (31 MLD and 35 MLD), one in Varanasi (55 MLD), and one in Unnao (5 MLD). According to state data, 152 STPs are now operational, with 41 of the 74 approved projects completed, and cities like Greater Noida are deploying STPs online to track parameters such as BOD/COD in real time.

Main Infrastructure Gains:

• Running STPs: There are 152 in the Ganga basin, and 41 were recently finished.
• Digital Tracking: Major city STPs are tracking BOD/COD in real-time.
• Urban Sewage Coverage: Millions of people benefit from the reuse of treated wastewater.
• PPP Models: More private money is going into wastewater treatment.

But having infrastructure alone isn’t enough to ensure rivers are healthy if water flow is limited, floodplains are being built on, or pollution from various sources continues. That’s a significant criticism of the Ganga rejuvenation in the Budget 2026-27.

Also Read: Budget 2026-27 Backs Carbon Capture Drive With ₹20,000 Crore Allocation

Water Policy Context: Mega Projects Outpace Rivers

Looking at other parts of the water sector indicates the industry is unbalanced: the Polavaram irrigation project is allocated more money than the entire Ganga rejuvenation in the Budget 2026-27.

Key Budget Points in Water Policy:

• The Polavaram Project is receiving ₹3,320 crore, more than the Ganga Mission receives.
• River Interlinking: ₹1,906 crore is planned for infrastructure-focused projects.
• Irrigation & Debt: A significant amount of money continues to be allocated to dams and canals.
• Policy Focus: Large-scale infrastructure is prioritized over environmental restoration.

Also Read: Budget 2026-27 Reduces Air Quality And Pollution Control Allocations

Other Rivers: Left Behind

The Ganga has its own dedicated mission, but other rivers depend on the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD). In 2026-27, NRCD will spend about ₹10 crore on its operations, and about ₹550 crore on projects for “Other Basins”, and this funding must cover multiple rivers, including the Yamuna (outside the Ganga basin), the Gomti, and the Sabarmati.

This significant difference suggests a general preference for managing wastewater through infrastructure rather than addressing the ecology of entire river basins.

Also Read: Sustainability Initiatives In Union Budget 2026 Win Expert Accolades

What the Numbers Say About Water Quality

Government reports to Parliament indicate that CPCB monitoring shows that, in some places and at certain times (such as during the Maha Kumbh), pH, DO, BOD, and fecal coliform levels met basic bathing standards despite ongoing efforts. However, these improvements don’t last, and pollution spikes during certain seasons and events.

Also Read: British Biologist Raises Alarm Over ‘Black Water’ Pollution From Kanpur Tanneries In Ganga

From Infrastructure to People: Focusing on the River Again

Ganga rejuvenation in the Budget 2026-27 has increased sewage treatment capacity and improved compliance in cities. The 2026-27 Budget shows that rivers are treated as construction sites rather than as living things, without ensuring sufficient water flow, protecting floodplains, managing sediment, and safeguarding livelihoods.

To turn things around, we need to plan in an integrated way across the entire river basin, control pollution at its source, and engage the community. Only then can these investments lead to a healthy, thriving Ganga.

Also Read: British Biologist Tests Ganga Water, Finds Faecal Bacteria And Human Waste

FAQs

1. Why are people criticizing the Budget even though the budget went up?

The increase isn’t sufficient to meet earlier targets, and it places too much emphasis on infrastructure rather than ecological restoration.

2 .Do STPs help improve water quality?

Yes. They’ve increased capacity and tracking, and there have been local improvements. However, water flow and floodplains remain crucial to long-term recovery.

3. Are other rivers getting the same amount of money?

No. Other river basins are receiving much less through NRCD, indicating a general bias toward infrastructure in river programs.

Also Read: What’s Happening With Ganga’s Water Quality In West Bengal? NGT Seeks Detailed Report