You can get tax relief by contributing towards the Clean Ganga project. The Government has announced setting up a Clean Ganga Fund (CGF) to help in the Integrated Ganga Conservation Mission called ‘Namami Gange.’

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the fund. “Indian citizens, NRIs and foreigners can contribute for the fund. There will be Income Tax benefit for Indian citizens, while appropriate tax benefit will be available for foreigners,” the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

The Fund will be managed by a trust headed by Finance Minister. Although the Budget did provide over ₹ 2,000 crore for the Clean Ganga mission, but the Government felt that a fund should be set up considering that the measures taken till now were inadequate and a national effort is required to mobilise resources for improving the condition of the river.

The fund will finance activities outlined under the ‘Namami Gange’ programme. It will provide money for control of non-point pollution from agricultural runoff, human defecation, cattle wallowing, etc, besides setting up of waste treatment and disposal plants along the river around the cities. It will help in conservation of the river’s biodiversity and community-based activities to reduce polluting human interface with the river. (The Hindu)