Varanasi, Dec 31 : The lack of success of the ''Ganga Action Plan'' in over two decades, has prompted Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh to announce the novel ''Mission Clean Ganga'' project here on Wednesday.

Ramesh said that under the new plan the government would ensure that no pollutants are released into the river without treatment.

It has been decided that by 2020 any municipal sewage or the industry effluent won''t be released in Ganga without proper treatment, he added.

"Even after 20 years, the river contains pollutants in a large quantity. We had established National Ganga River Authority (NGRA) authority, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to clean Ganga. And now on a national level we have launched a major programme, Mission Ganga: Clean Ganga 2020. We have decided that by 2020 any municipal sewage or the industry effluent won''t be released in Ganga without proper treatment. Around 15,000 crore rupees will be spent on the project," he said.

During his day long visit to Varanasi, he was given a first hand account of the pollution level at different ghats (banks) before holding discussion with Uttar Pradesh Government officials.

The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched a quarter century ago, but has failed to stop pollution levels in river from increasing. (ANI)