New Delhi

The United Nations (UN) has recognised the ‘Namami Gange’ initiative to rejuvenate river Ganga as one of the top 10 World Restoration Flagships aimed at reviving the natural world.

The project’s Director General, G Asok Kumar was awarded for the ‘Namami Gange’ initiative during a function at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada on World Restoration Day on Wednesday.

"The recognition of ‘Namami Gange’ as one of the top-10 ecosystem restoration initiatives in the world bears testimony to the concerted efforts being made by the National Mission for Clean Ganga,” G Asok Kumar said after receiving the award for initiative ‘Namami Gange’, which was selected from over 150 such initiatives from 70 countries across the globe.

‘Namami Gange’, will now be eligible to receive UN support, funding or technical expertise.

‘Namami Gange’ Programme was started in 2014 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister after recognizing the need to rejuvenate River Ganga and committed over 5 billion dollars to ensure that the river gets clean.

"Ganga is important for India as it is home to 40 per cent of India's population, 2500 species of flora and fauna and 8.61 billion sq. km. basin, which is home to over 520 million people. Ganga is also very important from spiritual point of view," he said, adding that the river is closely associated with India's tradition and civilization and symbolized the faith, sentiments and collective consciousness of the people here.

ALSO READ: Ganga Connect exhibition in UK to restore, conserve holy river

Meanwhile, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen said: "The ‘Namami Gange’ is an ambitious effort to rejuvenate the Ganga, a lifeline for millions of people in India. At a time when it is critical that we transform our exploitative relationship with nature, the positive impacts of this restoration cannot be underestimated."