National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was selected to hold a side-event in the UNHQ during the UN Water Conference 2023. Being recognised by the UN as one of the top 10 eco restoration flagships of the world in the CoP 15 meeting at Montreal in December 2022, helped Namami Gange in this prestigious selection.

This event held in the UN Trusteeship Council Chambers, UNHQ, New York on March 23, 2023, had a very high level of participation with Ministers or Minister equivalents from India, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and World Bank Global head of Water Resources Group participating. On March 24, 2023, Minister Jal Shakti along with Permanent Representative of Mission of India to UN Ruchira Kamboj (IFS: 1987) called on President of UN General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi.  He seemed to be extremely impressed with the tremendous progress India has made in the water sector, especially in the last eight years.  Efforts of India in Sanitation, Drinking Water and river cleaning sector earned special praise.

G Asok Kumar, Special Secretary & Director General at National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), MoWR, RD & GR, during UNWC 2023 said, “I made interventions and statements in a few more side events, important ones being the events of Asia Pacific Water Forum organised by Japan; UN Water Decade Action plan by Singapore; PPP models by chamber of US Trade and Commerce; Multi stake holder Partnership Model: Global Citizenship Education for Clean Water and Cleaner Energy etc.” 

Asok Kumar further said, “Apart from these, I also attended the bilateral meetings of our Minister with Ministers of UK, Israel, Denmark, Netherlands, European Union, Canada, Singapore, Cambodia, UAE, Tazakisthan, Bangladesh, etc and side events of UNICEF, WHO, WEF, WB etc. Our recent initiative of Arth Ganga and River City Alliance got special interest.” India has made its mark in the world water sector with its scale, scope and speed of execution and emerging as a role model for many nations.