NMCG is planning to set up ‘Ganga Museums’ on the bank of the river
The central ministry is planning to set up a Ganga Exhibition and a Ganga Museum to showcase the history and mythology and the importance of the sacred river in the livelihood of the people living around it. It was announced by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), as part of the Ganga Rejuvenation programme. The central museum will be set up in Delhi and there will be regional museums in different states.
Expert from India and the European Union has been meeting for a two-day workshop from 29th November, 2018 on “Developing a Ganga Museum Concept: Exchanging Experiences and Ideas between India and Europe” along with GIZ India as a part of Indo-German Development Co-operation to exchange ideas and experiences regarding various aspects of the proposed museum, knowledge center and exhibition.
“The Ganga Museum should reflect all the aspects of the river like it’s mythological and spiritual significance, efforts to rejuvenate the river, economic activities going on along its banks and its biodiversity and aquatic life including fishes, turtles, dolphins etc.,” said UP Singh, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources River Developing and Ganga Rejuvenation, while delivering the key note address.
Director of the Hamburg Museum of Germany, Professor Hans George Czech, says that the Ganga Museum in India will not only be collection of some items, but it will remain as coordination of the people’s different feelings and traditions associated with it.
He also said that the ideas of international experts would enrich the concept of Ganga Museum.
R.R.Mishra, Director General of NMCG said that it has been working towards the possibility for the establishment of a Ganga Museum.
“Identification of an appropriate location will be the essence of the project. People are connected with Ganga in different ways as pilgrims, as tourists and as beneficiaries of economic activities around it. Everybody should feel connected with the river. The Ganga Museum should be designed in such a way as to increase the connect and motivation to keep the river clean as a continuous process,” said Mishra.
“All these museums will be on the banks of the Ganges, we will try it. If the concerned state provides land for it, then the NMCG will draft the museum’s project. Regional museums can be made at places like Haridwar, Bhagalpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Buxar, Allahabad, Ballia, Kanpur, Patna and Kolkata,” added Mishra.
In the three-day workshop, dozens of experts from around the world, including Danube, Rhine and the City of Heber City, have been invited.