Namami Gange Project is a flagship project started by the government of India in June 2014 with a budget outlay of ₹20,000 crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation, and rejuvenation of the River Ganga. Under the project, 8 states are covered. Dept of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation proposes to make 1,674 gram panchayats by the Ganga open defecation-free by 2022, at a cost of Rs 1,700 crore.