The World Bank will help India in building a global consortium of financiers in its mega project to clean and conserve the national river, Ganga. According to a joint statement between the Centre and World Bank on National Gaga River Basin Authority issued today, the assistance by the bank will also focus on building the institutions and knowledge base for the river basin management and seek to finance selective investments aimed at cleaning the Ganga where pollution levels are very high. It is estimated that an initial investment of four billion dollars will be required for achieving the immediate objective of stopping all discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents into the river by the year 2020.<br/><br/>The joint statement was issued by the Minister for Environment and Forest and the World Bank Group President, Robert B. Zoellick in New Delhi today. Mr. Jairam said that this project is of national importance and welcomed the World Bank initiative to assist India in the endeavour. Mr. Zoellick said, the World Bank is honoured to help and support India's renewed efforts to revitalise this unique important Ganga River. He said that the Ganga has sustained civilisations, but today it is burdened with the pollution brought into the river by the expansion of industries and urban development along its banks.<br/>