INTERNATIONAL Trade Minister Ed Fast, National Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay and Bob Dechert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice, on Wednesday announced a research partnership aimed at cleaning up the Ganges River (also known as the Ganga River), one of the most heavily used rivers in the world.

The India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability will partner with India’s Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in collaborative research aimed at improving the overall quality of water in the Ganges River.

The partnership will draw on Canadian expertise and will highlight existing Canadian technologies in the areas of wastewater treatment, water quality monitoring and management, and water reduction and wastewater reuse.

Improving the overall quality of water in the Ganges River is a top priority of Prime Minister Narenda Modi’s new government in India. Cleaning up the Ganges will benefit the millions of people whose lives are connected with the river.