Kollam (Kerala), Sep 11 (IANS): Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said that the Centre was determined to make the Namami Gange project a big success like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in three to four years.

He said this while speaking at Amrithapuri - the ashram of Mata Amrithananda Mayi, here after receiving a cheque for Rs.100 crore from the spiritual leader, to be used for the construction of toilets in the poorest villages along the Ganga river.

The Namami Gange project was approved by the union government in May with an allocation of Rs.20,000 crore over the next five years.

Jaitley said 40 percent of Indians were dependent on the Ganga and that thousands of crores of rupees were spent on cleaning the holy river in the past.

"In the first phase of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, construction of toilets in all schools in the country turned out to be a tremendous success. Efforts are now on to provide toilets in all houses in the country," the minister said.

Complimenting the services of the Mutt, Jaitley said a donation of Rs.100 crore would send a symbolic message to others too.

Speaking on the occasion, Mata Amrithananda Mayi said compassionate service to the poor was real worship of god.

She said the project would help provide much needed amenities to those who truly need them.

She said another project worth Rs.100 crore would soon be launched for the construction of toilets throughout Kerala.