New Delhi, July 17 - Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh Friday admitted that the Ganga and Yamuna rivers were no cleaner now than they were 20 years ago, despite the government spending 'hundreds of crores of rupees'.

The minister also said the pollution load on the major rivers in the country has increased over the years due to 'urbanisation and industrialisation'.

'I admit with full responsibility that Ganga and Yamuna are no cleaner than 20 years ago,' Ramesh said in the Lok Sabha, replying to a calling attention motion on checking pollution in rivers and lakes in the country, moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Yogi Adityanath.

A determined and renewed effort is needed to cleanse these rivers, the minister said, adding he himself did not believe the figures with him on the pollution levels in these rivers.