Ganges needs to be made pollution free despite incurring thousands of crores on it ! Jagdish Mamgain writes to PM n union minister water resources
A letter to PM, Water Resources minister on Govindacharya’s ‘Ganga Samvad Yatra’ against rising pollution in Ganga, suggested some initial effective steps based on study conducted by Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan National Co-Convenor Jagdish Mamgain who has drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the ‘Ganga Samvad Yatra’ of well-known thinker K N Govindacharya, which is doing padyatra on the banks of Ganga since 11 October 2022, urging the Government to take effective steps for the cleanliness and uninterrupted flow of River Ganga.
The letter has also been written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, giving some suggestions to make the Ganga free from pollution. It may be recalled that Govindacharya is holding a padyatra on the banks of Ganges under the aegis of Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan to create public awareness on the cleanliness and continuity of Ganga and to understand the responsibility of the participation of the society and the governments.
The yatra, which commenced from Narora in Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh, has so far covered about 113 km till Bulandshahr, Sambhal and Badaun districts. Earlier in the year 2009, Govindacharya had undertaken a study yatra from Ganga Sagar to Gangotri.
Jagdish Mamgain said that it is the responsibility of all to protect the holy Ganga. However, the common man and the local people are worried about the increasing pollution in Ganga.
Hence the Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan urges the central Government to ensure minimum environmental impact on the rivers, make a law to fix the limit of water extracted from the rivers for irrigation, drinking water etc., making of a law explaining the rights of the rivers, the rivers should decide their own land and record it in the government revenue records and encroachment should be dealt with strictly by fixing the definition of encroachment.
Also, buffer zones should be created green zones on both sides of the rivers, parallel pipelines should be laid on both sides for drainage of dirty water, the role and efficiency of STPs should be reviewed and regular accounts of the use of treated water be presented and maintained forthwith.
Jagdish Mamgain added that Prime Minister Modi himself is a worshipper of Ganga and has been elected MP from the area on the banks of the holy river and as such the country and society expect pollution-free Ganga from him. We are doing public awareness so that the coming generation remains healthy and safe, so that the Ganga is pollution-free, uninterrupted and clean stressed Jagdish Mamgain the main coordinator of the Yatra. The yatra is also to encourage the role and active participation of the society. Government has so far spent thousands of crores of rupees on cleaning the Ganga, but despite this, dirty water from drains is reaching the Ganga without treatment at many places added Mamgain further urging that the government should do its work for a healthy and clean Ganga and the society should understand its responsibility. According to Jagdish Mamgain we believe in talking at the government to the government and the society to the society levels. He said that at the age of 79, KN Govindacharya is walking about 500 km on the banks of Ganga, hence social activists are worried about his health. Swami Nigamananda, Renowned environmentalist IIT Professor Dr. G.D. Agarwal, also known as Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, including various saints and others, have sacrificed their lives to improve the worrisome pitiable condition of Ganga . Despite many sacrifices, the struggle for the uninterrupted and cleanliness of Ganga ji is still necessary emphasised Mamgain.
