‘Revive The Dying Yamuna’, Say Activists As They Ask For Government Actions Towards Rejuvenating The River

Agra: Celebrating the world rivers day, here on Sunday, social activists and environmentalists sought revival and rejuvenation of a dying Yamuna river, the lifeline of Braj mandal — the land of Krishna — and a symbol of art, culture, religion. According to activists, without a healthy Yamuna, the world-famous historical monuments, including the Taj Mahal, could not remain safe as these stone structures drew sustenance from the river. Noted environmentalist Devashish Bhattacharya lamented lack of urgency and the seriousness on the part of the state and the central governments in dealing with critical environmental issues.

Also Read: River Conservation: A Drying Yamuna Could Endanger Taj Mahal, Say Experts

To revive the river, Shravan Kumar Singh, an activist, presented a 12-point charter of demands, which included a national rivers policy and setting up of a central rivers authority. Rahul Raj said Union Minister Nitin Gadkiri had promised a Delhi–Agra steamer service for tourists in two years. However, despite five years no steps were taken to clean the river, he added.

Also Read: Activists Hold ‘Sand Bath’ On Dry Yamuna Riverbed To Highlight The Pollution In River

Stating that Yamuna was the centre of the Bhakti Movement and a source of inspiration for a countless number of people, young activists Gopal Sharma and Satyam said it was painful to see a river dying a slow death due to pollution and lack of water.

While Abhideep Sharma lamented pollution in Yamuna, Padmini ‘Tajmahal’, an activist, said the government must ensure a minimum water flow in Yamuna to keep it alive and support aquatic life. Activists at the Yamuna bank opposite Etmauddaula tomb passed a resolution demanding immediate construction of a barrage downstream the Taj Mahal.

Also Read: National Green Tribunal Orders Inspection Of Yamuna Floodplain In Agra, Seeks Report On Demarcation

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.