Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh kicks off tour for Ganga conservation
By ANIFriday, October 1, 2010
NEW DELHI/VARANASI - Magsaysay award winner and environmentalist Rajendra Singh began a three-month tour on Friday to constitute ‘Ganga Panchayats’ in towns and villages along the river Ganga.
The tour has been planned for conservation of river Ganga and to spread awareness among the common people about the pollution.
The councils are spread over 90 towns and 1,000 villages between Gaumukh in Uttarakhand and Ganga Sagar in West Bengal.
“It is a journey for the conservation of the River Ganga. We believe that the society will fulfill its responsibility towards the rebirth of Ganges and save it from pollution and other impurities,” said Singh.
Meanwhile, Harpal Singh Rana, another activist of the Ganga council said the cleaning of the river is not impossible without public support.
“Till the time the public is not aware of their responsibility regarding the River Ganga, the government cannot work alone. Many programmes have been made before on the Ganga and crores of rupees have been spent on the projects, but the condition of the river is getting worse, day-by-day,” said Rana.
“It is a programme for the common people to make Ganga Panchayat, so that they can understand their responsibility towards it and actively contribute in the conservation of the river,” he added.
The high pollution in the Ganga affects 400 million people, who live close to the river. (ANI)
