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Life line Ganga in Bihar is now all set to be a major political issue!

When the Centre has responded positively to Bihar government’s request to send a high-level team to study the problem of silt in the Ganga, Uma Bharti, Union minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation today claimed that she had noticed the problem much before Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar. She however categorically, refused that the silt problem in the river is not due to Farakka barrage in Bengal.

The mission for river Ganga!

The minister who is on her fortnight-long Ganga Nirikshan Yatra from Gangasagar in Bengal to Gangotri in Uttarakhand, held ‘Ganga Choupal’ at Sultanganj and Munger today, interacted many denizens living on river bank. She also conducted swearing ceremony for making the river free from manmade pollutions. The tour is to inspect the projects under the Centre’s National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), also called Namami Gange.

Addressing an impressive gathering at Sultanganj, Bharti has strengthened the need of inland waterway and construction of NH beside the river’s stretch in order to reduce the silt in the river. She also strengthened the need tree plantations along with promotion of organic cultivations on river banks.

The fire-brand BJP’s union minister warned people for not go any illegal mining on river banks and said local administration has been instructed to send such people jail directly. She also said that some 764 factories located on river banks would soon be closed. She also put emphasis on removing encroachments from river banks.

Bharti who is scheduled to visit Nitish Kumar this evening at Patna and would discuss on silt problem, said the central government is serious for the formation of inland water ways from Varanasi to Haldia in Bengal soon. She said that the government would formulated ‘Ganga Act’ soon so that the river could flow undersupply and would remain pollution free river. According to her the union ministry of river development and Ganga rejuvenation seriously acting on how to implement the techniques to make the river free from pollution in the pattern of Ryne and Tames river.

Silts make obstacle for the free flow of Ganga at its down stream.

Giving importance of the river, she said that Ganga in India synonyms with sanctity as well as different religious faiths. “This river provides employment opportunities to more than 80 crore people in the country,” she underlined the significance of Ganga river.  In a satirical note, she said that many so called devotees who use to conduct rituals, have been promoting pseudo devotion towards the river. “Such people do not like to have water of Ganga and use mineral waters,” she alleged. She however said that for washing the ‘sins’ committed with Ganga, central government already has sanctioned Rs 20 thousand crores.

The minister however announced sib rage treatment plant at Sultanganj with the cost of Rs 20 crores. She also assured for a beautiful river front at Sultanganj during coming Shravani Mela. “From active public support and collecting funds publically, the dozing of river bed of Ganga would be done. Besides, we would collect funds from capitalists and others for cleaning the river,” she pointed out.

“Who  loves Gou Mata (cow) and Ganga, I don’t know, but whoever may be please come forward to save Gou Mata and Ganga,” she made a sentimental appeal before her audience on the river bank today.

Meanwhile a central team headed by Amarjit Singh, secretary in the Union ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, will visit Bihar on June 5 for discussions with the state water resources department.