Bhopal: Life-giver Narmada battling for life: PM

Bhopal: Life-giver Narmada battling for life: PM

Staff ReporterUpdated: Thursday, May 30, 2019, 06:48 AM IST
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Bhopal: Describing Narmada as life-giver for ages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lamented that things have come to such a pass that “we are forced to launch a special campaign to protect the river.”

Speaking that a function organized to mark conclusion of Narmada Seva Yatra and inauguration of Narmada Seva Mission at Amarkantak in Anuppur district, Modi said, “When we are more concerned about our rights, we tend to lose sense of responsibility. This often leads to problem.”

“Narmada gave us life. But, we remembered our rights and forgot our duties. We cared for ourselves and not the Narmada,” said the prime minister and reminded the gathering, “A special campaign to save Narmada would not have been required if we had not ignored our duties and responsibilities towards it.” To press his point, Modi said, “Hailing from Gujarat, I am well aware of Narmada’s significance.” Praising people, state government and chief minister, the PM said that awareness about the need to preserve rivers was a step in right direction.  Citing example of a river in Kerala, he said that many rivers of the country have dried up.

Stating that as Narmada did not originate from Himalaya he said that its flow could be increased only by planting trees on its banks on a large scale. He called upon the gathering to do something in this regard so that “the coming generations remember us just as we remember our ancestors. Just as the rivers gave life to our ancestors, we should give life to rivers.”

Life-giver Narmada…

Praises state performance in Swachhta Survey

Commending state’s performance in Swacchta Survey, Modi said that in the past MP was a laggard in cleanliness and hygiene. However, due to the firm resolve of its leaders and public participation, it has forged ahead in the campaign.  Today, 22 cities of the state figure in the list of 100 cleanest cities of the country. Indore and Bhopal stood first and second respectively. This indicated that the administration and the people worked in tandem for this singular achievement, he said and added that it is something that other states should draw inspiration from. Describing public participation and support as major reasons of Narmada Seva Yatra’s success, he said that largescale plantation was the only way to preserve the environment.

Talking about the work plan for Narmada Seva Mission, he described it as “a perfect document”. He said that it should be sent to all states as it is an ideal scheme for protection and conservation of environment.

Amarkantak to be Mini Smart City

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over work plan of Narmada Seva Mission to Prime Minister. He said that a separate department on river conservation and environment protection would be set up in universities. He said that given environmental and spiritual importance of Amarkantak, it would be converted into Mini Smart City. This will be the first Mini Smart City of the state.

Chouhan said that he will ensure that Narmada bed is not riddled to meet demand for sand. He said that no mining will be allowed in hills of Amarkantak. He said that he will himself lead Narmada Seva Mission. The Narmada Seva Committees have already started working in villages. He said that Narmada Mission will be implemented with the cooperation of society. The state will fulfill all resolves of the Prime Minister. From the next year, projects will be launched for the conservation of Kshipra, Tapti, Betwa and other rivers. A report on work plan of Narmada Mission will be dedicated to the people a year from now.

Earlier, the chief minister presented flag and kalash of Narmada Yatra to the Prime Minister. The PM also launched a book titled ‘Narmada Pravah’. On this occasion, a large number of Narmada Sevaks, Union panchayats and rural development minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union minister of state for health Faggan Singh Kulaste, MP Gyan Singh, state BJP chief  Nandkumar Singh Chouhan, minister of state for MSME Sanjay Pathak, a large number of saints, ministers, MPs, MLAs and other people’s representatives were present.

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