Parliamentary panel begins Ganga fact-finding trip

LUCKNOW: An eight-member parliamentary team began its a three-day study visit of Lucknow, Kanpur and Varanasi on Monday to try and assess the pollution levels in the Ganga and Gomti rivers, among other things.

Member of committee ET Mohammed Basheer of Indian Union Muslim League and MP from Punani in Kerela said, “We are here for discussions with officials, NGOs , science institutions, farmers and will forward the same to Parliament in the form of a report for further action. The committee may also consider demands of grants of the departments concerned.”

The team visited Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) on Kursi road where the committee interacted with senior principal scientist Sudeep Tandon and discussed about the research work going on in the field of aromatic and medicinal plants. The committee interacted with farmers who have been benefited by the farming of aromatic and medicinal plants.

Senior principal scientist of CIMAP Sudeep Tandon refused to comment on the visit saying he was not authorized to speak.

However, the MPs were satisfied with the research work going on in these institutes. After that the committee members visited laboratories of Central Drug Research Institute where they saw research work going on for the development of several drugs.

The committee then went to Kanpur to see pollution in the Ganga. The committee will visit Bharwara STP on Tuesday morning at 9.30 am. Secretary, science and technology, ID Ram said , “The Parliamentary Standing Committee met the scientists of CIMAP and CDRI and they also visited the Ganga Ghat in Kanpur , tomorrow they will visit Bharwara STP to asses pollution in the Gomti.”