A PUBLIC MOVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENT CONSCIOUSNESS
its rejuvenation and conservation. The Chief Minister's approach has made it a public movement. Narmada Yatra is now point of discussion in the country. Many Intellectual and prominent persons of the country are participating and contributing in the Yatra. Shivraj Singh chouhan has become the first chief minister to launch an awareness campaign with an objective to conserve Narmada River.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has participated at 23 spots addressing huge gatherings with active participation in Jan-samvad progammes.
Fruits tree plantation will be undertaken at one kilometer perimeter area on both the banks of Narmada.
It may be mentioned that the “Namami Devi Narmade” Narmada Seva Yatra which started from Amarkantak on December 11, 2016 will cover 1831 km on southern bank comprising of 548 villages/towns and 1513 km on northern bank comprising of 556 village/towns, thus covering 3344 kilometers in 144 days and will be completed on 11 May 2017. Moreover this yatra is witnessing enormous participation of people residing in Farmers planting fruit trees in their farms will be provided an incentive of Rs.20,000 per hectare for three years.
No liquor shop to be opened on banks of Narmada River within 5 km radius. 58 liquor shops have been closed at the banks of Narmada.
Sewage treatment plants will be set up on the river banks in various cities to prevent pollutants entering into the Narmada at a cost of Rs.150 million.
Crematoriums to be built along the Narmada, so that no dead body is released into the river. villages, 1100 towns of 51 blocks of 16 districts. Pledge is administered to the people towards construction of toilets, plantation, sanitation and de-addiction. Also permanent solutions towards sanitation at Ghats, construction of poojan-kunds and muktidhams will be made with the cooperation of gram panchayats and other local bodies.
Shri Chouhan said, he believes that rivers are not mere carrier of water but they are really like mother. Water stream of life line Narmada is shrinking because of neglecting of environment. Human felled trees along the side of the rivers for vested interests. The Chief Minister said that state government had taken the resolution to make the river flow with its natural current again. Plantation is being carried out alongside of the river. Treatment plants would be and are being set up at different places so that water can remain clean in the river. Liquor shops would not be allowed to open in villages adjacent to the river from coming year. The objective is to make the river banks fully clean and the area full of greenery with public support.
For people of Madhya Pradesh, Narmada is not just only a river, but it is the external manifestation of religious fervour and faith of the people living on its banks. Hence, it is very important to protect this river and keep it free from pollution and to maintain its level and constant flow. It has got the prominent role in the life of people because of its ancient, spiritual, social and economic importance ,that is why along with the government and spiritual leaders , society play an equally important role in its conservation. All villages within 1 km on both banks Narmada will be ODF. Rs. 12,000 has been sanctioned to approx 1,00,000 homes which are on the banks of Narmada to construct toilets.
Works related to construction of clean toilets, sewage treatment plant arrangements at cities, poojan kund at ghats. 5000 Changing rooms will be set up for women taking a dip in the river.
1962 voluntary organizations are rending services freely and extending support to make arrangements for the members of the Yatra team.
Yatra has been endorsed at International Level by Noble Peace Prize Winner Former President of East Timor Shri Jose Ramos Horta, Spiritual Leader Today the world needs education of love, sympathy and friendship and not materialism. There is need of emotional improvement knowledge and not of physical knowledge and only India can provide this education to the world. India can give the world knowledge of spiritualism also apart from modernism. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has done a commendable job in the field of environment and water conservation through the Narmada Seva Yatra in the state. Dharmaguru Shri Dalai Lama expressed these thoughts at a Narmada Seva Yatra programme in Turnal village near Nemavar in Dewas district during his visit on
19th March, 2017 Dalai Lama, Justice of Labour Court Brazil Lalio Kartio, Gramin Bank Bangladesh Shri Ratan Kumar Nag and Nobel Prize Winner Kailash Satyarthi.
Yatra and initiatives of Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been lauded by Dalai Lama, Shri Mohan Bhagwat, Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar ji, Anupam Kher, Anup Jalota, Ashutosh Rana, Anuradha Paudwal to name a few amongst 475 public representatives.