Narmada rejuvenation drive will serve as the model for rivers in other states too: CM
EPCO organises ‘Manthan’, the National Seminar on ‘River, Water and Environmental Conservation’.
To develop a comprehensive plan for future river conservation activities a National Seminar on “River Water and Environmental Conservation” was organized in Bhopal on 8th May, 2017. The Govt. of M.P. had entrusted Environmental Planning & Coordination Organization (EPCO), a Govt. of M.P. Department of Environment Organization to coordinate the activities of this seminar. The seminar was attended by eminent personalities like Dr. Rajendra Singh, a wellknown water conservationist also known as “waterman of India”, The Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Anil Madhav Dave and Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff along with esteemed academicians from premier institutions of country like IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IMD, etc. The seminar also had participation of policy makers, practitioners and scientific organizations.
The seminar hosted group discussions & deliberation on 5 themes which hold relevance in the context of river, water & environmental conservation: Current status of conservation and restoration of rivers and reservoirs (In context of Madhya Pradesh); Current Challenges, Issues, Strategy and Action Plan for Rivers, Water Bodies, Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation and activities marked for the protection of Narmada River under the Narmada Seva Mission formed by the state government; Current status of utilization of resources dependent on rivers and their resources, future challenges - issues, strategy and action plan; Current Status, Potential Challenges, Strategy and Action Plan for River Water and Environmental Protection and Food Safety; and Role of Institutional structure, prevailing Acts for rivers, water, environ- ment protection and environmental conservation in the state.
Reaffirming his commitment for conservation of natural resource Hon’ble Chief Minister made many policy announcements to ensure the ecological protection of Narmada River. These include massive plantation on both banks of Narmada, urban sewage treatment, sanitation and housing and enhancement of river based livelihood opportunities for poor people.
Inspired by the Namami Gange project by Shri Narendra Modi, Government of Madhya Pradesh had initiated a massive community based campaign “Namami Devi Narmade” Narmada Seva Yatra, focusing on conservation of the Narmada river through public awareness. This world’s biggest ever river conservation campaign started on December 11, 2016 from Amarkantak, the origin place of Narmada and would culminate on May 15, 2017 at the same place. The main focus of this campaign is to raise awareness about conservation of flora and fauna through enhancing the vegetative cover in the riparian zone of the Narmada river, awareness about sanitation, cleanliness, conservation of water, soil and pollution control.
The campaign has won big applause from the country and abroad. So much so, that the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath has hailed the yatra as the model for Ganga rejuvenation. The Narmada Yatra will be the springboard for clean- up drives in other rivers of Madhya Pradesh like Tapti, Son and Kshipra. This is unique because the Madhya Pradesh government’s efforts will end up benefiting neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar where the Son flows through; Gujarat where the Tapti flows; and Rajasthan, where the Kshipra meets Chambal river. “Tapti, Son and Kshipra rivers will be taken up for conservation and cleaning by next year,” Chouhan said on the sidelines of a seminar on the conservation of Narmada, a week before the 3,000-km yatra winds up.
PM Modi will attend the culmination of the yatra at Amarkantak — the source of Narmada — on May 15. Thanking the PM for his support to the Narmada campaign, Chouhan said: “He is a visionary and is showing the way to the world. He always encourages us and sent over experts of the Ganga Action Plan.”