Centre should help UP govt clean Ganga, says Akhilesh
THE BEST WAY When clean water from all tributaries of Ganga will flow into the river, it will get cleaned to a large extent, says chief minister
VARANASI: Seeking more funds from the Centre to clean the Ganga, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said the best way to clean the river was to clean its tributaries first. Saying that the UP government was determined to clean the river, Akhilesh also sought the Centre’s help in this endeavour.
Addressing media persons he said, “We are making serious efforts to clean the river. Dredging is on to clean the Varuna river, a tributary of the Ganga. Work is also on to clean all the other small rivers across the state.”
“Tributary rejuvenation is the best way to clean the river. When clean water from all these tributaries will flow into the Ganga, the river will get cleaned to a large extent. The state government needs support and funds from the Centre to clean the river completely. “
Yadav was here to attend the marriage ceremony of former parliamentarian Toofani Saroj’s daughter at Katheravan village in Phoolpur area, situated 30 km from the city.
Indirectly attacking the Centre for not taking any concrete steps to clean the river he said, “We Samajwadis don’t make false promises like others. We stay true to our word.” Though he didn’t mention Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name, his statement referred to Modi’s promise to make serious efforts to clean the Ganga.
Answering a question related to special projects for Varanasi he said, “A medical college is coming up in Chandauli. A metro project is also in the pipeline. We have done a lot of development in Varanasi and will continue to do so.”
Asked whether Dalits will be an issue in the 2017 assembly polls Akhilesh said, “My government thinks of development of every section of the society. We have launched various schemes for the welfare of Dalits.” Asked to comment on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mission 265 plus in UP, the CM said that the party will achieve less than half of the seats it is aspiring to achieve.
“The people know who has done development in the state,” Yadav said, adding that the development done by the SP will give a befitting reply to those who talked more but delivered less.
Confident that the people of Uttar Pradesh will not disappoint him, Yadav said that ‘Akhilesh government once more’ will lead to further development in the state.