Prayagraj: Considering that mini or ‘small’ forests have to be developed in Prayagraj and Pratapgarh districts for environmental protection, the land of Gram Sabha will be used for the same as the chief development officer (CDO) of both the districts would be asked to search and identify land for the purpose, informed divisional commissioner Sanjay Goyal, on Thursday.
Goyal was speaking at a seminar organised at the circuit house of the city to mark the conclusion of the Atulya Ganga Yatra.
The yatra, which started from Prayagraj on December 16 last year, culminated on Wednesday at Samudrakoop of Jhunsi.
Goyal further said that the team, which has undertaken an extensive journey on both the banks of Ganga and mapped several important components including the polluting drains, should share the information with the administration of those districts through which the Ganga passes so that appropriate steps could be taken.
He also suggested that the youth of Gram Sabha should be connected in Ganga Yatra following which there will be more awareness among the youth regarding the river and the means to protect it.
He suggested preparing a proposal for a mini forest in every village.
Distinguished speaker IG KP Singh said that today the need is to clean all the rivers of the Ganga basin, not just Ganga and continuous efforts are being carried out in this direction.
“The day is not far when the rivers will be clean,” he said.
DIG Sarvashresth Tripathi said that the efforts of the nine members of the Atulya Ganga team are like the Bhagirath as these people are contemplating the purity and the aviral (continuous) flow of the Ganges.
Colonel (retired) Mike Keshwar laid the outline of the 190-day Ganga Yatra.
He told how the journey passed through its various stages.
During this, the second phase of the corona epidemic also struck.
Many people got infected but some still resolved to complete the journey.
Gopal Sharma, a founding member of Incredible Ganga, told how in 1987 he had dreamed of this journey, which has now been fulfilled.
He said that it is not only about the cleanliness of the Ganga.
Close to 40 per cent of the country’s population lives on the banks of the Ganges or the tributaries of the Ganges.
Today, when we talk about saving the Ganga, we talk about the 40 per cent of the population that is living here.
The team members also suggested that they feel public participation is necessary for the cleanliness of Ganga.
Land should be registered in the name of Ganga and plantation should be done there.