The Hindu : National : Concern over degradation of rivers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 27, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Concern over degradation of rivers

Staff Reporter

“There is an urgent need to come up with a national policy”

NEW DELHI: Concerned over rapid degradation of rivers across the country, water conservation activists will confabulate here this coming week to devise a strategy for bringing about a national policy on rivers.

The three-day “River Revival” meeting is scheduled to take place at Bal Bhawan from Monday with the objective of sharing the experiences of the ongoing Yamuna Satyagraha.

“There is an urgent need to come up with a national policy on rivers. Most of the rivers across the country are dying; there is public and Government apathy. At this meeting we will make efforts to come up with strategies to save the rivers and water bodies,” said Magsaysay Award winner and water conservation expert Rajinder Singh.

“There is,” he added, “a need to devise strategy to bring the Central and State governments into the dialogue process with civil society for protection and revival of our rivers.”

Referring to the condition of the rivers today, Mr. Singh said: “The rivers are suffering from pollution, encroachments and underground water exploitation. With this convention, we expect from the authorities a decisive step to frame policies for their protection and revival and the possible role of civil society in support of such policies.”

The convention will have representatives from the State, civil society and religious sects to discuss the ways of reviving the rivers, which traditionally have been treated as “sacred”.

“Experts who have devised creative preservation schemes and heads and representatives of various government agencies will participate in future planning for the revival of the rivers. We are hopeful that by the end of the three-day meet some conclusive ideas on river revival will be put forth,” said Mr. Singh.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National