Magsaysay award-winner Rajendra Singh will launch a 1,080-km yatra from Hamsaladeevi at the mouth of the Krishna to Vijayapura (old name Bijapur) in Karnataka, from Kanakadurga temple here on Wednesday. Mr. Singh, popularly known as ‘Waterman of India’, has been campaigning against the construction of Amaravati on the flood plains of the Krishna.
The ‘Krishna Nadi Parirakshana Yatra’, which will continue up to August 15, will commence at the Kanakadurga temple in the morning and will first reach Hamsaladeevi in Diviseema at the mouth of the river. Vikram Soni, a professor who is know for his work on the protection of the Yamuna flood plains, will participate in the yatra on Wednesday.
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Apex court view
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In a press released here on Tuesday, Mr. Singh said the Supreme Court had declared that rivers were living entities. Like all living entities, the rivers too had birth rights. It was up to the people to protect the birth right of the rivers that provided so many benefits to them, Mr. Singh said.
“For the first time in the country, as many as 100 river protection groups are commencing their yatra from different parts of the rivers, both big and small, simultaneously. Today, I flagged off the yatra pertaining to the Mandovi from Goa. I want the same to happen for the Krishna, but the local leaders want me to be there. So, the yatra is being launched on Wednesday,” he said.
As per the schedule, the yatra would stop at Bhattiprolu, Repalle in Guntur district and then return to Krishna district in Diviseema and end at Hamsaladeevi on the first day. It would begin from Hamsaladeevi on Thursday morning and go all the way to Vijayapura.
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National Green Tribunal petitioner Satya Bolisetti and Amaravati Farmers’ Association leader Anumolu Gandhi would accompany Mr. Singh and Prof. Soni.