A journey to stress importance of restoring prime rivers

Rajendra Singh of The Tharun Bharat Sangh, along with volunteers, to trek along major rivers in T.N.

DINDIGUL

Tamil Nadu River Water Retrieval Movement will kick-start its journey from Kanniyakumari on May 25 to create awareness among rural people of the importance of restoring prime rivers in the State and wipe out drought through sustainable water conservation measures with community participation.

Rajendra Singh of The Tharun Bharat Sangh (TBS), along with volunteers in the State, will trek along the Tamirabarani, meet rural people and conduct meetings at 10 prime locations for community participation in protecting waterbodies.

Similarly, they will cover the Vaigai on May 26, the Cauvery on May 27, the Pennar on May 28, the Palar on May 29 and stage a massive demonstration at Chepauk in Chennai on May 30, according to movement coordinator D. Gurusamy.

Talking to mediapersons here on Monday, he said “Our prime aim is to mobilise people and protect Tamirabarani river and retrieve the abundant wealth of other prime rivers in the State.”

Gandhigram Trust secretary K. Shiva Kumar said the Trust, along with the TBS, would adopt Valaiyapatti village in Gandhigram panchayat and implement water conservation measures to rehabilitate waterbodies at the village. On the basis of its success, it would extend this trial to 50 villages under its service zone.

Mr. Rajendra Singh would guide the rural people at these villages to implement various water restoration works and water conservation measures to improve groundwater sources.

To achieve the feat, 50 volunteers from North India would work at this village. Similarly, volunteers from Tamil Nadu would go to North India to work for the welfare of the villagers and learn their water conservation techniques, he added.