Ascetics highlight Yamuna pollution to president

School children of Delhi performing voluntary cleaning work at the Yamuna river. File Photo

More than 100 Vaishnavite ascetics from Maharashtra have requested President Pratibha Patil to help save the Yamuna river from pollution.

In a memorandum submitted to the president, whom they met at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi Monday, the delegation members said from Tajewala to Agra, the Yamuna is almost dead due to pollutants.

Braj Life Line convener told mediapersons in Mathura that the president was distressed and expressed concern after listening to the pain and anguish of the Vaishanavites from Amravati in Maharashtra.

The meeting was arranged by the president’s husband, Devisingh Patil, who is a trustee of the Pushtiyamargiya temple of the Vaishanavites in Amravati.

Saints, ascetics and Yamuna bhakts of the Braj mandal area have begun a long march to solicit support for the Save Yamuna movement. It started from Sangam in Allahabad March 2. They are scheduled to reach Fatehpur district Tuesday and will end their march in Delhi mid-April.