Sunday, February 13, 2011

Gomti Yatra from March 27

LUCKNOW: A group of river water conservationists and activists will take up the cause of pollution in Gomti by organising a Gomti Yatra from March 27 to April 2. The activists, belonging to various non-government organisations, will also do sampling on at least 200 spots to assess pollution levels in the river.

A river water conservationist, Venkatesh Dutta, said the yatra will start from the point of origin of Gomti in Pilibhit and end at the point in Ghazipur where Gomti merges with Ganga. The yatra will cover a distance of 900 kms.

Dutta said the samples collected would be tested in laboratories of institutes like Central Drug Research Institute to prove their authenticity. River scientists from some US agencies too would be asked to provide inputs before and after sampling is done.

The yatra is sequel to the Ganga Yatra which was taken up by river water conservationist Rajendra Singh. Singh, popularly known as `Waterman of India', covered the Ganga through a stretch starting from Gaumukh in Uttarakhand.

A retired superintending engineer from the irrigation department, JM Gupta, who is now part of the campaign, said the purpose of the yatra is to spread awareness among people about Gomti and its conservation. "Until people participation is ensured, the river would never be able to revive itself,'' Gupta said.

TOI

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