Ganga Sparsh Abhiyan

The entire world today recognizes Uttarakhand because of the Char Dham Yatra and Kumbh Mela. The successful holding of the recently-concluded Kumbh Mela was a feather in the cap of the state government. Two major events took place during the Kumbh this year - the release of the 'Vishwa Hindu Dharma Kosh' and the start of the Ganga Sparsh Abhiyan.

These were the words of former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani in Gangotri recently. He was speaking at the launch of the State Government's Nirmal Ganga-Sparsh Ganga Programme.

Advani further said that he had finally fulfilled his ardent desire to visit Gangotri. He praised the Chief Minister, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, for launching the programme in right earnestness. He also showered praise on Nishank for smooth conduct of the Kumbh. He said that he had asked the CM to get a scientific count done to ascertain the number of people that participated in Kumbh. As per the count conducted by ISRO, this time the number as on 14 April at the main Shahi Snan had turned out to be 1.62 crores.

Nishank reiterated that the state government was dedicated to restoring the purity of the Ganga. He added that the state cabinet keeping in mind the sacredness attached to the holy river has appealed to the Centre to declare the Ganga as world heritage. He outlined seven main objectives under the Sparsh Ganga Campaign. They are making the river polythene free; not allowing disposal of waste into the Ganga; segregating waste into bio and non-biodegradable categories; turning bio-degradable waste into compost; recycling of non-biodegradable waste; using waste as a resource and properly managing it. This aim would be accomplished only if this work is taken up with sincerity, he asserted. He stated that students working on this programme had walked long distances to collect as many as 150 bags of waste. Apart from students, Mahila Mangal Dals, NSS volunteers and NGOs have all become part of the campaign.

Present on the occasion were former Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Uma Bharti , Gopal Rawat, Zila Panchayat President Narayan Singh Chauhan, Vice-Chairman of the Char Dham Development Board Surat Ram Nautiyal, BJP State President Vishan Singh Chufal, former MP T.P.S. Rawat, Swami Chidanand, Naresh Bansal and many others.