Union minister of state for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria has urged called upon the people to free the rivers of the country from pollution.

Union minister Kataria made the appeal on Wednesday while participating in the Brahmaputra Amantran Abhiyan, a river rafting expedition and a public outreach programme organized by the Brahmaputra Board at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh.

Kataria requested all the participants to take a pledge to free rivers from pollution and work towards their ‘Nirmalta’ and ‘Aviralta’.

The minister appreciated the cooperation extended by the Arunachal Pradesh government towards the IEC Campaign started by the Brahmaputra Board.

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The rafting expedition and outreach programme started on December 23 from Gelling in Arunachal Pradesh and shall culminate at Assameralga in Assam on January 21, 2021.

The month-long campaign titled as “ Living with the rivers “ is aimed at sensitizing people towards the river Brahmaputra, which is major river that enters India at Arunachal Pradesh and flows through Assam before entering Bangladesh where it merges with river Ganga and drains into the Bay of Bengal.

Speaking at the event, Kataria apprised the students from IIT Guwahati, members of NDRF, North Eastern Space Application Centre Shillong, Central Water Commission, Indian Meteorological Department, Guwahati, scientists and engineers for their support extended towards the efforts of the Jal Shakti ministry for addressing water-related issues by adopting an integrated approach.

Union Jal Shakti Minister 1

He informed that Brahmaputra Amantran Abhiyan was chalked out after an astounding response to the Ganga Amantran Abhiyan conceptualized and executed by the ministry in 2019.

He also informed the participants about the quality work being carried out under the Namami Gange Programme of the government.

Kataria emphasized the inextricable link between rivers and human civilisation.

He added that historically, all human societies have originated and flourished alongside rivers as it is the major source of Life on this planet.

“However, owing to the increase in the population and subsequent urbanization, there is an increased pressure on our river systems,” he said.

“They are also facing the acute problem of pollution as effluents/wastes from the settlements are flushed into the rivers without any treatment,” he added.

He emphasized upon the concept of “River synchronized development” so as to ensure that river conservation and development go hand in hand and complement each other.

Awards were distributed to students for participating in the awareness generation programme and various other competitions organized by the Brahmaputra Board.

Brahmaputra Board chairman Rajiv Yadav, secretary VD Roy, officials of the state and the central government were also present on the occasion.