Forwarded to the Portal by: Rajendra Singh, Tarun Bharat Sangh
After the designation of River Ganga as the National River, the society's and the government's responsibility to ensure respect and discipline towards it have increased. Now it has become necessary for all to come together and decide how the Ganga can be restored to its natural state. In this context Tarun Bharat Sangh, Jal Biradari Ganga Avahan and the wider friends' community have organized the Ganga Sammelan in New Delhi from 28 to 30, January, 2009.
It is worth mentioning that on Ganga Dusshera Day 2008, the well-known environmental scientist Dr. G.D. Agrawal began a fast-unto-death in Uttarkashi to ensure the perennial natural flow of the River Ganga. Consequently, the state government of Uttarakhand suspended work on two hydroelectric projects. The Union Government appointed a High Level Experts Group to make recommendations on keeping the Bhagirathi Ganga alive and ensuring perennial flow in all its stretches. But more than six months later it has not submitted its report. Anguished by this delay Dr. Agrawal resumed his fast-unto-death in Delhi on Makar Sankranti Day, January 14, 2009.
It is hard to understand why a government that, on the one hand, takes a wise step to declare Ganga as the National River, on the other hand reacts so callously to the demand of the masses of India—represented and echoed through the resumption of the fast unto death by Dr. G. D. Agrawal to restore the natural flow of Mother Ganga.
In such a challenging situation it is necessary for all to come together with a single resolve. In 1916 the British government and the erstwhile Indian Maharajas led by Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya reached an important agreement. In this Sammelan we have invited the representatives of those Maharajas, the government, the society and the special representatives of all religions.
During the Sammelan a Resolution will be passed on the future course of action.
Read more on Dr. Agarwal's renewed fast on the blog here:
Invitation to Ganga sammelan - 2009
31 Jan 2009
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