Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that Narmada Seva Yatra is being conducted for protection of Narmada river but along with this Yatra, the people will be informed about the evils of liquor. State-wide liquor prohibition campaign will also be launched for it.
Chouhan was addressing a Jan-Sanvad on the 42nd day of the Narmada Yatra in Handia of Harda district on Sunday. Energy Minister Paras Jain, Minister of State for General Administration lal Singh Arya, Minister of State for Other Backward Classes Welfare lalita Yadav and seers-saints were present on the occasion.
Chouhan said that Narmada has given “everything” to Madhya Pradesh but without any consideration tree felling was going on. Narmada Seva Yatra is being taken out to save the river. He said irrigation in 30 percent area is made possible by water from Narmada.
Drinking water is also being supplied to Amarkantak, Dindori, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Omkareshwar and Indore. Treatment plants will be set up to prevent polluted water flowing into the river.
On river linking, Chouhan said that Narmada water was released for ablution of pilgrims in Simhastha. Narmada water is now also for giving new life to Gambhir, Parvati and Kalisindh rivers. Chouhan said that pujan-kund, muktidham and changing rooms would be constructed on Narmada ghats.
Talking about other issues, Chouhan said that the god lives where women are respected. The Chief Minister appealed for sending children to schools. He exhorted farmers to plant fruit-bearing trees one km on either bank of Narmada. The Chief Minister administered a pledge to the gathering to make Narmada pollution-free.
District in-charge Minister lalsingh Arya, Member of Parliament Jyoti Dhurve, MlA Sanjay Shah and district panchayat president Kamal Patel also addressed the programme.