Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan entrusted the Narmada Seva Mission work-plan to the Prime Minister. He announced to open a department in the University for the Study of conservation of rivers and environmental purity. The Chief Minister said that looking at the environmental and spiritual importance of Amarkantak it would be made a mini smart city. This would be the state’s first Mini Smart City. CM was addressing Narmada Sevaks at a grand ceremony on the occasion of the inauguration of Narmada Seva Mission and completion of “Namami Devi Narmade” - Seva Yatra in Amarkantak on Monday.
Chouhan said that the Narmada Seva Yatra acquired support of every class and 25 lakh people connected with Narmada Seva. He said that this has become a social movement. liquor shops with 5 km radius of the banks of Narmada have been closed. Now all villages have become aware towards river conservation. Nearly 80 thousand Narmada Sevaks have connected permanently with this work. large scale tree plantation will be undertaken on the banks of Narmada on July 2.
Vriksh Sevaks will be available to take up the responsibility for its protection. He said that this year 12 crore saplings would be planted. Out of this, 6 crore saplings would be planted on July 2. Next year 15 crore saplings would be planted. Saplings of local species would be planted.
Efforts would be made for the incessant flow of Narmada. Every drop of waste-water will be stopped from entering Narmada for which Sewage Treatment Plants would be set up. Organic farming and solar energy is being encouraged.
Chouhan said that Narmada would not be allowed to get destroyed for sand. Mining work be done on the advice of scientists. No kind of mining will be allowed on the mountains of Amarkantak. He said that he himself would lead the Narmada Seva Mission. Narmada Seva Samitis have begun working in villages. The work-plan of Narmada Seva Mission will be implemented in collaboration with the society.
Every resolution of the Prime Minister would be fulfilled by Madhya Pradesh. From next year the work of conservation of Kshipra, Tapti, Betwa, Chambal and other rivers will commence. The report of the progress of the Narmada Seva Mission work-plan will be dedicated to the public after one year.