The fourth three-day River Festival organised by Narmada Samagra was inaugurated at the confluence spot of Narmada-Tava rivers here on Friday amid presence of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sahkaryavah Suresh (Bhaiyaji) Joshi, chief of Parmarth Niketan – Rishikesh, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Madhya Pradesh Assembly speaker Sitasaran Sharma, former justice of Supreme Court Devdutt Madhav Dharmahikari, MP Uday Pratap Singh, president Narmada Samagra Amrit lal Vegad and secretary and MP Anil Madhav Dave.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in his address said, “Due to our tampering with the nature, the climate cycle is changing; and as a result the crop cycle has been affected. Farmers will have to prepare their mindset for organic farming. If the produce would come down due to organic farming then the investment would also come down as the expenses done on expensive fertilisers and pesticides. And in the end the profit would remain the same, so why should we make our land poisonous.”
Chouhan further said, “Our culture says that all living organisms, plants and trees have part of god in them; hence we should care for all. Satpura and Vindhyachal both mountains are brothers of Narmada River that is why we should do dense tree plantations on both the banks of Narmada.”
Earlier, Dave in his welcome speech said that this year representatives of 310 rivers are participating in the festival. These representatives would now share their experiences for three days that would strengthen the spirit of saving rivers in the society. The effect of increasing chemicals pollution is becoming visible on the kidneys of our young generation. Those who worship rivers are polluting them the most, he added.
At the outset of programme MP Assembly speaker Sitasaran Sharma while expressing gratitude towards all those present said, “Polythene and plastic would not be used in the 2016 Simhasta and arrangements would be made for the world saint community to discuss environmental value based life in the Simhasta.”