Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that to ensure that Narmada continues to flow incessantly, it is necessary that more and more trees should be planted in both the banks of Narmada and in its catchment area. Along with this, the farmers of Narmada bank should plant fruit bearing trees in their fields.
Chouhan said that to prevent contamination of the holy water of Narmada, sewage and dirt have to be stopped from entering Narmada. He said that wherever there are eucalyptus trees in the catchment area of Narmada, we have to remove them. Eucalyptus absorbs water and makes the earth barren. Chouhan said that more and more Sal trees would be planted, as they release water from their roots, which joins the Narmada in the form of small streams and makes the river incessant. He said that the government alone cannot protect and promote Narmada, for this the society too will have to put in efforts.
The Chief Minister was addressing the programme of Narmada Seva Mission at Narmada Anwlighat in Sehore district at the conclusion of Narmada Parikrama Yatra under the leadership of Mahamandaleshwar Shri Shri 1008 Ishwaranand Uttam Swami Maharaj. In the Narmada Parikrama, 182 passengers completed a journey of 3445 km in 165 days. The Parikrama was organized by Tapan Bhowmik.
Chouhan said that a campaign to plant trees would be launched on the upcoming Hariyali Amavasya. With this campaign, more and more trees will be planted for about a month by connecting the entire society. He said that the Jan Abhiyan Parishad would fix the place where the trees will be planted and the species of trees to be planted. Chouhan also administered a pledge to the people present to plant more and more trees for environmental protection and not to dirty the Narmada.
Chouhan said that no construction would be allowed on Maikal mountain of Amarkantak, the origin of Narmada. For the convenience of tourists visiting Amarkantak, there will be permission for hotels, restaurants etc. under the mountain. He appealed to the farmers not to burn Narwai. The fertility of the earth is destroyed by burning Narwai. Excessive use of pesticides poses health hazards. He said that farmers should adopt natural farming, in the initial phase, they should do natural farming on less land.
the Chief Minister encouraged the farmers to take up cow rearing. He said that this would help them a lot in natural farming and every month Rs 900 would be given by the government for cow rearing. Chouhan said that more and more ponds will have to be built on both sides of Narmada under Amrit Sarovar Yojana. This will increase the ground water level. Chouhan said that Narmada Parikrama will generate awareness among the people, which will prove useful for the conservation and promotion of Narmada.
Member of Parliament and State BJP President VD Sharma said that Narmada Parikrama is very important for public awareness. This will inspire people to protect, promote and have faith in Maa Narmada. He said that the state government is working at its level for the protection and promotion of Maa Narmada, but it is necessary to connect the people and the society with it.
Mahamandaleshwar Sri Sri 1008 Shri Ishwaranand Uttam Swami, Narmada Parikrama Yatra Pramukh, said that the experience of the 165-day journey has been wonderful. It is not possible to express it in such a less time.
Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Food Processing Industries Prahlad Patel, Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development Faggan Singh Kulaste, Member of Parliament Ramakant Bhargava emphasized on making combined efforts for the protection and promotion of the Narmada.