Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that water treatment plants will be established to purify water in cities located on the banks of river Narmada. Sewage water will be treated and clean water will be utilized by the farmers for irrigation.
Kunds will be constructed on the banks of Narmada to immerse idols and poojan materials. Similarly, mukti dhams will be constructed on river banks to stop pollution. CM Chouhan was addressing the Jan-Sanvad programme held on the occasion of ‘Namami Devi Narmade’ seva yatra at village Chaabi of Mandla district on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Minister in charge of District Sanjay-Satyendra Pathak, MlA Rampyare Kulaste, President Jila Panchayat Sampattiya Uikey, Vice President Jan Abhiyan Parishad Pradeep Pandey, Sadhvi Pragya Bharti, Sadhu –Sants and villagers in large number were present on the occasion.
Chouhan said that Narmada River is a lifeline. People residing on the banks are brought up in the lap of Narmada River. Over 30 percent people of the state are satisfying their thirst with the water of Narmada. The Narmada River has given water, life, fruits, flowers, vegetables and several other natural resources beside electricity and we have felled trees on the banks of Narmada and destroyed the forest. These trees used to provide water to Narmada River but we have reduced the water level and have stopped the water flow of the rivers.
If Narmada flow stops, Madhya Pradesh will not be secured. With an objective to conserve Narmada River, the ‘Namami Devi Narmade’ seva yatra is being organized. Plantation will be undertaken on government, forest and private land of farmers on both the banks of River Narmada which will protect soil erosion. He said that farmers should undertake fruits plantation on their agriculture lands. Provision has been made to provide Rs 20,000 annual compensation per hectare till trees bear fruits. Farmers can take other agriculture crops during the period till trees bear fruits. Also remuneration will be paid to the farmers for undertaking plantation. Plantation on both the banks of the River Narmada is the aim of the yatra. Chouhan informed that 6,376 farmers have taken pledge to undertake plantation till today in Mandla district.
Chouhan mentioned that when Narmada Yatra scheme was formulated, it came to the mind that who will conduct this campaignIJThen Jan Abhiyan Parishad and Sadhu Sants have assured the beginning of yatra and now after a short period of 10 days a large group of people are with yatra. Now society has taken control over the yatra which was begun by the state government.
Chouhan said that mothers still send their daughters not sons to fetch water from hand pumps.