Covering 16 States of India and 9000 kms rally for rivers started by Isha Foundation reached Haridwar on Sunday. It was received by many including the State Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at the ‘VIP’ ghat along with members of the religious fraternity and other personalities. Many people participated in the rally aimed at awareness for saving the rivers of India. The nationwide campaign, which was flagged-off on September 3 this year, has taken the form of a massive movement across the country and will culminate in Delhi on October 2, averred the event organisers. Jaggi Vasudev of Isha Foundation is himself heading the rally by road from Kanyakumari to Himalayas.
Giving snapshots of the present conditions of various parts of the country, the founder of Isha Foundation said that in Uttarakhand, a third of over 800 perennial streams have become seasonal or perished. Water levels have dropped by over 65 per cent. The Ganga is one of the most endangered rivers in the world. If we do not act now to reverse this, the legacy we hand over to the next generation will be one of conflict and deprivation. The most important source of water our rivers - are facing a grave crisis. “We are in the last leg of awareness journey and have created awareness among all sections of society about the need to Rally for Rivers, garner public support and momentum for the campaign.
Vasudev said, “This is not a protest or an agitation but a campaign to raise awareness that our rivers are depleting. Everyone who consumes water must rally for rivers. The simplest solution to rejuvenate India’s rivers is to maintain a minimum of one kilometer tree cover on riversides. Trees help keep rivers perennial, mitigate floods and drought, increase precipitation and prevent soil erosion,” said the seer. Baba Ramdev gave the seer dakshina for planting one lakh trees to which the seer said that he needed dakshina of One crore miss calls on number 80009 80009. “Just one missed call from you will be part of a huge wave to revive our rivers” and Baba Ramdev assured him for 2 crore miss calls.
The completely dry Yamuna has led to concerns that Taj Mahal could start sinking because of lack of moisture in its foundations, remarked Sadguru. let this not be the condition of ganga said the seer.
Driving with the leaders and celebrities actively participating in various legs of the rally, the seer Vasudev has got support from 15 Chief Ministers of the States of the country. The State Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said, “Ganga would not be cleaned with talks alone, to keep it clean we have to bring it in the practice. It was a serious matter that the water of hills was constantly reducing. The need of conservation of water was urgent.” Giving a day to day example the Minister said thousands of liters of water was wasted in toilet cistern. 10 litres of water was flushed in one blow. Putting drinking water bottle in cistern could save the wastage of water.”
An expert committee of environmental scientists and lawmakers is also in the process of drawing up a draft policy recommendation that suggests a tree cover up to a depth of 1 km on either side of the river said the seer. Planting of forest trees on Government land and fruit trees on farm land can be done to ensure that moisture in the soil and the air feeds the rivers throughout the year. With this the rivers are restored and farmers’ livelihood also enhanced significantly by gradually shifting from crop to Tree - based agriculture.
Commenting on the need for Rally For Rivers Jaggi Vasudev said, “The stark reality is that 25 per cent of India is turning into desert and in 15 years, we may have only half the water we need for our survival. The Kaveri has lost 40% of its flow. Krishna and Narmada have lost around 60%. It is estimated that 65% of our water needs are met by rivers. We consume water not just to drink or for domestic purposes but 80% of water is used to grow our food. Each person’s average water requirement is 1.1 million litres a year. Flood, drought and rivers turning seasonal are increasingly leading to crop failure across the country. It is high time we conserve our source of water.”
Yog guru Baba Ramdev from Patanjali Yogpeeth, Swami Chidanand Saraswati from Parmarth Niketan, Satpal Maharaj, Swami Harichetnanand from Hari Seva ashram, Jagjit Singh Maharaj from Nirmal Sant Ashram were amongst the few eminent saints present Sounds of Isha, Isha’s own home grown, anomalous group of musicians will perform at the event.