100-km long foot march started at Bhejapadar village on May 8 ended at Chitrakot on Tuesday
“We have succeeded in waking up the inner conscience of the people of Bastar for revival of its life-line, the river Indravati. It was our success that people from all sections of the society and also women and children in a large number got associated with our movement”, opined Padmashree Dharampal Saini.
Saini led the foot march of social activists and residents of Bastar region for revival of River Indrawati under the banner of Indravati Bachao Samiti. The march ended here on Tuesday.
Talking to The Pioneer Saini claimed that their ‘Indrawati Bachao’ movement had also drawn attention of the government and it had taken initiatives in this regard.
“Our movement was purely a non political, though political leaders of the region cutting across party lines came forward and stood beside us in support of our march”, he said.
“The motive of our march was to gauge the situation of the river by marching along its banks. We found that the river is in a pitiable condition,” Saini further added.
The perennial river is now having water in it only for four months that is during rainy season, he said expressing his apprehension about the future of the water body.
It is high time now to revive the river otherwise it will turn into Jora nullah as the water from it is reversing in the nullah and getting its way to neighbouring Odisha.
Meanwhile, the foot march which started on May 8 at Bhejapadar village at the banks of Jora Nullah ended on Tuesday at world famous Chitrakot waterfall from where the river continues its downward journey.
A rousing welcome was accorded to the marchers by rural people of Chitrakot. A traditional folk dance team also performed there. A human chain was also made. Later a meeting was convened by the activists near the waterfall where the finding of the foot march were reviewed.
Also present on this occasion were president, Bastar Chambers of Commerce and Industries Kishor Parekh, in-charge of the foot march Dashrath Kashyap, former MLA Lachchhu Ram Kashyap, Urmila Acharya, president of Sarva Adiwasi Samaj, Kaushal Nagwanshi and Anand Mohan Mishra.