Ganga still polluted before Ardh Kumbh Mela: Joshi

Allahabad, Dec 29 (UNI) Senior BJP leader and former union minister Murli Manohar Joshi today lamented that the water of Ganga was still polluted wish only six days left for the Ardh Kumbh mela to start.

Talking to newspersons here, Dr Joshi said Ganga appeared red due to pollution and was not fit for bathing and 'achman'.

''Sewers are still discharging waste directly in the river at various points and no efforts have been made to check them,'' he added.

Dr Joshi, who himself hails from Allahabad, said crore of people from various parts of the country and abroad come to Ardh Kumbh and they not only bathe in Ganga, but also take its water with them.

''Both the union and state governments are not sincere and are responsible for the prevailing pollution in the river.'' Dr Joshi said not only drains, but the effluents of factories were falling in Ganga and the government had failed to check it.

''Unless adequate water is not released from Narora Dam, the river water would remain polluted,'' he opined.

He warned both the state and union governments not to play with the religious sentiments of the Hindus and understand the importance of the Ardh Kumbh Mela and purity of the Ganges.

The BJP leader alleged the government actually wanted to prevent people from coming to such melas.

''The Ganga Action Plan to clean Ganga river has miserably failed,'' he maintained demanding a thorough inquiry and suggesting, the union government to take over the responsibility of cleaning Ganga instead of depending on the states.

''Religious fairs should not be treated as sources of earning revenue. It is the social responsibility of the government to provide all basic facilities in the mela.'' he said.

In reply to a question, Dr Joshi claimed the mela preparations were still incomplete.

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