BJ padyatra in support of Narmada Water Project

Bhopal, Aug 14 (UNI) The Uma Bharti-led Bharatiya Janashakti (BJ) will begin a 12-day, 177 km-long padyatra tomorrow from Shahganj, on the Narmada, to the Madhya Pradesh capital in support of a demand for completion of the Narmada Water Project towards permanently solving this city's potable water problem.

''BJ Madhya Pradesh unit President Raghunandan Sharma will flag off the journey. A signature campaign will also be initiated,'' the party's state General Secretary Bhagwan Das Sabnani told reporters here today.

A memorandum bearing signatures would be handed over to Governor Balram Jakhar. The padyatra would split into three after reaching Misrod on August 19. The three would be led by Mr Sabnani, state unit Vice-President Shailendra Pradhan and Mr Naresh Jadhav.

''In her first cabinet meeting, the then Chief Minister Bharti decided to begin the project. The BJP regime is not implementing it for political reasons. The originally Rs 240-crore project's cost has shot up to Rs 300 crore. Ms Bharti will address a meeting at the local Roshanpura crossing on August 26,'' Mr Sabnani added.

UNI