Bhagirathi's 8 km stretch drying up; member

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Quoting satellite imagery of Google Earth, CPI(M) member Rupchand Pal today said an eight kilometre long stretch of Bhagirathi river has dried up.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Lok Sabha, the Marxist member said the dried-up patch of the river was just one km in 2004, adding that the fast recession of the river was alarming and the government must take notice and initiate the necessary measures to check it.

Mr Pal said not only Bhagirathi, but 3-4 other rivers oringiating from Gangotri were also suffering from a similar fate.

He urged the government to set up a committee of experts to find out reasons for it, asking if bad designing of dams built on these rivers were responsible for drying up.

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