'Ganga Raksh Manch' demands national-river status for Ganga

Bangalore, Sep 16 (UNI) Ganga Raksha Manch, city unit, has demanded the Centre to declare river Ganga as a national river along with setting up of an authority for its protection.

Convener of the Manch V Jayaram told reporters here that the river has been flowing clean from Gangotry to Ganga sagar for centuries and has contributed to rich-life in its neighbourhood.

But it was now getting badly polluted due to industrial wastes.

''This will cause a catastrophe,'' he said.

The Manch has also planned to conduct awareness programmes at district centres all over the state and submitted a memorandum to the Centre on September 18, he said.

UNI SIV DB 1706