Shukla welcomes declaring Ganga as national river

Raipur, Nov 5 (UNI) Former Water Resources Minister and senior Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla today welcomed declaring Ganga as national river by the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.

In a statement here, Mr Shukla congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for declaring Ganga as national river. The long-cherished desire of the people and saints of our country was fulfilled, he said.

''Ganga not only symbolised our culture and faith, but it serves as lifeline to crores of people of our country. The onus to keep the Ganga and other rivers free of pollution should not be on the government alone but the people should take responsibility to keep the rivers clean'', Mr Shukla said.

UNI AS-BDG SP 1408