Jairam Ramesh emphasises at the need of river conservation

New Delhi, Feb 10 (ANI): Union Minister of state for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday stressed at the need to conserve the rivers.

Addressing the gathering on Ganga- Yamuna summit organised by the Nehru Memorial Library and Museum here Jairam Ramesh said: "I have said in the parliament that India is a civilization of rivers, and it should not become a land of tunnels."

Ramesh said some new projects on Bhagirathi River would not be allowed.

"There are no two opinions, there is just one mass opinion that the projects proposed on the river Bhagirathi, named Pala Maneri and Bhaironghati projects, will not be entertained any further by the government," Ramesh added.

Earlier this month, the Centre hinted at scrapping two of the three hydel projects at the source of the Ganga but the final decision would be taken after the meeting of Ramesh with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Speaking in the summit, Shankracharya Swami Avimukteswaranand expressed concern that there was no progress in cleaning the River Ganges, which has been declared a national river.

"Ganga was declared National River, and it has been an year that it was announced. But then also one whole year has passed, I see no change in the conditions of the river," said Avimukteswaranand.

Meanwhile, the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) has sanctioned a Rs 315.34 crore toi check the pollution of the River Ganga. (ANI)