Hema Malini's priorities: Ending monkey menace in Vrindaban, cleaning Yamuna

, Jun 8: BJP MP from Mathura

on Sunday said her priorities would be to bring an end to the monkey menace in Vrindaban, clean the

river and to tap the region's

potential.

The actor-turned-politician said, after consultations with experts and local residents, she would work out a plan to overcome the monkey menace in Vrindaban.

"A plan to set up 'Monkey Safari' will be taken up after consulting the local people. It will facilitate the 40,000-odd monkeys to live in natural environment as the forested areas in Vrindaban is gradually being replaced by concrete jungles," Malini told reporters this afternoon.

On the Yamuna pollution, she said it would be her first priority to clean the river, and added that she had requested the Prime Minister to include it in the Ganga clean-up programme.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured me to include cleaning of Yamuna in the Ganga cleaning programme," she said.

"I have also had consultations with ministers Nitin Gadkari and Uma Bharti in this regard," she added.

Malini said she is contemplating to start a cleanliness awareness drive in her constituency, and sought cooperation of the people.

On tourism front, the BJP MP said, "Mathura has immense tourist potential. Efforts would be made to tap it and make Mathura a tourist hub."

She said she would also work on improving power, water, and road infrastructure in her constituency. The yesteryear actor said she would take initiatives to develop sports and art and culture in the area.

PTI