Clean ganga mission on war footing

[sarang]

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This kind of news will escape MSM and dirt diggers in the hindu society, and so deserves airing.

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[h=2]CLEAN GANGA MISSION ON WAR FOOTING[/h]Tuesday, 17 March 2015 | Rahul Datta\Archana Jyoti | New Delhi


In a bid to bolster efforts to de-pollute the Ganga, the Government has approved a plan to raise three Territorial Army (TA) battalions. In the first phase, these battalions will clean the banks of the holy river at designated zones and then undertake measures like water desalination, purification and afforestation along the Ganga.

The battalions (one battalion has 1,000 men) will work under the directions of the Ministry of Water Resources, which is responsible for the ambitious Clean Ganga campaign. The Army will train these personnel.

Specially trained engineers, environmentalists and scientists will form part of the battalions apart from skilled manpower to handle complex water purifying plants, sources said. The Water Resources Ministry will provide funds and equipment like desalination plants and sewage treatment units to these battalions. They will also help various agencies in soil treatment along the banks of the Ganga to enhance fertility of land for agricultural purposes.

In its maiden Budget, the Modi Government had announced a Rs6,300-plus crore ‘Namami Gange’ scheme. While Rs2,037 crore was allocated for rejuvenating the river, another Rs4,200 crore was proposed to be spent on developing a navigation corridor in the next six years.
In addition, a sum of Rs100 crore was allocated for developments of Ghats and beautification of River Fronts at Kedarnath, Haridwar, Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Patna and Delhi in the Budget.

The Government has devised a three-phase plan spanning for nearly 18 years to clean the river with the short-term plan — including stopping open nallahs from falling into the river, restriction industrial and chemical discharge into the river among others. The Government also announced a ‘NRI Ganga fund’ to help drive fund collection, the money from which will be spent on ‘special projects’ related to the cleanliness of the river.

Clean Ganga mission on war footing

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

Having read about the high pollution in the Ganga river water
( I call it as Ganga jal ki dhal dhal)
I was worried at people giving it as holy teertham to the departing souls.
Then it dawned on me that copper is a great purifier and always the Ganga jal is packed/ sealed in the copper chombus.
So our ancestors had known that the holy teertham needs to be kept pure also.
I can't vouch for the purity of the bottled teertham however!

 

[sudeshwer]

I read in the newspapers that various countries vzi Israel, Germany etc are offering their expertise. - srinivasan

 

[Brahmanyan]

Having read about the high pollution in the Ganga river water
( I call it as Ganga jal ki dhal dhal)
I was worried at people giving it as holy teertham to the departing souls.
Then it dawned on me that copper is a great purifier and always the Ganga jal is packed/ sealed in the copper chombus.
So our ancestors had known that the holy teertham needs to be kept pure also.
I can't vouch for the purity of the bottled teertham however!

Dear Mrs Visalakshi Ramani,

Namaskaram,
Holy Ganga is most sacred river in our country. It runs for a distance of 2525 kms from its origin in Gaumukh under the Gangotri glacier in the Himalayas to Meghna estuary in Bangadesh where it joins Bay of Bengal. Unfortunately this holy river is also ranked high among the polluted rivers in the world.

I am fortunate to travel to Gaumukh at an elevation of 12769 ft.at the age of 70 and have the darshan of the majestic Bhagirathi flowing from the mouth of Gaumukh under the mighty Gangotri glacier. Bagirathi joins Alakananda at Devapryag and runs as Ganga.

It is my view that the purity of Ganga water is becuse of mix of water from Sulphur springs in the upper ranges of Himalayas. I have taken bath in Taptakund in Badrinath and Gowrikund on the ways to Kedarnath, as also in the hot springs in Gangnani on the way to Gangotri. While trekking from Gangotri to Gaumukh we can see yellow shades of Sulphur on the rock faces in the high regions.

Ganga water is pure upto Righikesh. The pollution of the holy river from the flow of dirty water from Towns and Cities from this place only. It needs complete dedication and support from the States through which holy river flows.

Shri Narendra Modi has taken up a humongous task. Let us join and wish him success in this huge mission.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore,

 

[sudeshwer]

I agree with Mr Brahmanyan. I also had an opportunity to visit Gangotri, Jamunothri, Kedranath and Badrinath. You can say Ganga is pure till Haridwar; after that all only all dirty wastes are pouring in it particularly in Kanpur where number of leather tanneries' waste-water are funnelled into Ganga. about Mata Ganga there are two stories. One, Ganga flowed only on space and when Lord Vamana placed his one foot on the space, Ganga started flowing into the earth. On space she was Mandagini but now-a-days in Badrinath, the river is also called Mandagini. till Rudrprayag river flowing from Kedarnath it is called Bhagrathi and when it joins at Devprayag with Mandagini, it becomes Ganga. once I did Malaya tharpanam at Devprayag. yes it is very very sad to Ganga polluted after Haridwar. However, as Sri Prapanjan mentioned in Kalki, although Ganga Mata wears dirty clothes Mata(Amma) always will be Amma. Let us pray Modi Ji's efforts become fruitful and Ganga becomes clean - srinivasan

 

[Brahmanyan]

I agree with Mr Brahmanyan. I also had an opportunity to visit Gangotri, Jamunothri, Kedranath and Badrinath. You can say Ganga is pure till Haridwar; after that all only all dirty wastes are pouring in it particularly in Kanpur where number of leather tanneries' waste-water are funnelled into Ganga. about Mata Ganga there are two stories. One, Ganga flowed only on space and when Lord Vamana placed his one foot on the space, Ganga started flowing into the earth. On space she was Mandagini but now-a-days in Badrinath, the river is also called Mandagini. till Rudrprayag river flowing from Kedarnath it is called Bhagrathi and when it joins at Devprayag with Mandagini, it becomes Ganga. once I did Malaya tharpanam at Devprayag. yes it is very very sad to Ganga polluted after Haridwar. However, as Sri Prapanjan mentioned in Kalki, although Ganga Mata wears dirty clothes Mata(Amma) always will be Amma. Let us pray Modi Ji's efforts become fruitful and Ganga becomes clean - srinivasan

Dear Sri Srinivasan,

You must be blessed to perform Mahalaya Tarpanam at Devaprayag, where Bagirathi and Alakananda from Badri join to form Ganga.

There are five Prayags known as Panchaprayag or confluences of five holy rivers . First is Vishnuprayag the Alaknanda River, which originates from Satopanth glacier is joined by the Dhauli Ganga River near Joshimath (on Joshimath - Badrinath route). Alaknanda flows in front of the Badrinath temple. Second is Nand Prayag in the cascade sequence of the confluences where the Nandakini River joins the main Alaknanda River. The third is Karna Prayag the location where Alaknanda River is joined by the Pindar River that originates from the Pindar glacier in Nandadevi range. Next is Rudra Prayag where the Alaknanda meets the Mandakini River. The confluence is named after Rudra, who is Lord Shiva. It is a sight to view the roaring Mandakini from Kedarnath joining peaceful Alakananda from Badrinath. Next is the fifth Prayag at Devaprayag. Here the roaring Baghirathi from Tehri joins the placid Alakananda to form mighty Ganga.

Devaprayag is a Brahmin (Vedic) center. Most of the brahmins who perform rituals for the pilgrims in the western Himalayan prilgrimage centers come from this place. There is an ancient Temple of Raghunathji situated in Devaprayag.

The holiest Prayag is the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi known as Prayagraj at Allahabad.

I am lucky to take bath in Devaprayag and Rudraprayag during my journeys to Badri and Kedar.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

dear Sri. Brahmanyan,
Namaste! ray2:
A good beginning is half the task done.
Cleaning up Ganga will be a Himalayan task.
So what?
Where there is a will there is a way!
If man can plant a forest single-handedly;
if another man can make a path on the rocky mountains by his own efforts,
a nation pledged for cleaning up Ganga can surely go ahead and achieve it.
I hope this miracle happens soon enough!

 

[Brahmanyan]

Dear Mrs. Visalakshi Ramani,

Namasthe,
Agreed with your statement.
In fact I would suggest our Government should accept the
help offered by Germany. I have seen the river Rhine in that country and cruised a short distance in the same. It reminded me of our Ganga. The Rhine is kept very clean in spite of many towns and cities big and small situated both sides. Our concern should be our
growing population and poverty. We also need a dynamic Minister to captain the team for detailed planning and coordinate the execution with many States and agencies.
Warm regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

 

[vgane]

It is indeed a noble task..Notices have been issued to about 270 industries on the banks of the river either to install Effluent treatment plan or face penalty & shutdown!

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

Dear Mrs. Visalakshi Ramani,

Namasthe,
Agreed with your statement.
In fact I would suggest our Government should accept the
help offered by Germany. I have seen the river Rhine in that country and cruised a short distance in the same. It reminded me of our Ganga. The Rhine is kept very clean in spite of many towns and cities big and small situated both sides. Our concern should be our
growing population and poverty. We also need a dynamic Minister to captain the team for detailed planning and coordinate the execution with many States and agencies.
Warm regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

Dear Sir,
namaste!
People have always settled down near river banks and polluted the rivers.
But when the river loses its power to overcome the rate of pollution
serious problem develops.
If the fund flows in the right direction (to the paddy and not to the weeds)
surely this can be achieved by our dynamic new government. :thumb:

 

[sudeshwer]

Dear Sri Srinivasan,

You must be blessed to perform Mahalaya Tarpanam at Devaprayag, where Bagirathi and Alakananda from Badri join to form Ganga.

There are five Prayags known as Panchaprayag or confluences of five holy rivers . First is Vishnuprayag the Alaknanda River, which originates from Satopanth glacier is joined by the Dhauli Ganga River near Joshimath (on Joshimath - Badrinath route). Alaknanda flows in front of the Badrinath temple. Second is Nand Prayag in the cascade sequence of the confluences where the Nandakini River joins the main Alaknanda River. The third is Karna Prayag the location where Alaknanda River is joined by the Pindar River that originates from the Pindar glacier in Nandadevi range. Next is Rudra Prayag where the Alaknanda meets the Mandakini River. The confluence is named after Rudra, who is Lord Shiva. It is a sight to view the roaring Mandakini from Kedarnath joining peaceful Alakananda from Badrinath. Next is the fifth Prayag at Devaprayag. Here the roaring Baghirathi from Tehri joins the placid Alakananda to form mighty Ganga.

Devaprayag is a Brahmin (Vedic) center. Most of the brahmins who perform rituals for the pilgrims in the western Himalayan prilgrimage centers come from this place. There is an ancient Temple of Raghunathji situated in Devaprayag.

The holiest Prayag is the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi known as Prayagraj at Allahabad.

I am lucky to take bath in Devaprayag and Rudraprayag during my journeys to Badri and Kedar.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

thank y Mr Brahmanyan, appreciate yr excellent details. we also took bath at Mandagini in Badrinath. was told Adi Sankara took out the present Lord Badrinath murthy from the bottom of the river. in fact I did pind-dhan at Brahmakapal with Badrinath temple prasadam. I took bath at Rudrprayag as well as Devaprayag. in fact for Thiruveni, we did visisted Rameshwaram where after doing srardhm and brahmana bhoojn we took sand from the sea; then went to Allahabad where we did some puja at Sangam, then proceeded to Banaras where we did srardham at five places on Ganges on boat, roceeded to Gaya where also we did some pin-dhan with Marathi brahmins and after that we went again to Rameshwaram and did necessary pujas. I am narrating these not to sho something but I wish to point out that with God's grace and my forefathers' blessing I was able to do these rituals. many people have done; nothing to be proud of but yet I feel happy and satisfied. One thing I want to point out. There is a place called Gadmuktheswar, on the banks of Ganga, 100 km from Delhi. My FIL and mysef had been there to take bath. My FIL did some devi puja and I recited 1008 Gayatri japa. The important ting I want to point is that when we were about to return we saw few people carrying dead-body proceeding to the river. I asked one bystander who said that they will take the body to the center of the river by boat and drop the body so that crocodile will eat it. It is so much agonising. I wish present efforts of cleaning Ganga will look into this aspect also. - srinivasan

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Parliament debates on Ganga Jal !!

BJP MP's query on origins of Ganga leaves LS amused

Do you think Ganga can ever be cleaned by such elected people ??

 

[sarang]

Reporting on the question and answer is identical in all magazines. It must be an agency report, and mags are clever to qualify such reports with an escape class. One has to dig deep what was the exact question to understand what the mp wanted to judge whether the minister's reply was in line with the question.

Any way ma ganga is in the agenda of the govt, and there will be more questions and answers on this topic in years to come. Cremation and immersion of asti are also relevant issues in the operation ganga, and are also discussed with the stake holders, the priests, the boatmen and sants.

 

[sarang]

It appears both the mp and the minister were serious:

चौहान ने पूछा था कि --'मैं यह जानना चाहता हूं कि गंगा को कौन लाया? वह क्यों लाया? इसमें नहाने का क्या प्रभाव होता है?' ये अटपटे सवाल सुनते ही सदन में अधिकांश सदस्यों की हंसी फूट प़़डी वहीं कई सदस्य चौहान की ओर हैरानी भरे अंदाज में देखने लगे। मंत्री जाट ने कहा कि यह ऐतिहासिक विषय है। माना जाता है कि भगीरथ जनता के कल्याण के लिए गंगा को लाए। इसके लिए भगीरथ ने तपस्या की थी। धर्मग्रंथों के अनुसार भगीरथ ने भगवान शिव को प्रसन्न कर उनसे इस पवित्र नदी को स्वर्ग से धरती पर लाने की प्रार्थना की थी।

 

[sudeshwer]

Mr Sarang, Chohan and others r only interested in discussion and not 'cleaning' Ganges. reg. what Chohan says about Ganga 'coming' to earth, there is one school of opinion (I think I have already mentioned it). when Lord Vamana placed one foot on the space, Ganga broke the space and came down to earth with Lord Siva held her in his 'hair' (mudi) to slow the process. These r all not relevant now, to meet the present world situation the river Ganges has to be cleaned. I have visited many rivers in USA, Europe and Australia. people themselves behave well i not spoiling the water. while issuing licences to industries, these Govt put a condtion not to release any plluted water and waste and also the industry has put a plant for cleaning the waste/water etc. Also, apart from my experience in Ghatmukteswar, in Banaras, half-burnt dead bodies r pushed into the water. this is a belief of Hindus of centuries-old; how it cud be stopped is mind bongling. In Bangalore, buring of dead bodies r not allowed; only in electric cremotorium. I dont know if any other Indian city has started this. these r the main points Modi Govt has to look into. God bless them - srinivasan

 

[sarang]

Prabhu ghat after cleaning by a team of volunteers on 19 march.

 

[sudeshwer]

yes I remember having seen earlier position and present position of Prabhughat. It looks very nice. hope all ghats all along Ganges will transform like this. then, purpose of Modi choosing Banaras as his LB constituency shud pay off. - srinivasan

 

[kunjuppu]

Prabhu ghat after cleaning by a team of volunteers on 19 march.

dear sarang, i may be mistaken, but the issue here is not the cleaning of the ghats. this is very superficial and easy to achieve.

the real big issue, as i understand it, is that we have a river, which for everyone north of the vindhyas, and many to the south too, is considered holy and venerated. and in the same breath abused, with not only our execrements ie of human, but of animals, and worse still, the man made chemicals resulting from the cleansing of carcasses and everything else that could be deemed chemically polluting,dumped into ganga, without any second thought.

the immensity of the problem, can be understood, if thought through, that it gives employment probably to 100 million or more in the indo gangetic plain (i have no proof of this and the figure just out of my head).

for each step modi or anyone takes, there will be thousands, if not millions, who will protest, because it affects their livelihood one way or the other. and these will be hindus. and many of them brahmins. not tambrams though .

i think, one needs to think through the immensity of the issue, the solution suggested in detail, and the cost involved. political and emotional loyalty is one thing. but to put it to practice is a different matter altogether.

if people had this much reverence for the ganga, such pollution and corruption would not have happened in the first place. right?

please enlighten me. thank you.

 

[sarang]

I have no need to enlighten you. With resources available from the heavenly north, one can get all the information if there is genuine interest and concern. Efforts are on all fronts to clean ma ganga. It is futile to blame Hindus as cvorrupt or irreverant now, an eternal source of fun for a few watching from the fence.

 

[kunjuppu]

I have no need to enlighten you. With resources available from the heavenly north, one can get all the information if there is genuine interest and concern. Efforts are on all fronts to clean ma ganga. It is futile to blame Hindus as cvorrupt or irreverant now, an eternal source of fun for a few watching from the fence.

nobody was blaming you or the hindus or anyone else.

a clean ghat may be a good beginning, but i am only stating the obvious ie the magnitude of the issue. and the vested economic interests who do the pollution now. whatever is done, should not be a one day wonder but consistent, forever onwards.

that takes money, stiff laws and enforcement, closing of factories with loss of jobs associated with it... and educating people by providing them with toilets for starters and mechanisms to clean the excreta and wastes. this has been done to once polluted thames, rhine danube etc and one can understand the immensity of the issues to be overcome. best wishes.

btw i too have dipped in the ganga, holiness pollution and all.

 

[talwan]

Modi has done it in Sabarmati.He can do in Ganga also

 

[sarang]

Subah-e-Banaras a hit as Assi ghat gets a makeover

[h=2]We have completed over 75 per cent of work, says Sulabh International[/h]
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on the cleaning of the ghats of Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, changes are slowly becoming visible in some of the important ghats, particularly the famous Assi ghat. Though cleaning all the 100 ghats is a slow process, tonnes of mud have been removed from the Assi ghat to reclaim the steps on the banks of the river.
The ghat is now the venue of a unique cultural and spiritual event — Subah-e-Banaras — that draws large numbers of visitors every morning. “It was on November 24 last year that Subah-e-Banaras was started ...Within three months, this amalgamation of culture, music and yoga has now become an integral part of the itinerary of every tourist visiting Varanasi,” Pramod Mishra, convener of the Nagrik Samiti that organises the event every day, told The Hindu.
The day at the Assi ghat begins at 4.30 a.m. with an aarti to the Sun, followed by ‘yagna,’ recitation of the Vedas and morning ‘ragas’, and ends with a yoga session at 7.30 a.m. “This event has given a platform to upcoming artists from across India who perform every morning ... Foreigners who are studying music in Varanasi also perform at Subah-e-Banaras. Apart from the world-famous Ganga aarti on these ghats, the morning programmes have also become an important event of this cultural city,” Mr. Mishra said.
The Prime Minister’s Office is personally monitoring the cleaning and Mr. Modi had visited Varanasi on December 25 to oversee the first phase of the cleaning of the Assi ghat.
Bindeshwar Pathak, head of Sulabh International, the organisation responsible for cleaning the Assi ghat, said: “We were approached by the district administration to help in cleaning of the Assi ghat ... We have completed over 75 per cent of the work and soon the entire ghat will be cleaned. A modern toilet complex will also be ready. Mr. Modi is eager to see the ghats of Varanasi being transformed forever.”

Subah-e-Banaras a hit as Assi ghat gets a makeover - The Hindu

 

[sudeshwer]

dear sarang, i may be mistaken, but the issue here is not the cleaning of the ghats. this is very superficial and easy to achieve.

the real big issue, as i understand it, is that we have a river, which for everyone north of the vindhyas, and many to the south too, is considered holy and venerated. and in the same breath abused, with not only our execrements ie of human, but of animals, and worse still, the man made chemicals resulting from the cleansing of carcasses and everything else that could be deemed chemically polluting,dumped into ganga, without any second thought.

the immensity of the problem, can be understood, if thought through, that it gives employment probably to 100 million or more in the indo gangetic plain (i have no proof of this and the figure just out of my head).

for each step modi or anyone takes, there will be thousands, if not millions, who will protest, because it affects their livelihood one way or the other. and these will be hindus. and many of them brahmins. not tambrams though .

i think, one needs to think through the immensity of the issue, the solution suggested in detail, and the cost involved. political and emotional loyalty is one thing. but to put it to practice is a different matter altogether.

if people had this much reverence for the ganga, such pollution and corruption would not have happened in the first place. right?

please enlighten me. thank you.

starting with 'easy to achieve' is better than starting with 'no achievement. better and clean ghats will make people to think twice before dirting the river. let us appreciate what is done. I am sure Modi can do when he can in Sabarmathi - srinivasan

 

[prasad1]

starting with 'easy to achieve' is better than starting with 'no achievement. better and clean ghats will make people to think twice before dirting the river. let us appreciate what is done. I am sure Modi can do when he can in Sabarmathi - srinivasan

All Indians are not Gujaratis. It is difficult to emulate Gujarat all over India.
Mr. Brahmanyanji said it right in
http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/genera...position-farmers-land-reforms.html#post292114

Secondly the iron grip of Amit shah and his gang is failing outside of Gujarat. RSS is not fully supportive of Modiji's plan.
I too wish Modiji's success in his original vision for India, but it still remains a vision.

 

[a-TB]

This task is so huge and it is nice to see attention to this problem. Even a small step to clean will go a long way to change people's mindset which is a needed for a lasting solution