People demand rights over Jal-Jungle-Zameen
By Indra Mohan Singh
Garhwal Post, 17 January 2007
Ramnagar, 16 Jan: A two day seminar on ‘Save the Rivers’ campaign began here today. Yatris of all the river yatras have arrived here.
The seminar began with a welcome speech by Ganesh Rawat and the theme was taken up by Professor Shekhar Pathak.
The two day seminar has been held to compile the experiences of the ‘Save the Rivers’ campaign. The campaign began on 1 January and proceeded along 14 rivers – the Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Kosi, Alaknanda, Saryu, Gomti, Mandakini, Bhilangna, Jalkur, Panar, Gagas, Binsar-gaad, Gaula, and Ramganga. [more]
On the occasion, many yatris voiced their experiences and worries about the condition of the rivers. They also had brought water from the river they had traveled along.
Gandhian Radha Bahen said in her address to the seminar, “The condition of the rivers is very critical. We have lost 70% of the Naule and Gadhere in Uttarakhand. The people are suffering from the repercussions of mega hydro projects. Government should change the concept of development.”
