PRAYAGRAJ, Feb 21: Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on Friday took a holy dip in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati at the Maha Kumbh on Friday and pledged to strengthen the Ganga conservation and cleanliness campaign.
Speaking after the ritual, the minister emphasised that the Ganga is not just a river but a symbol of India’s cultural heritage and spiritual faith. He also lauded the Yogi government’s exceptional arrangements at Maha Kumbh, particularly in ensuring cleanliness, a reliable drinking water system, and efficient traffic management.
He highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to ensuring a clean and uninterrupted Ganga. He underscored the achievements of the ‘Namami Gange’ mission and informed that over 59 crore devotees, including a significant number of international pilgrims, have taken a sacred dip in the Maha Kumbh so far.
Patil detailed the ongoing projects under Namami Gange, including the beautification of hundreds of ghats, setting up of sewage treatment plants, purification of industrial waste and the active involvement of local communities and voluntary organisations in maintaining cleanliness of the Ganga and its tributaries.
Addressing devotees gathered at the Maha Kumbh, he urged them to take collective responsibility for keeping the Ganga clean. He emphasised the need for behavioural change to protect the river from pollution and appealed to pilgrims not to throw plastic or other waste into the sacred waters.
Patil said, “It is our shared duty to maintain the purity of the Ganga. Every citizen must contribute to keeping this holy river clean.”
Describing his experience at the Maha Kumbh, he expressed that bathing in the sacred waters was not just a religious event but a deeply spiritual experience. He said that the Maha Kumbh is not just a religious gathering but a grand festival celebrating Indian culture and spirituality.
He said that the government is constantly implementing new schemes to conserve water resources and keep rivers pollution-free, emphasizing that public participation is necessary for these initiatives to succeed.
The Union Minister said, “It is our utmost duty to serve Maa Ganga and the government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this holy river remains clean and uninterrupted.”
On this occasion, UP’s Water Power Minister Swatantra Dev Singh and Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ were also present.
(UNI)
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