Uma seeks 'holy' views for Ganga project

Water Resources Ministry to hold talks with environmentalists, scientists, saints and NGOs for rejuvenating river in July

Ascetics, priests, environmentalists, scientists, and non-governmental organisations  will be consulted for the government’s ambitious Ganga cleaning project. Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said on Thursday discussions will be held in July with various groups, while being emphatic on saints and priests. The project will be called ‘Ganga Manthan’.

Bharti also said a big nationwide public movement will be launched in October for cleaning and restoring Ganga. The programme will also involve MPs and MLAs through whose constituencies river Ganga flows. A website dedicated to Ganga cleaning will be launched soon, to invite suggestions from the public. An inter-ministerial group on the matter has already been formed. Four ministries — water resources, transport, environment and tourism — are involved in the process. The panel, headed by Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, will prepare a report by next month.