Clean Ganga: Brainstorming with 1,600 village heads on Saturday

More then 1,600 gram pradhans (village headmen) of villages located on the banks of the Ganga will discuss their role in the Clean Ganga campaign in a day long consultation and sensitisation programme called to be held here on Saturday.

The event, being organised by ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, will also be attended by chief ministers of Uttrakhand and Jharkhand and a number of union ministers apart from several eminent policy makers and NGOs, officials said.

The programme is aimed at facilitating interaction with various stakeholders and draw ideas for framing a long-term policy for restoration of the river considered holy by the Hindus.

Deliberations will take place on themes of medicinal plants and livelihood, treatment of rural solid waste and rural sanitation.

The opening session would be addressed by union Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti.

A portal, called Ganga Vichar Manch, created with the aim of initiating interactive dialogues about the Ganga cleaning mission will also be launched during the convention.

In the concluding session, the village heads will discuss their views, ideas and share their experiences with the dignitaries to facilitate the formulation of a long-term strategy.