Uttarakhand okays 500-acre turtle sanctuary in Rishikesh

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has sancttioned a 500-acre land in Rishikesh for opening up of a turtle breeding centre in an effort to clean up Ganga.

Sources told IANS on Saturday that the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has been holding talks with the state governments for setting up of such sanctuaries in the Ganga for aquatic animals, who will be used to clean up the river.

An official pointed out that 400 crematoriums would also be constructed so that the 'kuccha cremation grounds' are done away with.

Mere prevention of chemical laced water into the river - affluents from industries, was not a holistic approach towards cleaning the river and that it largely needed "involvement of aquatic animals like fishes, turtles and crocodiles" into the aquatic flora and fauna, an official informed.

"These animals have a natural mechanism to rid the river of pollutants" the official said while informing that a unanimity has been arrived on having a "cabinet minister" in every state to coordinate with the first phase of cleaning up of the river.

Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal - all these states where the Ganga flows through, will open such breeding centres.

An action plan of 100-days was ready and the results will show up within a year, the official added.

--IANS

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