PRAYAGRAJ: Armed forces veterans will get together to unite government, non-government and individual organisations to rejuvenate river Ganga and restore it to its pristine glory by organising a ‘padyatra’ from Prayagraj from December 16.
The ‘Atulya Ganga’ yatra will be inaugurated by UP governor Anandiben Patel, Union minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Union minister of culture and tourism Prahlad Patel through video conferencing.
The 5,100-kilometre yatra will cover 45 cities, 5,000 villages, forests, mountains and glaciers.
Member of Green India Foundation — one of the organisations participating in the yatra — Vijay Shukla said, “The parikrama will last around eight months and volunteers would conduct mapping of several small and big drains along with sewage points which are discharging pollutants into the Ganga. We aim to encourage the public to join the yatra.”
Members said that the yatra is a unique initiative launched by ‘Incredible Ganga’ an organisation formed by Armed Forces veterans. This organisation was founded by former military officers Colonel Manoj Keshwar, Lt Col. Hem Lohmi and Colonel Gopal Sharma.
The padyatra will start from Sangam in Prayagraj on Wednesday and culminate at the same place on August 14, 2021 after the volunteers visit Ganga Sagar and Goumukh. A plantation drive would also be organised on the route of the parikrama. Apart from ministries like Jal shakti, culture & tourism, other organisations like ITBP, Nehru Parvatarohan Sansthan, Nehru Yuva Kendra, NCC, Green India Foundation, Ganga Sewa Manch and Prayagraj Foundation have joined the initiative.