News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 9 years ago
Rediff.com  » News » Govt moves to clean Ganges; no remains to be immersed in holy river

Govt moves to clean Ganges; no remains to be immersed in holy river

Source: PTI
Last updated on: October 27, 2014 22:11 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

With the Government actively looking for ways to check pollution in river Ganga, Union Water Resource Minister Uma Bharti on Monday said immersion of mortal remains would not be allowed on the banks of the holy river.

"There is no ban on immersion of mortal remains in Ganga, but it should be done in deep waters in the middle of the river and not at the banks," she said, adding we will not allow asthi visarjan on the banks.

The minister, after the first meeting of the reconstituted National Ganga River Basin Authority in New Delhi, said that as far as immersion of mortal remains was concerned, the sadhus have okayed any decision that is taken.

Regarding the design of the crematorium, Bharti said, “So as to ensure that partially burnt wood was not thrown into the river, both options – traditional cremation using wood and electric crematorium were open.”

“If somebody's last rites have to be performed through wood, it has to be ensured that it is done minimally. I have always talked about such a design that would consume less wood. If the sadhus tell us that electric crematorium is acceptable we can ensure that both are made available to the public.”

She said that any changes in this regard would be implemented after review by a technical committee comprising of members of IIT, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and Central Pollution Control Board and in consultation with the sadhus.

Bharti further added that there would be no restrictions on immersion of puja materials.

However, she said that a net would be used to fish out these materials away from the eyesight of devotees involving the NGOs and municipal bodies, which would generate work for the locals.

The other decisions that were taken during the meeting include a proposal to setup a National Ganga Monitoring Centre for controlling pollution in Ganga, which would be done on a real time monitoring.

She also observed that an act, if required, would be formulated for the conservation of Ganga.

She, however, added that it would be last resort.

A branch of Central Water and Power Research Station would be opened in Varanasi and Delhi.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
 
CHINESE CHALLENGE - 2022

CHINESE CHALLENGE