Ballia: The five-day ‘Ganga Yatra’, an initiative under Namami Gange programme to create awareness among the masses, was flagged off by the UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumarv Modi at Dubey Chapra, about 30 km from Ballia on UP-Bihar boarder, on Monday.
Addressing the gathering after performing Ganga-Puja and Ganga Aarti, Governor said that the main objective of this Ganga Yatra is rope in maximum people to ensure availability of clean water. More employment could be generated by promoting organic farming and other agricultural activities.
Expressing her concern over river pollution, she said that in his 13-year-regime as Gujarat CM the Prime Minister Narendra Modi successfully ensured cleaning of Narmada and Sabarmati. The polluted water not only causes health problems but also soil.
Speaking on the occasion, Bihar deputy CM also praised the PM for launching Namagi Gange to make the holy river free from all kinds of pollution. Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, who also attended the flagging off ceremony, blamed left parties and Congress for neglecting Ganga. UP ministers- Mahendra Singh, Surya Pratap Shahi, Anil Rajbhar, GS Yadav and many other BJP MPs and MLAs attended the function.
The Ganga Yatra has been started from to places -Ballia and Bijnor. The two yatras will culminate at Kanpur on January 31. The Ganga Yatra from Ballia will reach Kanpur after crossing through Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Allahabad and Fatehpur.
