The State Congress has alleged that the physical, cultural and religious shape of the holy river Narmada has been endangered during the past eight years due to unabated illegal sand mining.
The party has decided to launch the ‘Save Narmada’ campaign in order to rescue the river from the effects of pollution and illegal mining.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee media in-charge Pramod Gugalia, in a statement here on Monday, said, “Massive illegal sand mining is going on the banks of the Narmada ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party Government came to power. The condition is such that the physical, cultural and religious stature of the holy river is in danger.”
Gugalia further said that Congress has assumed the situation as a challenge and would launch a drive to save the Narmada. The ‘Save Narmada’ campaign would be launched amid presence of thousands of sadhus on May 3 from the origin point of the holy river in Amarkantak.
He said tribals have a special relation with the Narmada and hence would be specially attached to this drive right from its start. A grand convention of sadhus would held on the occasion and senior party leader and MP Sajjan Singh Verma and MPCC media department chairman Manak Agarwal would address the convention.
Gugalia said the sadhus would also pledge to save the dignity of the Narmada. Locals of Amarkantak and nearby areas, tribals and commoners would participate in large numbers.
The Congress leader said the Save Narmada campaign would be run as a public awareness programme and Congress workers and social activists would reach villages, towns and cities on the banks of the river and make people aware of alleged misgovernance by the BJP Government that has endangered its fate.
