Date | Dec 13, 2016:
MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced that mining will be banned in the Amarkantak area, the source of the Narmada river.
“A letter will be sent to the Centre in this regard. Narmada will be made pollution free by this and the flow will become strong,” Chouhan said, while addressing a public gathering at Dindori district’s Karanjia on day two of the Narmada Sewa Yatra.
“Maa Narmada is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh, which has given us water for irrigation and electricity. We all should cooperate fully to make it clean and to make it’s flow strong. This yatra is set out to fulfil these objectives,” he said.
Chouhan said intensive plantation will be undertaken on empty forest land. “Beside this, an amount of ₹20,000 per hectare till three years will be given to the farmers of both the banks for plantation on their lands and 40% of the plantation cost will be given. Moreover, a grant of ₹12,000 will be given to construct toilet in villages situated on the banks of the river,” he said.
The chief minister urged the villagers not to put flowers, leaves and poojan material in the river. “Also do not perform jal samadhi. The poojan kunds and mukti dham crematoriums will be constructed at ghats”, he said.
Chouhan said that an amount of ₹1.2 lakh will be provided to the poor to construct pakka houses. “Also, land will be provided to those who are landless to construct houses”, he said.
On Sunday, Chouhan flagged off the 144-day long Narmada Sewa Yatra from Annuppur district’s Amarkantak in presence of various saints. The yatra will move through 16 districts and conclude at Amarkantak on May 5, 2017.
On Monday, Chouhan reached Karanjia from the Arandi Ashram on foot, walking five km with the yatra.
The chief minister also addressed gatherings at Kabir Chabootra, Jagatpur, Narigwara, Bonder and other villages. He also administered a pledge to the villagers for planting trees, construction of toilets, sanitation and environment protection.
(Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/)