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 Shrinking Ganga Continues To Battle Pollution

    Ganga

  VARANASI, May 22, 2013: Even as the world gets set to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on May 22, the Ganga continues to be threatened by pollution.
  The United Nations had declared May 22 as the International Day for
Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of
biodiversity issues. The theme 'Water and biodiversity' was chosen to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. The polluting factors like municipal and industrial waste with toxic substances are damaging the river and its aquatic life, maintains BD Tripathi, member of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). The decline in sight of Gangetic dolphin that is the indicator of clean water , he adds. 
  In a study conducted under Ganga River Basin Environment Management Plan by a consortium of seven  IITs , it has been found that the middle Ganga is biologically very productive due to the presence of higher concentration of nutrients, warm water and meandering river, flood plains and reduced flow velocities. The consortium of IITs has been given the responsibility of preparing Ganga River Basin: Environment Management Plan (GRB EMP) by the ministry of environment and forests. Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between seven IITs including Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee. In the study, the entire stretch of Ganga is viewed into three segments including upper Ganga (294 km) from Gaumukh to Haridwar, middle Ganga (1082 km) from Haridwar to Varanasi and lower Ganga (1134 km) from Varanasi to Ganga Sagar. The study on 'Floral and faunal diversity in middle Ganga segment from Haridwar to Varanasi' suggests that it supports 356 species of phytoplankton, 114 species of periphyton, 58 species of zooplankton, 51 families of insects, eight families of molluscs, assorted group of annelids as zoobenthos and 126 species of fish. 
  But, the study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) suggests that the Ganga water is highly polluted between Kanpur and Varanasi. The bathing standard of water, as per the objective of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP), suggests that there should be dissolved oxygen (DO) not less than 5 mg/litre, bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) not more than 3 mg/litre, bacterial load/coliform count not more than 10,000 per ml and faecal coliform, not more than 2,500 per 100 ml. But, according to the UPPCB report, the total coliform is not at the desired level in both upstream and downstream in Varanasi. Sourcee: Times of India 

 

  Uttarakhand: 6,000 Mw of hydropower to be hit 

  Dehradun, May 18, 2013: The report of the inter-ministerial group (IMG) headed by Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi would affect the hydropower sector in the Ganga river basin of Uttarakhand. Generation of nearly 6,000 Mw of hydropower would be affected if the report was accepted, experts said. It was recently given to the Union ministry of environment and forests.
  Declaring the Bhagirarthi valley between Gomukh and Uttarkashi as an ecosensitive zone had already impacted 1,743 Mw of planned generation. A total of 69 hydropower projects with a capacity of 9,000 Mw were under review by the IMG, set up following an agitation by environmentalists and religious leaders against the hydel projects on the Bhagirathi, considered a holy river.In its recommendation, the committee said no new projects should be taken up. On the 69 projects, the committee has recommendedt certain limitations and stopped the construction of projects worth 6,000 Mw.
  The committee also proposed that small tributaries of the Ganga - Nayar, Bal Ganga, Rihsi Ganga, Assi Ganga, Dhauli Ganga, Birahi Ganga and Bhyunder Ganga - be kept in pristine condition, without developing any hydel projects. In the IMG's assessment, this would mean a loss of 400 Mw of power to Uttarakhand.
  Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said he would urge the National Ganga River Basin Authority to allow the construction of the projects in question, keeping in view the huge shortage of power in the state. "In the next meeting of the Authority, we will urge it to allow Uttarakhand to develop the hydel projects to tap its power potential," he said. Source: Business Standard


   Halting of relocation of Dhari Devi Temple in Uttrakhand 

   May 15, 2013: The IITians for Holy Ganga, a forum constituted to preserve heritage and
ecology of the river Ganga by Alumni of All IIT's across the country have welcomed the halting of uplifting and relocation of historical Dhari Devi Shrine on the banks of the Alaknanda river near Srinagar (Gharwal) in Uttrakhand by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). MoEF in a letter dated May 10, 2013 to Alaknanda Hydropower company Limited (AHPCL) has restricted the company not to undertake any work of dislocation of the diety and had stopped all civil works associated with the Dhari Devi temple. Environmentalists and religious bodies had been fighting against submerging of the temple due to coming up Shrinagar Hydro  project being constructed by AHPCL.
  "We welcome the MoEF move to protect and preserve the religious sanctity and character of this temple. We suggest setting up of an expert committee consisting of IItians , representatives from Engineers India Limited, Religious bodies and other related organisations to develop modified plan to save the historical temple being submerged in the reservoir of the Srinagar project. "said Mr Yatinder Pal Singh Suri, President, IItians for Holy Ganga and President, IIT Alumni Association, Kharagpur, North India Chapter.
  "IItians consider both the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna as life source of region and also a powerful symbol of cultural and spiritual renewal. The minimum ecological flows of the rivers ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development should be maintained "said Yatinder Pal Suri, President ,IITIANS FOR Holy Ganga Forum and President, IIT Kharagpur Alumni Association.
  "Both river Ganga and Yamuna are deeply associated with the faith and civilization of the country should be saved at any cost. We appeal to the government at centre and the concerned states to save "the sacred rivers. Various schemes started by centre and States in last few years have left both the rivers more polluted. "said Mr Suri.
  "We suggest to maintain regular flow in the river and remove blockages on its streams. Surprisingly, all the politicians of ruling and opposition parties, saints and seers, social activists, scientists and individuals speak about uninterrupted and clean flow of the Ganga, and Yamuna but the rivers is getting thinner and more polluted with each passing day. The question is "why is the holy rivers ailing when everybody is eager to see them healthy?" However, this question remains unanswered." Added Mr Suri. -:Equity Bulls

  Ganga Action Plan Phase-II

  New Delhi,May 8,2013: Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I was launched in 1985 to improve the water quality of river Ganga. Later, GAP Phase-II was initiated in 1993. Various pollution abatement schemes including interception & diversion of sewage and setting up of sewage treatment plants were taken up under the Plan. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha 0n May 7, 2013.
  The Minister further stated that As reported by Central Pollution Control Board, nearly 2723 million litres per day (mld) of sewage is generated from Class I cities and Class II towns along river Ganga. Under the GAP, a sewage treatment capacity  of 1092 mld (GAP-I: 869 mld, GAP-II: 223 mld) has been created. The total expenditure incurred so far, on conservation of river Ganga is Rs.950.32 crore.
  The Minister further stated that A National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was constituted in February 2009, as an empowered, planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority with the objective to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga by adopting a holistic river basin approach. The river conservation strategy was reviewed in the first meeting of the NGRBA held on 5th October 2009 which resolved that under ‘Mission Clean Ganga’, no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluent may flow into Ganga by the year 2020. Under NGRBA, 53 projects amounting to nearly Rs.2600 crore have been sanctioned for pollution abatement schemes in the States of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. An expenditure of Rs.583.28 crore has been incurred till March 2013, and 8 projects have been completed so far. Besides Central funds, a World Bank assistance of Rs.7000 crore has been approved for a period of 8 years for conservation of river Ganga, the Minister added. Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests 


  Gayatri Pariwar takes up clean Ganga crusade across country

  VARANASI, May 5, 2013: Now, Haridwar-based religious group Gayatri Pariwar has also initiated a programme for cleaning and conservation of the holy river. Under its clean Ganga campaign, the volunteers of Gayatri Pariwar across the country are conducting survey in the cities and towns situated on the banks of the river to gather information related to the pollution of the river.   "We are gathering information that can help in saving the river from pollution," said Umashankar Dubey, an elderly volunteer, who has been assigned the job to collect the details of ghats, pollution sources and status of pollution abatement programme in Varanasi. As a part of the campaign, volunteers of the Gayatri Pariwar will also work for expanding public awareness by reaching every home. The main aim of the programme is to clean the whole 2500km stretch of the river right from Gomukh to Gangasagar. The survey is being conducted to collects information about social, religious, educational organizations in the different towns and villages on the banks of the river, level of  pollution, number of ghats along the banks, industries and other y information related to Ganga. "The compiled details would be sent to our Haridwar headquarters for further planning," Dubey said.
  A report prepared by the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, states that Ganga faces different challenges in different stretches. In the upper reaches (Himalayan segment), numerous hydel projects (commissioned as well as planned) threaten the river ecosystem by depriving it of the environmental flows. In the stretch beyond this
(till Patna), cities and industrial clusters have increased the pollution in the river. Loss of assimilative capacity has worsened the pollution woes of the river. In the stretch beyond Patna, the river is relatively clean, but growing cities and lack of assimilation is making
it dirtier. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) states that of the entire length of Ganga ,including its tributaries, 42% are moderately or severely polluted with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) greater than 3 mg/l and hence unfit for bathing and drinking. Major part of the river remains contaminated and therefore unfit for human consumption. For the river to be fit for bathing, the total coliform count shall not exceed 500 mpn/100ml. The hotspots are Kanpur D/s (65,000 mpn/100ml), Varanasi (161,667 mpn/100 ml; 130 times higher) Uluberia (226,667 mpn/100ml; 450 times higher).  Source:Times of India


  World bank team sanctions funds for sewerage work

  KANPUR, April 18, 2013: The world bank team, which visited the city on Tuesday has sanctioned the sewerage work worth Rs 443 crores and gave consent to another project to improve the sewer system of the city.
   In a meeting with divisional commissioner Shalini Prasad's, Ujjwala Nigam of Ganga pollution control board's local unit presented the DPR for the sewerage work of Sewerage district. The team after seeking explanations and clarifications on certain points sanctioned the project. In another sewerage proposal for sewerage district II (south drainage system leverage works Jajmau) the ten member world bank team led by Dr Jenevev Conors gave their consent. Under this project existing sewerage treatment plant of 5 MLD and 130 MLD would be upgraded.
   The team was participating in the meeting of National River Ganga Basin Authority and discussed various projects to check the pollution in river Ganga. Director, NGRBA environment ministry, Sanchita jindal was also present there. In the meeting officials of Jal Nigam, KDA vice-chairman Jayshree Bhoj and Umakant Tripathi additional city commissioner and Onkar Dixit IIT were also present.
   The team exhibited great interest in river front development prepared by the IIT Kanpur and sought more information. Earlier world bank team visited Sisamau nullah (sewer drain) and discussed with the officials how to check the menace of Sisamau Nullah. Source: The Times of India


   Dams may dry up Ganga, warns ministerial group

   NEW DELHI, April 14, 2013: Recognizing that the plethora of dams built and planned in the Ganga basin could almost empty the river of its waters in the winter season, an inter-ministerial group has recommended that the projects be re-engineered to maintain 30-50% of water flow in the lean period of December-March.
  The group headed by Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi also recommended that electricity production in the existing and upcoming dams on the river's tributaries in Uttarakhand be moderated marginally to ensure that water flow is maintained at 25% between April to October -- the period when the river has average or high water levels. While keeping the ecological flow in the river at these levels, the government could permit the dams already working or in the pipeline to continue after re- designing to ensure the recommended flow of water in the river. The move would require adjusting the tariff and power production levels marginally. The committee has also recommended that 17 proposed projects adding up to 2,633 mw capacity be reviewed after the Ganga basin study by the IIT consortium. Sixty-nine projects are proposed or running on Bhagirathi and Alaknanda -- the two main tributaries of the Ganga river basin. These add up to a capacity of 9,020.30 mw. Of these, 17 projects are operational at the moment and 26 are under construction.
  Environmentalists have warned that with the multiple dams proposed on the tributaries
uphill, the river could go dry for large parts of the year. Non-government members on board the inter-ministerial group, however, differed with the report. Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment, has asked for a minimum of 50% flow in all projects in the winter season between December-March.
   In an alternative view forming part of the report, she said the data used by the committee to limit winter flows to 30% in some projects was faulty and unverified. She contended that maintaining 50% flow in the river in winter would not lead to greater tariff for the projects or lower their power production abilities significantly. Rajendra Singh, head of Tarun Bharat Sangh, also on board the committee, disagreed with the report demanding 75% flow in the river in winter and 50% in the summer season. One of the key demands of protestors was met with the committee recommending that the flow of the river must not be intermittent but continuous. 
 

   Save Ganga activists to launch yatra from Friday

   DEHRADUN, April 4, 2013: Save Ganga activists in Uttarakhand have decided to launch a three-day Ganga Yatra beginning on Friday from Haridwar to sensitize people about the need to conserve the Ganga and its tributaries.
   Founder of Matrisadan Ashram Dayanand Sarswati and the convener of Ganga Avahan Hemant Dhyani said that hundreds of Save Ganga activists will travel to villages and towns in Uttarakhand's Tehri, Pauri, Uttarkashi, Haridwar, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts to interact with villagers and make joint efforts to save the Ganga and stress on the uninterrupted flow of water from Gangotri (the origin of Ganga) to Haridwar during the yatra.
   Sarswati and Dhyani said they will create awareness among people to help prevent the Ganga and its tributaries from drying up due to frequent release of construction material into the rivers. Dhyani said that after the completion of their yatra they will prepare a detailed report and submit it to the National Ganga River Basin Authority. 

  Ganga in grip of encroachers

    KANPUR, March 30, 2013: Despite the fact that much of the water for drinking and irrigation in the city comes from Ganga, the district authorities had turned a blind eye towards rampant encroachment on the river-bed, which is turning into agricultural land, where horticultural crops are grown by the locals.The width of the Ganga had shrunk and that direction of the river had changed drastically because of encroachments.
  Every year during the lean period from November to June, when the river becomes dry or partially dry, it attract local farmers, who convert the fertile fields to produce horticultural crops. "A major portion of land on the banks of Ganga is being used for cultivation of vegetables like bottle gourd, cucumber, pumpkin, tomato and watermelon during this period," said a scientist of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology. A few encroachers even cultivate paddy on the dry river-bed. They pollute the river by spraying insecticides, pesticides and other harmful chemicals to save the crop, use pumps to draw water from the river. All this happens right under the nose of the district officials. The encroachment on the banks of the river is posing a serious threat to the river.
  "The riverbed is very fertile and every season, encroachers cash in on the situation. The authorities never take a serious look into the issue," said Rakesh Kumar Jaiswal, president Eco-friends. He said that proper demarcation of land was required to protect the riverbed from encroachments.
  The farmers of the area claim that it is their traditional business and they have been farming on the riverbed since generations. Many encroachers have shady background and they indulge in preparing illicit liquor and other unlawful activities, said a social activist. The holy river is fighting for survival.District magistrate MP Agarwal did not even bothered to pick up the phone despite repeated attempts. Source: The Times of India

   Eight drown in Ganga during Holi celebrations

   Lucknow , March 28, 2013 (IANS): *Eight youths drowned in the Ganga river in two separate incidents in Kanpur during Holi celebrations on Wednesday, police said. The victims, aged between 16 and 26, were washed away while bathing in Bithoor and Ganga barrage in Kohna. Among those who died at Ganga barrage were two brothers - Sohit, 16, and Mohit, 18 - and Rishabh Tripathi, 18, Vinay Mani, 20, and Gaurav, 18, said Nishikant Rai, public relations officer to director general of police. "The current in the river was strong and the youngsters, apparently under the influence of liquor, were washed away," he told IANS.
  All five bodies were recovered by divers. The youth were from Rawatpur, Naubasta and Barra areas of the city. In another incident, three youngsters bathing in the same river in Bithoor too were washed away. They were identified as Anshu Gupta, 26 and Dinesh, 25 and Mohit Sharma, 24, police said.  The bodies have been sent for autopsy and the families informed about the tragedy, Inspector General (Law and Order) R.K. Vishwakarma said. Source: IANS 

  MPs Meet PM on the Ganga River Issue
 
New Delhi, March 24, 2013: A delegation of MPs led by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek his intervention in maintaining clean and unhindered flow of the Ganges contending livelihood and feelings of crores of people are attached to it.  Swaraj, accompanied by BJP MPs Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajendra Agarwal as well as Reoti Raman Singh (SP) and Prabodh Panda (CPI), met the Prime Minister in Parliament House to discuss the issue. Talking to reporters later, Hussain said the delegation discussed the well-being of Ganga, a "national river". The leaders requested the Prime Minister to implement the recommendations of the B K Chaturvedi Committee after careful consideration.
  "We drew the Prime Minister's attention to the recommendations of the Committee. Ganga is an important river and government should not just speak about it but also take some action," Hussain said. Singh reportedly told the delegation that he had not yet received the Chaturvedi Committee report. Swaraj then read out excerpts from the report, after which Singh assured the delegation that necessary action will be taken.
  "Crores of people live on the banks of the Ganga river," Hussain said, adding a clean and unhindered flow of the river is crucial for their welfare, livelihood and beliefs. Source: OUTLOOK India

  Bid to get go-ahead for hydel projects on Ganga fails

  New Delhi, March 20, 2013: The Central government's bid to stream-roll 70 hydel projects on river Ganga in Uttarakhand received a setback on Tuesday with independent experts not agreeing to a draft report seeking approval to most of these projects.   The twin pressure of former IIT professor GD Aggarwal sitting on dharna outside the Planning Commission, where an inter-ministerial group (IMG) met, and agitated independent members forced the committee headed by plan panel member BK Chaturvedi to revise its draft report."There was lot of opposition on suggested environment flow for river Ganga and its tributaries and go ahead to 70 hydel projects in which some sort of work has started," said one of the independent members, who was not willing to be quoted. Rajender Singh, another independent member said, the draft IMG report was not acceptable as it aims to ensure construction of dams on the river instead of ensuring sound environmental flow. 
  The IMG had suggested 25% environmental flow in Ganga and its tributaries during October-November and April-May. During June to September, the draft report had suggested 20% flow and during December to March 30% flow.
  A certain level of environmental flow of water in the river is must to sustain its ecology and marine life. Higher environmental flow is good for ecology but bad for hydel projects, which need stored water, to generate electricity to its full capacity.  The report said an "appropriate" balanced approach needs to be taken to ensure hydro power needs of the state and water flow to meet the societal requirements including for social, cultural and economic growth. "It is important to see that the flows do not result in exorbitant cost of power which the people of the region may not be able to afford.   This would make these power projects uneconomic and un-implementable," the draft report said. There are 70 hydro projects with a capacity of 9,550 MW proposed in the Bhagirathi and Alaknanda basins - two major tributaries of river Ganga. Their implementation would lead to 81% of river Bhagirathi and 65% of river Alaknanda getting affected. The committee suggested that while implementing these projects it should
be ensured that not more than 60% of the river length is affected and distance between two projects is one to three kilometers. It would have meant that about 80% of these projects getting clearance, which was not accepted by non-official committee members. Source: Hindustan Times

 The Ganga river has lost Veer Bhadra Mishra a favourite guardian

  Varanasi, March 17, 2013: The noted environmentalist and "mahant" of the famous Sankatmochan temple, Professor Veer Bhadra Mishra, died on Wednesday at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) hospital, where he was admitted on March 3 for a lung infection. He was 74. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters, and leaves behind a legacy of exemplary commitment and devotion towards the well-being of the Ganga. His last rites were performed on Thursday on the ghats of Varanasi.
  Professor Mishra, who inherited the position of "mahant" at the age of 14 after the death of his father, was the founding president of Sankat Mochan Foundation, a non-profit, non-political organisation working for the cause of Ganga in Varanasi since 1982. A former professor of hydraulic engineering, he had retired as the head of the civil engineering department at his alma mater, the Institute of Technology, BHU.
  Though he was better known as a religious person, he joined his training with his spirituality, juggling the political, environmental and the holy into a practical crusade to free the river of pollution. The Swacha Ganga (Clean Ganga) campaign was synonymous with Mahantji, as he was popularly known.
  As an expert member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), he worked toward arresting the Ganga’s fast deteriorating condition, promoting education and health-care programmes for the underprivileged, and maintaining and encouraging age-old cultural traditions of Varanasi in tune with present day environmental needs.
  His multifaceted and innovative measures won him recognition from the United Nations Environment Programme, which put him on its Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1992. "Time magazine" declared him the magazine’s “Hero of the Planet” (1999) for bringing the plight of the Ganga to the world’s attention and inspiring other river activists.
  For his commitment to the river, he rightly won the epithet “Ganga Putra (Son of the Ganga”). Varanasi will also remember him for his “Ganga-ethics” and his personal relationship with the river, which motivated him to say: “I am part of Ganga and Ganga is part of me.”   Source: The Hindu 

Ganges – sacred but polluted - WB Group President Jim Yong
 
 
Uttar Pradesh, March 15, 2013: "Cleaning up a major river is always difficult, but the challenge on the Ganges is even greater because of the deep poverty, growing populations, and rapid industrialization along its banks," says World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. 
  Over several hours, Kim visited the village of Tilsari Khurd to see a child care center and village health center; traveled to a neighborhood in Kanpur, where he walked around an urban settlement; and then went to the banks of the Ganges (Ganga) River, where he saw a drainage system that pours human waste into the sacred waterway. Moving on, Kim visited the banks of the Ganges, where the drain that runs through Gwaltoli, now swollen with waste from other neighborhoods, flows into the river’s waters, held sacred by millions of India’s people. Cities like Kanpur discharge enormous amounts of untreated sewage and industrial waste into the river’s critical middle stretches.
 . “We stand ready to help India, especially Uttar Pradesh, with the knowledge and investments to reduce pollution in this great river.” Efforts are already under way to resolve Gwaltoli’s water and sewerage problems. The state government is setting up a water treatment plant on the barrage upstream, and plans are in place to treat the drain’s waters before they meet the sacred river.  After his trip, Kim said he learned much from the experience. “It was exhilarating,” he said. “Being in Uttar Pradesh gave me such a strong sense of the scale of the development challenges. In our global effort to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity, you can’t be successful if you are not successful in Uttar Pradesh specifically and India generally.” Source: www.worldbank.org 


Ganga Action Plan

     New Delhi, March 12, 2013: As per the studies conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on water quality of river Ganga, and based on the designated best use criteria the river stretches at downstream of Haridwar, Kannauj to Kanpur, downstream of Varanasi, and downstream of Dakshineshwar have been identified as polluted. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 11, 2013.
  She stated that the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) Phase-I, was taken up during 1985 -2000 as a centrally sponsored project for abatement of pollution of the river through schemes such as interception and diversion of sewage, sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation works, electric and/or improved wood crematoria, river front development works etc. Under this Plan, 260 pollution abatement schemes in 25 towns in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal were undertaken at an expenditure of Rs.452 crore. She further stated that since during implementation of GAP Phase-I all pollution load in the river Ganga could not be tackled, GAP Phase-II was initiated and projects amounting to Rs.591.05 crore were sanctioned, out of which Rs.517.15 crore has been released to the Implementing Agencies.
  Under these plans, a total sewage treatment capacity of 1091 million litres per day (mld) has been created. Further, the Central Government has set up the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of river Ganga by adopting a holistic approach with river basin as the unit of planning, the Minister added. Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests
 
  Maha Kumbh concludes; 50 lakh to take dip on Mahashivaratri 
  
Allahabad, March 10, 2013 (ANI): Marking the last day of 55-day-long Maha Kumbh mela, about 50 lakh devotees are expected to take the holy dip on the occasion of Mahashivaratri on Sunday. 
  Thousands of ash smeared mystics and ascetics besides an equal number of pilgrims took the plunge into the waters of the River Ganges to mark the last holy dip of the Kumbh Mela. The Maha Kumbh mela is held every 12 years in Allahabad covering an area larger than Athens, spread over a wide sandy river bank at the point where the Ganges and Yamuna rivers meet the Saraswati, a mythical river. The festival grows in size every time it is held and is considered the world's largest  gathering of people.The festival has its roots in a Hindu tradition that says the god Vishnu wrested a golden pot from demons containing the nectar of immortality. In a 12-day fight for possession, four drops fell to earth, in the cities of Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. Every three years a Kumbh Mela is held at one of these spots, with the festival at Allahabad the holiest of them all. (ANI)

   Hydro-Electric Projects on river Ganga are under construction
 
  New Delhi, March 9, 2013: At present, eight Hydro Electric Projects (HEPs) with an installed capacity of 2351 MW are under construction on the river Ganga and its tributaries. To assess the cumulative impact of HEPs including impact on flow of water, riverine eco-system and land & aquatic bio-diversity, the Ministry of Environment & Forests has got two studies conducted through Wild-Life Institute of India, Dehradun and IIT, Roorkee. The Ministry of Environment & Forests accords environment & forest clearances to HEPs as per defined procedures, laid-down through various Notifications, issued by them from time to time. Those clearances are based on Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies / Environment Management Plan (EMP) including specific studies mentioned above wherein issues concerning environment Impact, impact on bio-diversity, environmental flow, rehabilitation & resettlement are adequately addressed. 
The eight projects on river ganga are:
1. TehriPSP (THDC) in Uttarakhand costs Rs. 1000.00 cr
2 TapovanVishnugad (NTPC) in Uttarakhand Rs.520.00 cr
3 Latatapovan (NTPC) in Uttarakhand Rs. 171.00 cr 
4. SwaraKuddu (HPPCL) in H.P.Rs.111.00 cr
5 TanguRomai- I (TRPGL) in H.P. Rs.44.00 cr
6. Shrinagar(GVK) in Uttarakhand Rs.330.00 cr
7 PhataByung (LANCO) in Uttarakhand Rs.76.00 cr
8 SingoliBhatwari (L&T) in Uttarakhand Rs. 99.00 cr
  The Total:is  Rs.2351.00 cr . This information was given by MoS (I/C) Power Sh. Jyotiraditya M.Scindia in Lok Sabha on March 8, 2013.

   Bacterial contamination level in the Ganga exceeds max limit

   New Delhi, March 6, 2013 (PTI): Bacterial contamination level in the Ganga has exceeded the maximum permissible limit at many locations and the water quality of the Yamuna too has not shown any desired improvement, the Rajya Sabha was told today. Minister of State for Environment and Forest Jayanthi Natarajan said in a written reply that detailed guideline has been prepared by the Ministry for comprehensive pollution abatement projects for rivers and lakes.
  "The levels of bacterial contamination in terms of fecal coliform are reported to be exceeding the maximum permissible limit at a number of locations...water quality of river Yamuna has not shown the desired improvement owing to large gap in demand and availability of sewage treatment capacity and lack of fresh water in the river," she said. The Minister was asked whether the government is aware of the failure of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and Yamuna Action Plan (YAP).
  GAP is being implemented since 1985 for undertaking pollution abatement works at identified stretches of river Ganga through implementation of works like interception and diversion of sewage, setting up of treatment plants, low cost sanitation works and cremations. Natarajan said total sewage treatment capacity of 1091 million litres per day (mld) have been created under the GAP. She said the water quality in terms of bio-chemical oxygen demand is reported to have improved in the river as compared to pre-GAP period at major locations.
  In reply to a separate question, Natarajan said, " A National River Conservation Plan is also under implementation in the Ministry which is undertaking works in 190 towns along polluted stretches of 39 rivers spread over 20 states." To a query on the outcome of Doha Climate Change Conference 2012, she said India  defended the nature of its voluntary domestic goal of reducing emission intensity of its GDP by 20-25% by 2020.

  Bio-digester toilets as part of clean Ganga campaign.

  New Delhi, February 27, 2013: (IANS) Actor Vivek Oberoi, who is actively involved in philanthropy, has pledged to build bio-digester toilets as part of clean Ganga campaign. The actor is the brand ambassador of Ganga Action Plan, which aims to clean the river. "I am so glad to be part of such an important initiative, which not only helps to keep Ganga clean but which also is a seva (service) for all of our mothers and sisters - of every age - who don't have access to toilets and must brave the jungles and rapists in the dark of night. Giving our women the dignity they deserve is our duty," Vivek said in a statement. The campaign has been initiated by Swami Chidanand Saraswati, founder of Ganga Action Parivar.
  Vivek was in Allahabad with family for the Mahakumbh performed a ceremonial bhoomi puja for bricks to be used in the eco-friendly bio-digester toilet complexes. Toilet complexes are being made across Uttarakhand, and plans are underway for constructing these in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. The two toilet complexes sponsored by Vivek will be located in Allahabad and Badrinath.They are being built in partnership with Ganga Action Parivar, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
  Swami Chidanada also showed a film that revealed how lack of proper toilet facilities is not only a major factor contributing to pollution of the Ganga, the Yamuna and other rivers, but is also a source of violence against women, and fear and illnesses in them.According to Chidanand, the programe is an answer to problems faced by the Ganga, the Yamuna and the young girls and women living on their banks.

  Army troops plug Ganga breach in Kumbh, averting disaster 
 
Allahabad, February 22, 2013 (PTI): A breach in an embankment along the Ganga caused by recent heavy rainfall which threatened to inundate a large area and affect Maha Kumbh pilgrims in Allahabad, was on Tuesday plugged by a 60- member team of Army’s Red Eagle Division who worked through the night averting a disaster.Sector 10 of Kumbh Mela area was threatened by floods late last night when a water stream from river Ganga broke the embankment near a railway bridge and flooded the area following heavy rainfall over the last three days, Defence PRO Wing Commander B B Pande said. This gave rise to the possibility of inundation of a very large area which would have necessitated eviction of thousands of pilgrims from the area, he said.
  “A request for assistance was made by the Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad, Devesh Chaturvedi to the Army subsequently,” the PRO said. He said the 9 Engineers Regiment of the Army’s Red Eagle Division swung into action as soon as it received the information about the “grim situation at 0130 hours” and a task force “comprising 60 engineer troops and heavy earth-moving equipment, led by Lt Col N Sundaresan, was mobilised within 20 minutes and were on site by 0200 hours”. “The soldiers worked throughout the night to plug the breach in embankment with sandbags and soil.
  “The restoration work diverted the water back into the main stream of the Ganga, averting a major mishap,” Pande said, adding, “However, a similar situation erupted upstream which was once again brought under control by redirecting the stream into Ganga river by creating a channel in the bund between the river and the stream". The Wing Commander said, “The situation was brought under control by noon today thanks to the tireless and dedicated efforts by the task force from 9 Engineer Regiment which continued through the night.” -PTI
  
  Free Ganga from dams to save it

  ALLAHABAD, February 16, 2013: Ganga is not just a river but it has acquired the status of a goddess and regarded as the cradle of Indian civilisation, said vice-chancellor of Maharshi Visvavidyalaya, West Indies, Swami Brahmaswaroopji Maharaj while visiting the Ganga gallery in the Mela area on Thursday. The VC said the river is getting polluted day by day because of industrial waste. Many industries are situated along the rivers across the world but those rivers are not as polluted as the Ganga. "After visiting the exhibition I have understood the root cause of pollution in the Ganga," said Swami Brahmaswaroopji. He said the exhibition throws light on the holy view of the Ganga and its importance for common man with scientific temper. The exhibition provides information about various aspects of the Ganga like origin, mythological and religious view, socio-economical importance, pollution and its critical stretch along with its tributaries. Current water quality of the Ganga has well been represented by scientific data and also emphasises how an individual can save this pristine river, VC said.
   Religious scientist from United Kingdom, Charls Dresem, lauded exhibition convener Prof DN Shukla for organising the initiative. He said the exhibition apart from imparting information on conserving the river water scientifically, also connects the same to spirituality. Prof Shukla said the Ganga is not only a river but also the most abundant and wonderful natural resource which is essential for survival of all living organisms. The main objective of the exhibition is to build a consensus on saving the Ganga from pollution and create awareness in keeping the river clean. He said declaring the Ganga as the National River is not the only solution to make the river free from pollution, but it is also necessary to maintain its flow and free it from all dams and barrages otherwise we will loss Ganga as river Saraswati, he added. Source: Times of India

   This Valentine's Day, seer spreads love for Ganga
 
 
   LUCKNOW, February 15, 2015: At Mahakumbh this year, seers are turning social activists. And the Ganga is the biggest beneficiary of their attention. Although the focus on the rivers is not new, this time the initiatives are more inclusive, cutting across political forces and bringing into their fold the young and the old. Parmarth Ashram's Swami Chidanand Saraswati the leading Ganga Action Parivar initiative,  has proposed this year a move that will have Valentine's Day being celebrated to nurture the nation's love for the Ganga.The seer, accompanied by Sri Sri Ravishankar, will host a special programme on measures to protect and preserve the river.
  Chidanand said, "On February 14, Ganga Action Parivar will hold a special Valentine's Day rally at the sacred Kumbh Mela. Pilgrims and participants from India and the World will wear the colors of the Indian flag. Orange will symbolize the power of the Sun and alternative energy. White will represent simplicity, purity, and environmental-sustainable
living, and green will stand for the role that organic farming can play in keeping our waterways toxic-free." Apart from seers, Chidanand has also roped in popular Bollywood names—Preity Zinta, Emraan Hashmi and Anil Kapoor's wife Sunita to name a few—to popularize the campaign to save Ganga. He has brought international focus on Ganga as well; pulling in researchers from the Harvard University , among others to study Kumbh, the devotees who come to attend it and, primarily, the pull of Sangam. As faith-keepers of Sanatan Dharma, there are others too that are mobilizing the young and old into saving the Ganga. Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati of the Dwarika and Jyotir peeth, for one, has been among the front-runners of the save Ganga movements in the country. Ahead of the Mauni Amavasya snan on February 10, Swaroopanand sought a promise for help from Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal. Swaroopanand's  disciple Avimukteshwaranand said Swaroopanand has strongly pursued the Ganga's cause because it is the one issue that unites people from different spectrums of social life. "Our history tells us that civilizations came up on the banks of prominent rivers; now we are destroying one such river along which we have built our entire history and culture," Avimukteshwaranand said. source: The Times of India

   30 million Hindus seek redemption with mass baths

  
February 11, 2013: Sunday, the 10th February 2013 was the most auspicious day of a two-month-long festival when, according to Hindu teaching, a person who bathes at the confluence of the Ganges and the Yumanu rivers – where they meet a third river, the Sarswati, which exists only in legend – will be cleansed of all the sins acquired in this life, and have a chance to break out of the karmic cycle of death and rebirth. The occasion comes once every 12 years. For millions of people who made it to the rivers on Sunday, it was the most important moment of their lives.
  The crowd, police say, was the largest ever in a single day at the Kumbh Mela, and may, in the final count, exceed 30 million people. Authorities had a plan in place to seal off the city and stop the pilgrims 50 kilometres outside the limits of Allahabad, but it wasn’t necessary as the waves of people moved steadily down to the water.
  Grim news came after nightfall of a stampede at the railway station that left at least 36 people dead and injured many others. It was a tragic postscript to an extraordinary day of co-existence and shared emotion. 
  The Kumbh Mela is a monument to faith and the esoteric, and simultaneously to human industry and pragmatism. Some 100 million people will have descended on this normally sleepy Allahbad city during its duration, between January 14 and March 10. And they will be housed, fed and otherwise accommodated in a vast temporary city that
the government of Uttar Pradesh, Today the Kumbh Mela is best known for the National Geographic-esque spectacle of the mass baths of the "sadhus," or Hindu ascetics. Members of one sect, the "naga sadhus", spend their lives naked and coated in ash; they run into the water with dreadlocks and marigold garlands flying. Other warrior sects dash down into the river brandishing spears and riding elephants and horses. Source: theglobeandmail.com

   Rainbow Love Camp. On the boundaries of the Kumbh Mela
 
   ALLAHABAD, January 30, 2013: Maha Kumbh is in news for being the largest conglomeration of pilgrims coming to take a dip in the holy Ganga, the event has in fact emerged as a symbol of international harmony bringing people together as a 'global family'. Residing in the tents at the thickly populated townships, and amidst the campers at the different akaharas and the kalpwasis, there is a large numbers of foreign nationals from different countries, staying as an extended family in the Mela area under the banner of 'Rainbow Love Camp'. 
  On the boundaries of the Mela area, a large numbers of nomad style pilgrims are staying happily on the minimal that is needed to survive. They are from all over the world, from Germany, US, France, England, Russia, Japan, Spain, South Africa, Thailand, Israel, Italy, Mexico, etc and are camping far from the hustle and bustle of the
Mela to enjoy the tranquility of the vast catchment area of Ganga and surviving with bare minimum. While some have their own trekking tents in which they feel happy to lie on the sands on the river bank, others just lie around on hammocks. The foreigners have assembled on the banks of Ganga along with Panama Baba at the rainbow camp, yet there is no system of a guru and followers and only a few are known to each other.
  "I had been tracking posts submitted by our friends on social networking sites for the last six months and all of us have somehow managed to know the exact spot, i.e. sector 7, of the Mela area where everyone has come to attain the real pleasure of Indian culture, yoga and a religious event like Maha Kumbh," said 20 years old Pablo who has been roaming from Germany to Australia and is now at Allahabad from where he would move to Myanmar before finally getting back to Germany to continue his studies. At the rainbow camp, he sleeps on a hammock. "Far from the maddening sounds, we all enjoy the peace and tranquility of Ganga," he added. Source: The Times of India

   Pilgrims from 54 countries participate in Paryavaran parade at Mahakumbh 
 
   LUCKNOW, January 26, 2013: Close to a thousand pilgrims - from across India and around the world march together to celebrate Republic Day on the banks of the Ganga at the Kumbh Mela on Saturday, as part of an environmental parade to call for India's independence from pollution and to pay homage to the war heroes, who have faithfully served India's past. The initiative has been taken by Swami Chidanand Saraswati, Founder of Ganga Action Parivar and President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, who said that participants from of all castes, creeds and cultures will come together to call for an Indian "Clean Revolution."
  The parade goers, hailing from more than 54 countries, as well as students from the northeast states of India, will wave their national flags, colorful banners and slogan-signs calling for all to keep 'Mother India and Mother Ganga' pollution-free.
  Talking to reporters he stated, "We are gathering to send a strong message that together, we can clean up the Ganga, just as She cleanses us. Today, we celebrate our freedom of sovereignty, but we are not truly free until our country is liberated of pollution. We must continue to work and to strive for the freedom to live in a country blessed with
clean air, water and land. Ganga's rights are our rights! We worked and fought long and hard for our own independence. Now we must work for Ganga's rights!" It may be noted that nearly 3 billion liters of sewage and chemical waste are poured into the Ganga. This dumping, combined with the obstruction and diversion of its water has resulted in water shortages, toxic drinking water, and the virtual disappearance of segments of the river.
  The event will also pay respect to the war heroes, who have protected the land, culture and people of India. In doing so, it will send a message of inspiration for all to serve in the footsteps of these martyrs and veterans in order to preserve our environment. The procession will begin at 4pm on banks of the Ganga on the main Kumbh Mela grounds, sector 2, police line, near the fort and will end at Sangam Nose, main snan ghat, approximately 1.5 km from starting point. Source: The Times of India

  Ganga's pollution forces change in tradition

  Kumbhnagar (UP), Jan 22, 2013, DHNS :Adoption of land burial instead of the traditional water burial from now  *Rising pollution in the Ganga river has forced the Hindu sadhus to shun the "Jal Samadhi" (burial in water), which has been an age old tradition. Breaking away from the tradition, the various the "akharas" (organizations of different sects of Hindu religion), which have gathered from across the country, have decided that the saints and sadhus would henceforth be given land burial instead of the traditional water burial in view of the rising pollution in the Ganga river.
  The initiative taken by the "akharas"  has found support from the religious heads and others. General secretary of India's biggest akhara Juna Akhara Mahant Hari Giri said that the decision had been taken to preserve the sanctity of the holy river. "We have asked the state government to earmark land for the burial of sadhus at the sangam (confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Sarswati rivers) so that they could be given land burial," he added. Mahant Hari Giri said that according to the state government officials, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has promised to look into the demand and take necessary action.
  He made it clear that there would be no need for creating any pucca (made of  concrete) structure at the Sangam. "The structure could be used for another samadhi after a period of six years," he said. The saints feel that if the governments of respective states give land for burial on the banks of the rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Kshipra, Godavari, Sutlej, Narmada, Sarayu and others, the problem of pollution could be resolved to some extent.

  Save Ganga: Seers threaten to boycott next big "snan"

  ALLAHABAD, January 19, 2013: Agitated over high levels of pollution and shallow water in the holy Ganga, the Shankracharyas, seers and Dandi swamis, along with all the akaharas, are all set to repeat the feat of 2010 Mahakumbh of Hardwar- boycott the next 'Shahi Snan' on Mauni Amavasya scheduled for February 10. These saints, on Friday, threatened that "if the situation remained unchanged, they will not bathe in the next Shahi Snan". The alarming condition of the holy river, besides instigating saints to boycott the Shahi Snan, has become the poll plank for various political parties in the forthcoming general elections of 2014. Led by monk cum activist of the Ganga Bachaao Andolan, Harichaitanya Brahmachari of Shriparamhans Ashram in Tikar Mafi, various Shankracharyas, seers and Dandi swamis at the Maha Kumbh 2013 have come on a common platform and decided to vote in the 2014 general elections only for the party that pledges to protect 'Ganga 'Maa' and the Hindu culture.
  Agitated over Ganga's deteriorating condition, the saints met at Sangam and chalked out a plan to to save Ganga and boycotting the next Shahi Snan is a part of that programme. Jagat Guru Shankracharya, Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Shankracharya, Swami Narendranand Sarawati, Shankracharya, Swami Shardanand of Kandara Peeth, Swami Ghanshyamacharya, Swami Abahay Chaitanya Brahmchari and a large numbers of Dandi swamis attended the meeting and lambasted the callous attitude of the government and demanded effective capping of effluent discharged into Ganga and sufficient volume of water in the river throughout the Mela. 
  "The black and red water of the shallow Ganga is troubling us and we want to warn the government to stop pollution of the river or be ready to face dire consequences in the next general elections," said Harichaitanya, talking to TOI. Now is the time to execute efforts instead of taking mere symbolic steps, he added. "The government is cheating the Kalpwasis and saints alike as only on the day of major baths, the water level is increased in Ganga and it recedes within 24 hours whereas after January 27, kalpwasis would need not only to bathe in the holy water twice a day, but also use the same water for drinking and cooking. All they are getting is the polluted water of Ganga river. This is cheating 'astha' (faith) of innocent pilgrims," said the seer. Source: The Times of India

  More than 82 lakh pilgrims for the first bath in Sangam 
  SANGAM, January 15, 2013: More than 82 lakh pilgrims, led by ash-covered, trident and sword yielding sadhus, streamed into the Sangam - the confluence of the sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythological Saraswati- on Monday at the start of the world's biggest religious festival. Officials say up to 100 million devotees will gather over the next 55 days to take the ritual bath in the holy Sangam, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings. Before daybreak on Monday, a day chosen by astrologers as auspicious, hundreds of sadhus, mostly Nagas, some brandishing swords and tridents, ran into the ganga waters for the first bath, signalling the start of the mega events. 
 The Maha Kumbh takes place every 12 years in Allahabad, with smaller but similar events every three years in other locations around India. It has its origins in Hindu mythology, which describes how a few drops of the nectar of immortality fell on the four places that host the festival - Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. IG Alok Sharma told TOI that "more than 82 lakh people took the holy dip in the Sangam till 5 pm amidst heavy police bandobast." With 20 million anticipated on February 15, the most auspicious day, ADG Arun Kumar said "the biggest concern was crowd control and the 12,000 officers on duty did their job well".
  Organisers had set up 35,000 toilets, 14 medical centres, 22,000 street lights, 150 kilometres of temporary roads, 18 bridges, and new sewage facilities. Nearly 7,000 buses and hundreds of special trains are expected to ferry people to Allahabad where the heavily polluted Yamuna river flows into the Ganges. Among the first to take the ho ly dip were Mahamandaleshwars, Mahants,  Sadhus and Nagas from Sanyasi Maha Nirvani Maya Atal in cold and misty atmosphere. They were followed by Niranjani with Anand, Juna along with Awahan and Panch Agni, V airagi-Nirvani, Digambar, Nirmohi, Udasin-Naya Panchayati, Bada Panchayti and Nirmal Panchayati. Source: Times of India

   Amanat's' ashes immersed in river Ganga
 
   Ballia (Uttar Pradesh), January 3, 2013: The ashes of 23-year-old medical student who
was gang-raped and tortured in a moving bus in Delhi last month, were immersed in the river Ganga at the Bharauli ghat in Ballia on Tuesday. Hundreds of people, including women and children gathered there, most with tears in their eyes.
  The ashes of the young woman, who fought for 13 days to survive before dying of severe organ failure in a Singapore hospital last Saturday, were brought to her ancestral village by her family late on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning, the family left their residence for the ghat at 8 am, but the eight kilometres took them three hours to cover as hundreds of people joined them. As they immersed her ashes in the Ganaga, the woman's father and brother broke down. The horrific assault on the girl shook the conscience of the entire nation, with people from all walks of life taking to the streets across the country in protest against the incident.   The girl was a para-medical student, and was raped and brutally assaulted by six men who also attacked her male friend and threw both of them out of a moving bus. Source: NDTV

   Green issues to be discussed during Maha Kumbh 
  
 LUCKNOW, January 01, 2013: In a unique initiative, an environmental kumbh would be held during the Maha Kumbh in Allahabad to discuss green issues related to the river Ganga. "During Kumbh Mela, a special two day meeting will be held from January 18 in which detailed discussions will be held on purity of river Ganga and environmental imbalance," head of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Swami Chidanand Saraswati said. After the deliberations, an environmental declaration would be issued which would give a message to the world to check environmental imbalance.
  "The meeting will be attended by chief ministers of five states from where Ganga passes, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal," Swami Chidanand said. Besides chairman of local bodies concerned, local administrative officers and environmentalist R K Pachauri would attend the meet. UP
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav would lead the meeting, he said. "Media from all over the world will gather during Mahakumbh and Akhilesh Yadav will not get a better opportunity than this," he said. Swami Chidanand appealed to the state government and Kumbh Mela   administration to make the event polythene-free.
  "An effort should be made to give a message of green kumbh during the largest gathering of people in the world," he said. He also said that a problem was being faced by saints and Sankaracharyas in getting space at the mela site this time due to change in the course of Ganga. "This has reduced the land available on riverside. Therefore, satisfying everyone will not be easy for the government," he said. He, however, demanded that the government make lodging facilities at the mela site for the saints at the earliest so that problem are not faced by anyone. Regarding Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's statement regarding fake Shankaracharyas, Swami Chidanand said leaders have no right to tag them as fake. "The saints don't need a certificate from such people," he said. Digvijay had on Wednesday last alleged that the place reserved for Shankaracharya in Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad has been given to a "fake" Shankaracharya supported by BJP and sought the intervention of the Chief Minister in this regard. Swami Chidanand said Shankaracharyas of all four peeths should sit together, form a consensus on the issue and inform the administration about it to clear any misunderstanding. Source: The Economic Times

       
  

 

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