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Over 12 lakh take dip on Kartik Purnima
Haridwar, Nov 16, 2011 [PTI] Over 12 lakh pilgrims today took holy dip in the
river Ganga on the auspicious occasion of Kartik Purnima here. More than 12 lakh pilgrims have so far taken dip at various ghats of river Ganga
here, said Haridwar SDM Harbir Singh. A huge surge of pilgrims was seen at all the ghats including the main bathing ghat of Har-Ki-Pauri since
early this morning amidst tight security especially in view of the stampede which left 20 people dead just two days ago. The stampede had
broken out during the birth centenary celebrations of Acharya Shreeram
Sharma, the founder of Shantikunj ashram here.
HC orders shutdown of Kanpur tanneries for polluting Ganga
Allahabad, October 1, 2011: The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed that
chromium-based tanneries in Kanpur be closed as they contributed to pollution in the river Ganga in an unprecedented manner.
The court was informed the current chromium level in the Ganga water was
well over 100 times the permissible limit. There are nearly 100 such
listed tanneries operating in Kanpur. The court also took strong note of the lack of interest being shown by
the state government's Urban Development department and the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam in the matter.
Hearing a PIL on abatement of pollution in the river Ganga, a division
bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and Arun Tandon passed the direction after the reports submitted before it by the Central Pollution Control
Board and the UPPCB revealed the chromium level in the water of the river Ganga was 248 mg per
litre, against a permissible level of only 2 mg per litre. "The reports said the concentration of chromium in the river Ganga when
it passed through Kanpur was 124 times more than the permissible level.
This is a health hazard," said amicus curiae A K Gupta, who is arguing
in the matter. He added the report said that such high level of chromium
concentration may even cause cancer.
Overall, there are 402 listed tanneries, besides many unlisted ones, in
Kanpur. Of these, at least 100 use chromium- based systems for processing of leather. More than 80 per cent of the waste water flows untreated and
unchecked into the river Ganga. Source: Express News Service
Measures to Prepare Ganga Basin Management Plan
New Delhi, September 24, 2011: A comprehensive River Basin Management Plan for Ganga is being prepared.
This work has been entrusted to a consortium of seven IITs (Kanpur, Delhi , Madras, Bombay , Kharagpur, Guwahati and Roorkee) and a
Momorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed on 6.7.2010 by MoEF & the IITs.
The Plan is with the objective of taking comprehensive measures for restoration of the wholesomeness of the Gnaga system and improvement of
its ecological health, with due regard to the issue of competing water
uses in the river basin. The necessity of adopting practices that require a paradigm shift on use of land, water and other natural
resources in the Ganga Basin for various purposes would be examined.
Alternative approaches using innovative concepts and state-of-the-art
echnologies/methods will be explored.
The Plan would take into consideration the requirements of water and
energy in the Ganga Basin, to accommodate increased population, urbanization, industrialization and agriculture while ensuring that the
fundamental aspects of the river system i.e., (i) river must have longitudinal and lateral connectivity , (ii) river must continuously
flow (A viral Dhaara), (iii) river must have adequate space for its various functions, (iv) river must function as an ecological entity, and
(v) river must not be seen as a carrier of waste loads (Nirmal Dhaara),are protected. Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests
Mahakumbh to be greener and cleaner
ALLAHABAD, September 21, 2011: After submitting the final blueprint for next year's
Mahakumbh and seeking a budget of Rs 1,924 crore from the Union and the
state governments, the mela authorities have mooted the concept of Green
Kumbh. Under the concept, the mela administration, besides imposing a ban on the use of polythene and polybags in and around the mela campus, has
sough the cooperation of NGOs, educational institutes, social organisations and public to spread the message of Green Kumbh with no
kind of air, sound and water pollution. The violators would be dealt
with strictly on the spot. The idea is to keep the Mela area clean and make the
Mahakumbh environment friendly.
Ganga pollution: High Court summons top official
ALLAHABAD, September 3, 2011: Expressing unhappiness over discharge of
untreated sewage from tanneries into river Ganga despite its repeated orders to check it,
the Allahabad High Court today summoned principal secretary of UP Urban
Development department along with chief`of the Jal Nigam. A division bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and Arun
Tandon, which passed the order while hearing a PIL regarding the pollution in
river Ganga, directed the officials to appear in person on September 30.
The court noted with dissatisfaction that untreated sewage was being
discharged into the river notwithstanding "repeated orders" for taking
steps to put a check on the same. Earlier, the court was informed by the Central Pollution Control Board
that B.O. D (biochemical oxygen demand) was found to be many times higher than
acceptable limits at Jajmau in Kanpur, mainly on account of non-functioning sewage treatment plants as untreated water was being
discharged directly into the river.
Centre urged to take steps to save Ganga from Pollution
Rameswaram (TN), August 11, 2011 (PTI): A top scientist attached to the 'Save
River Ganga' movement today urged the Centre to take immediate steps to
protect the river from increasing levels of pollution, Dr Surjeet Doss
Gupta told reporters here that effluents of about 113 Industries around
Haridwar and as many as 95 in Varanasi are discharged into the Ganga,
besides untreated sewage, making it a highly polluted river. "The pollution level of Ganga is rising alarmingly," he said. The pollution
had resulted in the death of about 2.50 lakh children over a period of
time, besides causing various skin diseases to people using the river
water, he said. The movement is taking various efforts to create an awareness among the people to save river Ganga from pollution, he added.
Dr Gupta was here to participate in a temple ritual.
Australian radio who called river Ganga 'junkyard' says sorry
MELBOURNE, August 6, 2011: An Australian radio show host facing criticism for using a
derogatory word against India and calling river Ganga a "junkyard" has issued an apology.
Council of Indian- Australians president Yadu Singh on Friday said: "I am
pleased to report that Sydney's 2Day FM Radio station and (host) Kyle
Sandilands have realised the mistake in their comments and issued an apology.
"This apology has been on air by Kyle, and in writing by Adam Lang, general manager of 2day FM Radio station, who had sent a letter to me
yesterday."
Fast-unto-death for CBI probe into Swami Nigmanand's death
DEHRADUN, July 31, 2011: After Swami Nigmanand, a crusader for river Ganga who died after
115-day long fast, another recluse Swami Poornanand Sarswati has begun his indefinite
fast-unto- death from Saturday(July 30) at Matri Sadan Ashram in Haridwar.
The 27-year-old Swami Poornanad who considered Nigmanand as his Guru
Bhai has started his fast to protest against Uttarakhand Government inability to recommend a CBI probe into circumstances leading to death
of Swami Nigmanand on June 13. His other demands include imposing a blanket ban on 80 km long Kumbh
area ranging from Muni-Ki-Reti in Tehri district to Bahadarabad -Laksar
in Hardwar district and strict action against Administrative and police
responsible for hatching a conspiracy in the alleged murder of Nigmanand
and those shielding his killers.
Government had scrapped two hydel projects on river Ganga
New Delhi, July 28, 2011: The Central government had scrapped two hydel projects on river Ganga
in Uttarakhand following protest by locals and religious leaders and
refused permission to three more. Similarly, locals are up in arms against small hydro projects in
Uttarakhand, like the one being seen in Chamba. A silent protest is brewing in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh against number of small hydro
projects in the Saal valley of the district. Since April the villagers from
eight panchayats have prevented the construction of small dam hydro projects on Hull river, a tributary of river
Ravi.
Ganga river fights for survival
Haridwar, July 19, 2011: Illegal mining in and around Haridwar
is damaging Ganga's riverbed and eroding its banks - it is an irony that
it happens in a state ruled by the BJP, which calls itself the custodian
of Hindu pride. Ganga is being plundered by the ones tasked to protect
it. "Headlines Today" exposes an Uttarkhand minister's deep ties with
the mining mafia. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Centre chairman Avdesh Kaushal says,
"Illegal mining is a big problem ¦we require sand, boulders and bajri
for construction. But with illegal mining, the costs of building homes
have risen manifold and who benefits - the politicians, the bureaucrats and the mining mafia."
Court orders environment ministry to clear its stand on Ganga
ALLAHABAD, July 09, 2011: The Allahabad high court on Friday asked the Union Ministry
of Environment And Forest to clear its stand, regarding efforts to make
river Ganga pollution free and also to provide funds for establishing
Sewage Treatment Plants. Passing this order on a PIL filed to make river Ganga pollution free, a
division bench, consisting of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Arun
Tandon directed the Centre to explain its position about the availability of minimum level of water in river Ganga.
The court has also directed the Centre and the Defence Ministry to
establish STPs in all the cantonment boards by December 2012. The judges have asked the ADA to submit its report, regarding the constructions
within 500 metres from the highest flood level recorded in 1978 in the city.
Uma to start "Save Ganga" campaign from today
June 30, 2011: BJP leader Uma Bharti will start her "Save Ganga
campaign" from Garhmukteshwar in Ghaziabad district on Thursday in the presence of
party state president Surya Pratap Shahi and other leaders. The campaign
was due to be launched on Wednesday, but was deferred by a day for astrological reasons.
Party sources said while the launch will take place on Thursday, the
actual campaign will begin on July 3. Uma will travel along the Ganga in UP, Bihar and Bengal, and address
meetings and seminars to create awareness about the threat to the river and steps required to save it.
Swami Nigamananda died on Monday after fasting to save the Ganga from pollution
Swami Nigamananda
Dehradun/New Delhi, June 14, 2011(IANS): A 34-year-old
ascetic, Swami Nigamananda, after fasting for over two and a half months to save
the Ganga from pollution died Monday at the Himalayan Institute in Dehradun, where
coincidentally Ramdev was also admitted after his health deteriorated on
the seventh day of his fast against corruption. Ramdev was discharged Tuesday.
"The saint (Nigamananda) was fasting for the Ganga since the last many
days. He laid down his life for the Ganga. I pay my tribute to Swami Nigamananda," Ramdev told reporters.
Until the day Swami Nigamananda died, not many outside his state were aware of the seer
of the Haridwar-based Matri Sadan Ashram's demands that included the
immediate stopping of quarrying in Ganga and shifting of the Himalaya
Stone Crusher from Kumbh mela area. Nigamanand began his fast on February 19 and was in coma since May 2.
Nigamanand cause of saving the Ganga, the river considered holy by Hindus the world over, failed to draw support from Hindu groups who have
thrown their weight behind Ramdev’s cause.
While the Uttarakhand Chief Minister did everything in his power to
break Ramdev's fast against corruption, he faces allegations of not visiting Nigamanand in the same hospital as he died protesting an
environmental cause.
Ganga panchayats
PATNA, June 9, 2011: National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) member and Magsaysay
Award winner Rajendra Singh here on Tuesday expressed concern over the discharge of sewage effluents into the Ganga.
Rajendra Singh , who visited the Ganga ghats here earlier in the day, discussed
the issue with urban development minister Prem Kumar, principal secretary Shashi Shekhar Sharma and urban development department
additional secretary D K Shukla in the state secretariat.
Rajendra Singh also discussed the need to form Ganga
panchayats in all the 21 towns of the state located along the bank of
the Ganga. He advised the state government officials to form these panchayats with the help of people who are known for their commitment to
clean the Ganga -- they may be religious leaders, civil society members,
journalists, engineers, planners and community leaders.
Uma Bharti for law to protect river Ganga
Haridwar, May 19, 2011 (PTI) Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti
today said she will hold a demonstration before Parliament during the
Monsoon session to demand a law for protection of river Ganga. With
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank accepting the demand
for not shifting the old Dhari Devi temple from the site of under-construction 330 MW Alaknanda hydel project at Srinagar, Bharti
said her first leg of agitation for the Ganga has been completed. Bharti
said she will write to MPs, heads of different political parties in
states through which the Ganga passes, to garner support for the cause.
Bihar to set up dolphin conservation task force
Patna, April 21, 2011 (IANS) Bihar has decided to set up a task force for
conservation of the endangered Gangetic river dolphins, an official said Thursday.
Mithilesh Kumar, member secretary of the state wildlife board, said a
task force headed by wild life expert R.K. Sinha would be constituted soon.
The Gangetic dolphin is India’s national aquatic animal, but frequently
falls prey to poachers in the state. Their carcasses are found regularly
on the banks of the river. Ganges river dolphins are being killed at an alarming rate in Bihar.
Wildlife officials say poachers kill them for flesh and oils.
Bihar to set up sewerage plants to protect Ganges
Patna, April 10, 2011 (PTI) The Bihar government will set up sewerage plants on
the bank of river Ganges for conservation of the river and making it
pollution-free in the state, officials said today. Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar held a meeting with the authorities of the urban development department and the Bihar State Ganga River Protection
Authority officials and issued instructions to this effect. It is
decided that all the towns on the river bank from Buxar to Bhagalpur
should have sewerage treatment system.
Ganga Mela on March 24
KANPUR, March 23, 2011: Kanpur and Ramabai Nagar district courts will remain closed on March 24, on the occasion of Holi Ganga Mela. District judge of Kanpur Sudhir Kumar Saxena and district judge of
Ramabai Nagar Mahendra Dayal had declared March 24 as local holiday.
Kanpur is in the only city in the country where Ganga Mela is observed. The Mela is held in Anuradha Nakshtra, three to seven days
after the full moon. While in other parts of the country, Holi Mela is observed on same day in the evening.
Clean Ganga projects get Rs.2,476 cr
New Delhi, March 9, 2011: The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has sanctioned 43
projects worth Rs.2,476 crore to the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) for abatement of pollution and conservation of the river. The
centre's contribution is 70% with the rest coming from the states. The authority has met twice and the projects sanctioned in 2009-10 and
2010-11 are for Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Uttarakhand for development of sewer networks, sewage treatment plans and sewage pumping
stations, electric crematoria, community toilets and development of river fronts.
Projects worth R1,314 crore have been sanctioned for Uttar Pradesh, worth Rs.656 crore for West Bengal,
Rs.442 crore for Bihar and Rs.64 crore for Uttarakhand.
BJP promises Ganga-Cauvery linking to help southern States
BANGALORE, March 3, 2011: Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari promised that
the NDA, if voted to power in the next parliament election, will interlink Ganga and Cauvery rivers to solve the water shortage in south
Indian states. He said resources for the proposed river-linking project would be raised
by bringing back the black money of Indians stashed away in Swiss Bank accounts.
11,000 fish released in river Ganga
Varanasi, February 24, 2011 (PTI) Alarmed over growing pollution in the Ganga
river, as many as eleven thousand fish of twenty different breed were released by Nishad community members to cleanse the water body off the
rising effluent. The fish survive on devouring decomposed material and breed on the bank
of the river, Vinod Kumar Nishad, president of Ganga Nishadraj Seva Samiti, said here yesterday.
The Samiti will release one lakh fish in the river, he said. The fish were yesterday released at a function held at Dr Rajendra
Prasad ghat marking the third anniversary of the Ganga Seva Abhiyan and
Ganga Nishadraj Seva Samiti.
Fish found in Ganga river can cure heart diseases
London, February 16, 2011: Researchers have claimed that they have discovered a small
protein molecule in zebrafish which it uses to repair its damaged cardiac muscle, reported The Independent.
Zebrafish is a small tropical fish found in Ganga, Hindus’ holy river.
It is also widely found in aquariums these days. A zebrafish can repair
up to 20 per cent of its heart muscle within weeks of it being lost.
Scientists believe that the zebrafish's astonishing ability to regenerate its cardiac muscle might lead to the discovery of new drugs
and treatments that will one day allow the human heart to heal itself
after being damaged during a heart attack. The research might one day lead to an alternative to the transplant
operations that are the only hope for thousands of patients now. |
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A zebrafish can repair
up to 20 per cent of its heart muscle within weeks of it being lost. |
