Lakhs of People will plant saplings on banks of Narmada from Amarkantak to Badwani in a day – CM Chouhan

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that lakhs of people would plant saplings in the rainy season under the Narmada Seva Yatra in one day on both the banks of the Narmada river from Amarkantak to Badwani. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was addressing a Jansamvad during the ‘Namami Devi Narmade’ –Seva Yatra at Nemavar village. People in Nemavar village with great enthusiasm, faith and devotion welcomed the Yatra.

Chief Minister Chouhan said that Narmada Seva Yatra is a unique Yatra. Thanks to Narmada, Madhya Pradesh leads in production of grains. Narmada provides us drinking water, irrigation, power and employment. Felling of trees on the banks since the last 50 years has adversely affected its water flow. He said that people must resolve to plant saplings on both the banks of the Narmada. Farmers should plant fruit bearing trees on their land; they will be given financial assistance @Rs 20,000 per hectare for four years. Sewage treatment plants will be set up in all cities on the Narmada banks. He urged people to resolve not to immerse pujan material into the Narmada. For this purpose, pujan kund have been made on the banks of the Narmada. Toilets must be constructed in every house on the banks of the river. All liquor shops within five km radius of the river Narmada will be closed down from April 1. People should resolve to make villages free of addiction. Sons and daughters should be considered equal and educated. Changing rooms will be built on the banks of the river Narmada. A law will be made in which rapists will be punished by hanging. From next year onwards, such campaigns will be started for other rivers of the state also. Speaking at a Jansamvad at Nemavar village Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that Narmada Seva Yatra is a campaign to wake up the entire India. The Yatra is the biggest example of doing one’s Karma with complete faith.

Dr. Bhagwat further said that in no other country a river is referred to as ‘mother’. In our country, we consider rivers as our mother and offer prayers even to trees and plants. We see God in everything and believe in the unity of the world. Narmada river gives us her nature and life. Such Yatra inspires the whole country. Acharya Vishnu Punnana Ji, Swami Ranganath Acharya Ji, Maharaj Akhileshswaranand Ji and Sushri Pragya Bharati also addressed the programme. Narmada Kalash Pujan was held during the programme besides sadhu-sants were honoured and a Shiv Tandav dance was presented.

Among those present during the programme were Forest Minister Dr. Gaurishankar Shejwar, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Smt. Yashodhara Raje Scindia, Minister of State for School Education Deepak Joshi, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Surendra Patwa, MP and State BJP President Nandkumar Singh Chouhan, State Mineral Development Corporation Chairman Shiv Choubey, Chief Minister’s wife Smt. Sadhana Singh, Jan-Abhiyan Parishad Vice Chairman Pradeep Pandey and Raghavendra Gautam besides all Dharmagurus, Sadhu-sants and people’s representatives. MLA Ashish Sharma gave welcome address.-WTN