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Scheme to develop “Narmada Path”

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to launch an ambitious scheme to develop the “Narmada Path Parikrama” (sacred 1312 kilometer route along the Narmada River) for the benefit of pilgrims.

This decision was taken here on Wednesday, at a joint meeting of the State departments of Forest, Rural Development, Public Works and Narmada Valley Development Authority.

The meeting was presided over by the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, the State Minister for Public Works Department, Kailash Vijayvargiya said that there was a plan to have extensive tree plantation along the “Narmada path.”

The Minister added that special facilities for the benefit of pilgrims would also be developed along the route. Besides Government agencies, people’s participation would also be sought for implementing this scheme, he said.

Mr. Vijayvargiya told media-persons that Anil Madhav Dave, who heads the non-Government organization “Narmada Samagra” would coordinate the efforts at different levels to ensure the successful implementation of this project.

Mr. Vijayvargiya added that villagers would be allowed to contribute on voluntary basis and help in creating a “green belt” by adopting patches of land, each measuring 200 meters by 500 meters.

Mr. Dave, who recently completed a sailing mission across the length of the Narmada River, told journalists that this would be the first river in the world, which would be protected by people’s initiative on such a large-scale. He said that a number of dams have come up and the Narmada River is also facing immense threat due to excessive silting and erosion of soil along its bank as well as massive destruction of forests in its catchments.

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Scheme to develop “Narmada Path”

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