New Delhi   

‘Declare Yamuna an eco-sensitive zone‘

NEW DELHI: The Union Environment Ministry's proposal to declare the initial stretches of the Bhagirathi River as eco-sensitive zone has been welcomed by river conservationists, who now want the Ministry to take similar steps for the dying Yamuna.

Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan (YJA), a non government organisation that campaigns for the protection of the river, has shot-off a letter to Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, asking for a similar protection act for the Yamuna.

“We have requested the Minister to draft a similar plan of conservation for the Yamuna too. In particular, the initial 172-km of the river from its origin at Yamunotri till its harnessing at Hathni Kund in Haryana, needs a similar declaration,” said YJA convener Manoj Misra.

The Ministry recently issued a draft notification on the proposed declaration of initial stretches of river Bhagirathi as eco-sensitive zone under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

“As per the proposal, about 135-km of the river and 100-metre on either side will be identified as an eco-sensitive zone. There will be no development activity allowed without the permission of an empowered committee that will include both government and civil society representatives,” said Mr. Misra.

He went on to add: “Like the Bhagirathi, the Yamuna too is crucial for the Ganga, it has the same religious and social relevance and there is a pressing need to save the Yamuna as well. There are reports of new dams being planned on the Yamuna, if that were to happen the water situation in the river will go from bad to worse. And to prevent such situations, we need to have legally enforceable acts like the Environment Protection Act.”

Declaring the initial stretch of the Yamuna as eco sensitive zone will also help keep polluting industries from coming up along the belt and save the river from the destruction caused by chemicals and other industrial refuse, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

A holiday in the hills
Complaint against 17 cops in fake encounter case
Chandigarh Sector 17 Plaza to remain open on Sundays?
Milk production in Haryana goes up
Demand for strong action over Forbesganj police firing incident
“Lokpal no panacea for all ills”
Delhi businessman goes missing
22 kids die, 35 hospitalised due to mystery disease in Bihar
Three NID students suspended for ragging
Demand to regulate sale of nicotine in Delhi
‘Declare Yamuna an eco-sensitive zone‘
Railway raid on vendors
Swarna Jayanthi Kumbabhishekam of Sree Vinayaka Mandir
Four electricity thieves denied bail
No differences in BJP on Uma's return: Rajnath
Back in the party
After jolly good Bheja Fry, here's half- bheja half- fry….
Rain brings smiles and frowns
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2011, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu