Saving lifelines: Assam inks MoU with Isha Foundation to rejuvenate rivers

NewsBharati    19-Dec-2017
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Guwahati, December 19: Assam inked pact with Isha Foundation and Environment and Forest Department to rejuvenate rivers in the state. MoU was signed where Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the Assamese civilization has flourished by the rivers Brahmaputra and Barak, and saving these rivers is one of the prime objectives of the State government. 

Assam thus became the sixth state to sign the MoU with Isha Foundation that has undertaken the historic nationwide ‘Rally for Rivers’ campaign – a massive initiative for revitalization of India’s fast-depleting rivers.

 

“Brahmaputra and Barak are our lifelines and they have been sustaining our economy and colouring our culture with varied hues. We have undertaken initiatives to turn these rivers into valuable resources by managing their waters effectively,” CM Sonowal said.

 

Further CM also thanked Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, for extending support to the Assam government in rejuvenating and conserving rivers in the State. He expressed the hope that the government’s collaboration with Isha Foundation would help in mitigating perennial floods in the State.

Stating the government’s initiatives to plant 10 Crore saplings in the State, conserve the reserve forests and make Majuli the first carbon-neutral district in the country, Sonowal said that dredging of the Brahmaputra and Barak has been undertaken by the government to rejuvenate the rivers through de-silting for increasing their water carrying capacity.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said it is the solemn responsibility of every citizen of this country to protect the rivers and conserve the environment so that the Earth with its pristine nature can be left behind for the future generations. Sharing his association with nature from an early age, the Padma Vibhushan awardee spiritual guru said Isha Foundation has been working towards involving the community in conservation of rivers. “Nearly 162 million people have joined the ‘Rally for Rivers’ campaign that has become a mass movement now,” he said.