India's Polluted Rivers Threaten Millions of Lives


The activists were not just concerned about the condition of rivers they were even bothered about the disappearing forests on their yatra.  In the states they travelled they noticed that most of them had the forest area below India’s set target of 33 percent like in Bengal it showed 14.64 percent, Delhi 11.94 percent, Bihar 7.23 percent and UP 3.61 percent.
Joshi said, “Forests are vanishing in these states. And even the ones that survive are grade C forests, consisting of bushes rather than broad-leaved trees,” as reported by TNN.

The team visiting through 31 districts held 300 meetings and spread the message to about 10,000 people to preserve the quality of rivers. They also noted the falling water table, degradation of agricultural lands in various districts and polluted underground water.

Joshi informed “We will compile a report of our observations, which will be sent to the Prime Minister's Office and to all chief ministers.”
Similarly the holy waters of Beas River in Manali, Himachal Pradesh are gradually turning into sewage, dustbin and also a corpse dump yard for the inhabitants and the visitors. The river bank is covered with tonnes of garbage and the sewage lines of most houses open directly into the water stream.

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