Territorial Army help sought to clean Ganga

Keen to ensure that river Ganga gets rid of pollution in line with its poll promise, the BJP government has sought the support of the Territorial Army to constitute the Ganga Task Force that would prevent people from further polluting the holy river and monitor the developmental activities on its banks.

Water resources and Ganga rejuvenation ministry is also in the process of forming “Ganga Vahini” a group of volunteers to create awareness among the masses on the importance of preserving River Ganga and to seek the support of the people in cleaning the holy river.

The defence ministry has approved constitution of Ganga Task Force with four battalions under the Territorial Army and the work on raising the force would begin soon.

“The work of the Task Force would be to ensure that the greenery around the banks of river Ganga are protected. The members of the Task Force would be tasked with the job of monitoring the activities of the river front development on the banks of the river,” water resources minister Uma Bharati told this newspaper on Monday. She also said the force would also ensure that greenery on the banks of the river remains intact. They will also prevent people from polluting the river further, the minister said.

Sources said this would be the first time that Territorial Army is being deployed to protect a river, which signifies the importance that the Modi Government attaches to cleaning and redevelopment of Ganga. Mr Modi, who represents Varanasi in Lok Sabha and has made Ganga Rejuvenation and getting pollution rid of the river as his major election agenda in the general elections, has been calling for direct involvement of the people of India in ensuring that Ganga is cleaned. The ministry is also planning to launch a volunteer force comprising students and ex-servicemen.