HOPE FOR YAMUNA IF MODI WINS

Agra/Mathura April 23 (IANS)

 

A large number of environmentalists and Yamuna activists have pinned their hopes on Narendra Modi who could be the Bhagirath (saviour) of Yamuna river, the life-line of the two cities.

 

"Look at Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad today. What was the condition of Sabarmati before Modi took over reins of Gujarat? Its a miracle of sorts, full of clean water round the year and the banks are not only self-sustaining economically being rented out for various cultural activities, but a major attraction in the city," said Acharya Madhukar Chaturvedi who has been campaigning for the Sabarmati model to be adopted for Yamuna in Agra.

 

The activists are upbeat after the Bhartiya Janata Partty candidate from Mathura, actor turned politician Hema Malini has publicly committed herself to taking up the cause of Yamuna, which she has been saying at her public meetings is part of the Braj area's religious and cultural heritage associated with the lore of Sri Krishn-Radha.

 

"The golden period of Indian history, the most magificent monuments, religion, culture our great heritage blossomed along Yamuna's banks in just 200 kms from Delhi to Agra," says Surendra Sharma of the Braj Heritage Society.

 

The Yamuna Rakshak Dal and several other voluntary outfits have been raising the issue of Yamuna with political parties and have sought the firm commitment of candidates to Yamuna clean-up. Rashtriya Lok Dal candidate Jayant Choudhary also has been talking about the river in his speeches, though he did nothing in the past five years as MP to save Yamuna.

 

In Agra the BJP candidate Ram Shankar Katheria has taken up the Yamuna issue as a priority item. He said the long pending barrage project on river Yamuna would be his top priority this time. "The river needs water not only for humans but also for the safety of historical monuments." It was Katheria who last year highlighted the threat to the Taj Mahal from polluted water of the Yamuna, in the parliament.

 

The Samajwadi Party has also talked of cleaning of rivers and public ponds. Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in his election speech in the Agra region has assured speedy action on the barrage issue and de-silting of the river.

 

But its Modi who has given some hope of speedy action, if he won the election and took over as the new PM, says Mathura's Mukesh Chandra, a BJP worker. "The pandas and Chaubes of Mathura are campaigning for him in the hope that the happy days for Yamuna will begin soon," says a shop keeper near the Dwarkadheesh temple.

 

Jagan Nath Poddar, convern of Friends of Vrindavan, says the Yamuna river is waiting for a Krishna to kill the demon of pollution "Kaali Nag."  Who knows Modi may play this role, he adds.

 

Agra and Mathura go to the polls Thursday