Jairam now takes public hearings to clean-up of rivers

While the Ministry of Environment and Forests advocates a minimum ecological flow for highly polluted rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna,referring to the basic minimum flow to ensure health of the river,this very concept came under fire by experts on Wednesday.

National Ganga River Basin Authority member Ravi Chopra said this is a flawed concept. We have never asked for a minimum ecological flow,instead we need much more than that we need the living flow of the river and the government should let go of this minimum ecological flow idea, he said. I accept that this is a term that shouldnt be used, Ramesh admitted.

However,emotions continued to run high with religious head Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand pledging that he would raise Rs 1,000 crore for cleaning the Ganga. We have to find a Sreedharan to clean the Ganga and Yamuna. On the way,these issues should not amount to emotional blackmail,people should not talk of ending their lives, Ramesh said,referring to the fast unto death by G D Agarwal.