Sonowal sings riparian tune

Dispur-Isha Foundation MoU signed

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 18: Gauging it well that any gloom and doom with the Brahmaputra and the Barak would mean the end of a civilization, State Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal assuaged the people of the State that his government would do everything to save the two rivers.

Speaking at the programme held for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State Environment and Forest Department, Government of Assam and Isha Foundation for rejuvetion and conservation of rivers, Sonowal said: “The Assamese civilization has been spawned by the Brahmaputra and the Barak and saving these great rivers is one of the prime objectives of the State Government. These rivers are the lifelines of our state and they have been sustaining our economy and colouring our culture with varied hues. We’ve undertaken initiatives to turn these rivers into valuable resources by maging their waters effectively.” 

Thanking Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, for extending support to the State Government in rejuveting and conserving rivers in the state, Sonowal said that Sadhguru’s historic tionwide ‘Rally for Rivers’ campaign is a massive initiative for revitalization of India’s fast-depleting rivers. Saying that both mami Brahmaputra and mami Barak festivals organized by the State Government have been initiatives to revitalize these rivers and explore their potentials to become major water vigation routes, Sonowal expressed hope that State government’s collaboration with Isha Foundation would help in mitigating perennial floods in the state. 

Harping on government initiatives to plant 10 crore tree saplings in the state, conserve reserve forests and make Majuli the first carbon neutral district in the country, Sonowal said that dredging of the rivers Barak and Brahmaputra have been undertaken by the government to rejuvete the rivers through de-silting for increasing their water carrying capacity.  To realize the vision of Prime Minister rendra Modi for Northeast to become the new growth engine of the country, the State Government is working to forge trade links with neighbouring Bangladesh via Brahmapura waterways and also exploring possibilities for planting bamboo trees along the expressway to be built on both sides of River Brahmaputra, Sonowal said. 

The Chief Minister said that the Central Government has already constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to study the problem of flood and erosion in the State and Rs 100 crore has been allotted by the Centre for conducting a study of River Brahmaputra. Reiterating the State government’s plan for making Assam an organic hub, Sonowal called for cooperation from Isha Foundation in this regard through sharing of technical knowledge and knowhow. 

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said that 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 ture can be left behind for the future generations. The Padma Vibhushan awardee spiritual guru said Isha Foundation has been working towards involving the community in conservation of rivers and nearly 162 million people have joined the movement “Rally for Rivers” which has become a mass movement now. Saying that Prime Minister rendra Modi has given lots of importance to this project, the Sadhguru stated that after his meeting with him and listening to his works with “Rally for Rivers” the Prime Minister even promptly constituted a committee for protection of environment.     

Sadhguru said that Assam is fortute to have its rivers flowing in full spate while rivers in many other parts of the country are dying. Planting of trees is of paramount importance to save the rivers and long term policies are needed for protecting the environment, he said. 

Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, Environment and Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, Legal Adviser to the Chief Minister Shantanu Bharali, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia  were also present on the occasion. 

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