Help save Ganga, Yamuna, says IITians' forum

Alumni from various Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Friday urged the government to set up a commission to re-look into the issues plaguing Ganga and Yamuna rivers.

While extending their support to the Yamuna Bachao Andolan, in which spiritual leaders and activists are marching towards Delhi from Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, the forum -- IITians For Holy Ganga -- said Ganga and Yamuna were life sources and a symbol of cultural and spiritual renewal.

"The minimum ecological flows of the rivers ensuring water quality and environmentally sustainable development should be maintained," Yatinder Pal Suri, president of the forum, said in a statement.

"We suggest to maintain regular flow in the river and remove blockages on its streams. Surprisingly, all the politicians of ruling and opposition parties, saints and seers, social activists, scientists and individuals speak about uninterrupted and clean flow of the Ganga, and Yamuna but the rivers are getting thinner and more polluted with each passing day," Suri said.

Forum spokesperson Paritosh Tyagi said the rivers were deeply associated with faith and civilisation and should be saved at any cost. - IANS