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Workplan for rivers must: Study meet recommendations

Rivers are facing crisis of their existence. Though trees are being axed but they are not being planted in the same proportion. Small rivers are continuously disappearing and big rivers' water assets is decreasing. Rivers are getting polluted and water animals are decreasing continuously. Tributaries, which are the main source of big rivers, are also facing extinction. Amidst these concerns a three-day international Nadi convention was organised at Bandrabhan where the thinkers considered over these issues. On the concluding day, Governor Dr Balram Jakhar said that progress at the cost of harm to nature is not proper. If our ecology system is not safe then the whole creation including human beings would also meet with end. Trees are necessary for rivers and water. The Nadi Mahotsava came out with an 8-point declaration with emphasis on protection and conservation of rivers. The first point of declaration lays emphasis on making the basin as base for researches. Maximum flood level should be left for river, this suggestion has also been given in the declaration. The declaration says that Nadi Janpad would be constituted at national level and to develop banking system of the rivers. Under this provision, each river should have its own account and a balance sheet should be prepared for expenditure on the river. The delegates in the convention reiterated on deepening river basins. Work should be done on small rivers of the state. The participants emphasised on storing of rain water through various means. Special efforts would be required to make the water sources of Narmada, Betwa and other big rivers clean. Apart from optimum exploitation of nature there is also need to pay attention towards its conservation.