NEW DELHI: Water conservation activists on Tuesday sought establishment of a separate environment protection authority with powers to monitor and implement water pollution laws in the country. The activists were addressing the ongoing three-day "River Revival' meeting at Bal Bhawan here. Complaining that the rivers and water bodies in the country were being destroyed and degraded, the activists said the Centre should be made a statutory body to monitor the situation. Water conservation activist and Magsaysay Award winner Rajinder Singh, better known as Waterman, called upon religious leaders, government officials and civil society to come together and seek out a new role for themselves as river conservationists. The second day's session -- to initiate a dialogue between the government and society to identify their role in river conservation and transformation -- was chaired by writer-editor Madhu Kishwar. Among the religious leaders who came out in support of river revival and protection were Brahmchari Ramswarup, Guru Shiv Teg Singh, Vivek Samuel Masih and Laxydevanand Maharaj, all of whom strongly supported the idea of involving religious leaders in the river protection initiatives. Special rivers Making a special reference to the Ganga and the Yamuna which are widely considered holy, the religious leaders said water finds a special mention in all the religious texts and is mentioned as a binding factor for all sections of society. Prof. M.S. Rathore from the Institute of Development Studies in Jaipur questioned the role of the State in preparing suitable water policy for protecting rivers. Calling for a revised policy, he said the existing one does not do enough for the protection of the rivers and saving them from exploitation and pollution. The three-day "River Revival' is aimed at formulation of ideas and strategies to save the rivers and water bodies.