The Ganga Mukti Andolan has urged the Chief Minsiers of States, through which the holy river flows, to ensure that in the process of implementing the dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to save the river Ganga the livelihood of millions of people living on the banks of river is not hit. A group of social activists, intellectuals, economists, environmentalists and others feel that without ensuring ‘real’ uninterrupted flow of the river, Ganga can not be made pollution-free. At the meeeting of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) in New Delhi on Thursday under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, some Chief Ministers might underline the concern of these activists. It is expected that the Centre might propose stringent rules to punish those who pollute the river. Some activists, working for protection of rights of fishermen and opposing construction of dams and barrages and disturbing natural flow of river, have been assured by the CMs of West Bengal and Bihar that they will not accept any plan that would hit the livelihood of millions of people living near the banks of river. “We’re also trying our best to apprise the CMs of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand of the danger if cities and other townships are developed on the banks of river Ganga. There is only one district of Jharkhand, Sahebganj, from where river Ganga passes through so we did not contact the CM of that State,” said a leading social activist Anil Prakash of Ganga Mukti Andolan. For the last many days, Anil Prakash is in the city seeking support from the social activists and fishermen community regarding wrong proposed plans of Government for development of river Ganga. In this direction, a big three-day national convention on Ganga Conservation: Challenges and Possibilities” will be held at Sarv Sewa Sangh Premises at Rajghat here from April 10. On the last day, on April 12, a public meeting will be held at Bhainsasur Ghat. We are also trying to take out a boat procession to mobilise the people, he said, adding that we are not against the development of river Ganga but we are against wrong development which would put the life of about 20 crores people living in Ganga plains. “There was a proposal of inland water transport in river Ganga during UPA regime but that Government could not bring the same realizing its dangers and how it would create resentment among the people. Strangely Modi Government is willing to implement the same proposals under the pressure of a strong lobby of capitalists,” he said.