CM asks officials to right away begin preparations for the Ardh Kumbh 2019 to be held at Allahabad

Ganga river has to be made pollution free so that pilgrims have no problems
Lucknow, April 1, 2017: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mr.Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to right away start preparations for the Ardh Kumbh - 2019 at Allahabad. The Chief Minister was today speaking at a review meeting at the Shastri Bhawan. He pointed out that millions would turn up at the Sangam during the religious congregation and that it should be ensured that there no problem to be pilgrims and that the Ganga-Yamuna were pollution free by then.
More than 12 crore people are expected to visit the Ardh Kumbh 2019. To make Ganga river pollution free, the Chief Minister
directed officials to ensure phase wise shooting of leather industry units from Kannauj and Kanpur and to work on the lines of the central government run 'Namami Gange' project. At all costs, he stressed, it should be ensured that dirty and polluted water does not reach the river.
Mr. Yogi pointed out how near Roorkee, to tackle the problems of water, Ganga water is routed to many canals which
leads to lowering of water level in the river. For farmers while irrigation was necessary, for urban areas, potable water was a must, he added. For this purpose, he added, ponds should be dug under the MNREGA and water should be conserved so that Ganga is not deprived of water, He also stressed on the need of bringing about such projects which prevent falling of dirty water in the rivers and include solutions for its disposal.
The Chief Minister also called for including gram panchayats and local bodies in this work. Mr. Yogi informed that funds were
being provided by the central government under the 'Namami Gange' project and directed officers to contact the union water
resources ministry to get projects approved so that other tributaries of the Ganga were also made pollution free under the 'Namami Gange' project.
Mr. Yogi Adityanath also underlined that UP has a pivotal and crucial role in making the 'Namami Gange' project a success. He
also issued instructions for de-silting of rivers and said after this many rivers will be revived and there would be no scarcity of water.
Also present during the meeting were senior ministers and officers.