Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Namami Devi Narmade campaign being conducted with participation of entire community will become an example for the world to protect rivers. This campaign is being conducted to pay the debt of the pious Narmada river. A massive tree plantation will be undertaken for 118 days on both the shores of Narmada river. Chouhan was addressing the gathering after dedicating Narmada Seva Yatra website ‘Namami Devi Narmade’. He also awarded the winners of Narmada Geet, Narmada Slogan and Campaign Logo in the programme.

Chouhan said that Narmada river is a life line of the state. The river is making us economically strong and provides potable water, irrigation water and electricity. Flow of river Narmada is effected due to felling of trees and pollution. A wide campaign will be launched to save Narmada. Three paths of knowledge, devotion and deeds meet at the shores of Narmada.

Chouhan mentioned that compensation will be paid to the farmers who own agriculture lands on the shores of the river for plantation of fruits’ trees till the tree starts bearing fruits. A rally will be organised to make people aware about the conservation of river and to make it pollution free on November 11. Moreover, treatment plants will be put up to protect Narmada from polluted water reaching from Amarkantak to towns and villages which falls on the shores of Narmada river. All the villages of Narmada shore will be made free from open defecation. Moreover, all the villages of Narmada shore will be made liquor free, he added.

Speaker Vidhan Sabha Sitasharan Sharma said that Namami Devi Narmade’ is a campaign to save Narmada. Because of this campaign, Narmada will become medium for social and economic development of the state. Minister for Forest Gourishankar Shejwar said that gratitude is the component of Indian Culture. Narmada is our lifeline and foundation of rural economy. Awareness is needed to protect the pious Narmada from pollution. Member of Parliament Nandkumar Singh Chouhan who presided over the programme said that this campaign has been launched to save the life of the future generation. Every section of the society should come forward and join this campaign. Madhya Pradesh has made the link rivers programme of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpai meaningful.

Minister for Environment, Cottage Industries and Animal Husbandry Antar Singh Arya, Minister of State for Cooperatives Vishwas Sarang and Minister of State for Social Justice, Disabled Welfare Sanjay Pathak were present in the programme. Chouhan inaugurated the website of ‘Namami Devi Narmade’ Campaign on the occasion. He presented awards for Narmada song to Mahesh Shrivastava, Shakti Rawat and Shailendra Mishra for bagging first, second and third position respectively. Similarly, for slogan awards were given to Sarvshri Pradeep Verma, Shivani Bhargava, Omprakash Sharma, Himanshu Shukla, Jitendra Thakur, Jairam Khangar, Ramakant Gupta and Sulabh Singh. Moreover, awards were given to Gouri Vandalkar, Bhupendra Rohit and Devasheesh Mandal for logo. Shailendra Mishra who received the sum of Rs 21,000 as reward amount handed over the money to Chouhan for the campaign.