Bhopal: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the world’s unique Yatra to give message for environment protection and cleanliness will start from Amarkantak on December 11, 2016. The yatra will conclude on May 5, 2017 for which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited. Chouhan had a meeting with ministers and officers for chalking out plan and preparations. Also, instructions were issued for necessary arrangements. Chouhan said that national and international environmentalists, experts, saint, voluntary organisations and common people will participate in it. Narmada Seva Yatra will be a public campaign fully. Government and Jan-Abhiyan Parishad will only be facilitators in it. He said, all ministers will be chairman of the organising committee in their in-charge districts. They will review preparations and ensure necessary arrangements. Along with common people, office-bearers of different religious, social and voluntary organsations, one minister will participate in it each day at least. One day in a week, chief minister himself will participate in it. The yatra will culminate in the major yatra from the districts which are not on the bank of the Narmada river.
Chouhan said that all possible efforts will be made to give the yatra massive form, make it enjoyable and result-oriented. Support will be taken from common man and different organisations. Chouhan issued instructions to officers to publicise and ensure participation of all in the yatra. Video conference will be held by the chief minister on November 25 regarding the yatra and a meeting will be held for people associated with it on December 1.
The Chief Minister said that plantation in the villages on the banks of the Narmada, toilet in each house, cleanliness at ghats, changing rooms for women and sewage system in the cities will be ensured during the Yatra. Narmada Seva Samiti will be constituted in each village also. It was informed in the meeting that the yatra will be covered by foot on 1909 km and by vehicle in rest areas. The yatra will be taken on alongside of the river Narmada. Total length of the yatra includes 1113 km of south bank and 796 km of northern bank.
Yatra will begin every day with aarti of Maa Narmada. Yoga demonstration and musical programmes will be held during it. Competitions among local musical mandali will be awarded for performance. Public dialogue will be held during the event for making public aware of environment protection and cleanliness and resolution will be administered. It was informed in the meeting that responsibility of each department has already assigned. Members of the cabinet, chief secretary BP Singh and other senior officers of the departments were present there.