Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti stressed on cleaning the Yamuna river during a surprise visit to the ghats here.
The minister visited Mathura in Uttar Pradesh Tuesday when she changed her plan to go to Barsana to attend the birthday celebrations of Radha, beloved of Lord Krishna.
She visited the main Vishram Ghat, Swami Ghat and the sewage pumping station at Masani. She also visited the Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan. She was shocked to see the open discharge from drains into the river.
Accompanied by senior officials, she spent several hours visiting the ghats along the river and also interacted with the local residents.
Mathura is one of the seven cities earmarked by the Modi government for heritage conservation and revival.