The 70-year-old former Chief Minister and his wife Amrita started 'parikrama' (circumambulation ) of the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh as a "religious and spiritual" exercise.
Singh said the Narmada is the "oldest" river in India and advocated its revival.
"Rampant illegal sand mining with machines is being done in the river. Roads have been built in the bed of the river," he told PTI.
"Such is the worrisome condition of Narmada - the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh," he said.
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"The flow of the Narmada is much reduced. Water from the dams constructed on it should be released at regular intervals to maintain the flow," said Singh, who embarked on the yatra on foot on September 30 from Narsinghpur district.
His Narmada yatra is likely to conclude by March-end after covering a distance of more than 3,000km.
During his march, he is often handed petals and sweets. Long-bearded priests of temples on the sides of the river come running when they see Singh in their midst.
They address him 'Raja Sahab' and his journalist-wife 'Rani Sahiba' and request them to visit their temples to pay obeisance.
"The water in the river has become brackish and unfit for drinking, especially before the Narmada flows into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat," the former CM said as he is greeted by the Hindu faithful with "Narmada Har" chants during the yatra.
"I have seen only three live saplings planted on the river sides during a drive of the state government," he said.
Singh said they have covered a distance of 1,800 km till now.
"Recently, I saw some freshly planted saplings. This is not the season to plant saplings," he maintained.
The BJP government in MP is spending around Rs 4,000 crore to rejuvenate the river (after Chouhan did Narmada parikrama last year) under an initiative.
"The catch of Hilsa fish - a much-loved delicacy in West Bengal - has come down considerably in the Narmada. Once the turnover of the fish catch was worth Rs 400-500 crore which has now dipped to Rs 80-100 crore, " he stated.
"The aquatic life is in danger in the river," he claimed.
The Narmada is considered older than the Ganga, according to Hindu scriptures. Lakhs of people do 'Narmada Parikrama' every year
"I am amazed the way people living on the banks of the Narmada welcome and help those doing Narmada Parikrama," he added.
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