In a novel protest to highlight the pollution in Yamuna river, the city activists rowed a boat in the 'dry' river.
The activists lamented that despite tall promises, nothing had been done for one of the holiest Indian rivers, which remains highly polluted and dry for most part of the year.
"Nitin Gadkari had promised to make Yamuna navigable, but till date no step has been taken in this direction. The river bed needs to be dredged and desilted urgently to increase its holding capacity," Dr Devashish Bhattacharya said.
As activists tried hard to move the boat on the sand yesterday, those around cheered and shouted slogans, mocking government declarations in the past to rejuvenate Yamuna river.
(Reopens BES 29)
Meanwhile, in the East Godavari district backward class members under different organisations held protests at the collectorate office in Kakinada saying they would "vote out" the TDP in next polls if the CM agrees to the Kapus' demand.
BC Castes Joint Action Committee state convener Chollangi Venugopal, BC Samshkema Sangam president Pampana Ramakrishna and others were present during the protest.
They raised slogans against Chief Minister M Chandrababu Naidu for "succumbing" to pressures from the Kapu community.
"Kapu community is already enjoying social and educational advantages," they said.
"The CM should not forget that BCs are a traditional vote bank and we will vote out the TDP in the next elections, if the government agrees to the demands of Kapus.
