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With cremations on the ghats of Ganga in cities like Varanasi and Haridwar adding to the impurities of the river, the Centre has constituted a committee to recommend technologies to cut down on pollution.
Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti said here that the sadhus and saints have supported the idea and have assured her that they will accept any technology which the government deems fit to reduce pollution.
"Usually cremation grounds are close to banks of river Ganga. The sadhus and saints have said they will accept any technology which ensure that contents used in the cremation are not dumped in the river. To clear the new technology, we have formed a technical committee comprising Director, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Secretary Central Pollution Control Board and a senior professor of IIT-Kanpur," she said addressing her ministry's 100-day press conference today.
Bharti said the committee will look into various types of technologies to ensure that rivers are not polluted.
She termed the move as one of the several short-term measures to reduce river pollution.
Several Hindus prefer to get cremated on the banks of river Ganga on ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar for salvation.
Bharti said government is also concerned with the 'puja samagri' immersed in rivers as it is a major factor contributing to its clogging.
"I will be meeting representatives of the industry on October 8. We have decided that even polluted water treated of its impurities will not be channelled back to rivers. It can be diverted, used for irrigation and other purposes but not sent back to rivers," she said.
