President Kovind to be first to perform Narmada ‘Aarti’

 

 

 

President Ram Nath Kovind will be in the city of Jabalpur on Friday to launch a slew of development projects in the city and its surroundings. One of the major stops in the itinerary of President Kovind’s two-day Jabalpur visit, including an event of Jabalpur Judicial Academy and laying the foundation stone of the development of Sinnaurgarh Fort at Damoh, is the much-awaited Narmada ‘Aarti’ at Gwarighat, on the banks of the holy river Narmada, which will be the first such ceremony of obeisance of the river by any head of the country. Narmada is one of the oldest and one of the most sacred of rivers in the subcontinent and for various reasons, it’s importance is considered more than other rivers. There has been neglect in certain aspects of its resurrection and conservation and development of Narmada banks and ghats has also not been catered to in the way they deserve.

 

The President’s visit and his specific engagement with the sacred ceremony is thus a significant development for the prospect of the river and the population associated with it. Narmada is the lifeline of a vast swathe of land that involves the livelihood and religious as well as cultural traditions of millions of people. Therefore, the right kind of focus and plans drawn up for Narmada will benefit not only the vast riverine ecosystem but also millions of people in various ways. Thus, it becomes pertinent to lay stress on the development as well as beautification of the Narmada and its surroundings through the implementation of various projects as is being done for the Ganga, Yamuna and Gomti rivers for instance. The visit of the President is likely to generate the right kind of buzz and bring the Narmada narrative to the forefront. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has done a lot over the years to uphold the glory of the river and give it the due focus but a lot more needs to be done.

 

Unless there is assistance from the Central government and unless people are involved in various capacities for the cause of the Narmada through a mass movement and awareness campaign, we cannot have a sustained and focused road map of development. We need more leaders, heads, celebrities and renowned faces to associate with the cause of the river and revive and replenish it before things go out of hand. Consistent deforestation and growth of industries and population pose grave dangers to the river as many stretches are drying up and several others are getting highly polluted. No concerted effort has been launched so far by any government or agency to reverse the degenerative trend. No major research or study regarding the Narmada has been taken up which can influence policy think tanks. Therefore, it is time that we attend to the needs of the river and saves our environment and livelihoods. The President should take the message of the Narmada and take up the issues plaguing it at the right forums to generate large-scale opinion and involvement.