Dehra Dun, Apr 12: Terming the inter-linking of rivers as 'ecological disaster' for the country, renowned social activist Anil Joshi today said he would embark on a padyatra to step up his 'Jalandolan' (water movement) in the Himalayan belt against the government's 'apathy' towards people of the region. "Interlinking of rivers would cause an ecological disaster and water riots in the country, it is aimed at disturbing ecological balance in the country," the Janandolan leader said here.
"Our main aim is to highlight the neglect of the hilly areas of the country in the national water policy declared last year and also create awareness among the masses about the ecological disaster being caused by the inter-linking of rivers in the context of the Himalayan region," he said.
The 15-day long, 240 km padyatra would start from Falasi Mandir at Chokta area in Rudraprayag district of Uttaranchal on April 13 and would cover more than 100 villages of the state, he said.
Water activists from Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal are participating in the yatra which would culminate at Dehra Dun on April 27. Bureau Report