KJ SIMSR Horizon Dec - 2014 issue Dec 2014 | Page 24

MINDSHARE

RAM TERI GANGA

KYUN

MAILI ?

PROF. DR. B. BHATIA

The

river Ganga has been
considered as the most Sacred
river of Indian Puranas. The word
Ganga is considered as a
synonym of pure and holy water.
According to a mythological
legend Lord Brahma collected the
sweat of Lord Vishnu's feet and
created Ganga. According to
another legend King Bhagiratha
vowed to bring Ganga to earth so
that holy water could be used to
liberate the souls of his ancestors
and release them to heaven.
Ganga is also known by another
name Jahnavi. According to a
mythological story, when Ganga
came down to earth, her fast
moving water created turbulence
and destroyed crops in the fields. She also
disturbed the meditation of a Saint named Jahnvi.
Now Jahnvi was so much angry that he drank up all
the water Ganga. This made the Devtas (SemiGods) very sad and they prayed to Jahnvi to
release Ganga so that she could proceed on her
mission. After their persistent efforts, Jahnvi was
pleased and he released Ganga water through
ears. On account of this Ganga came to known by
the name Jahnvi also. KumbhMela which is the
largest religious gathering that takes place every
12 years at two places on the banks of the Ganga
river at Allahabad and Haridwar. To the average
Indian Ma Ganga as a goddess is inherently clean
and purifier of all the sins. Ganga Jal is carried over
vast distances because of its healthful properties
and natural purity.
Ganga river is 2525 kms long, links 5 states
together and channels the domestic, industrial and
agricultural waste generated by more than 500
million people. In 1979, the former Prime-Minister
Late Indira Gandhi asked 'Can we not clean the
Ganga'. She had comprehensive survey
conducted and created an institution Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The project
received further impetus when Prime-Minister Late
Rajiv Gandhi set up central Ganga authority in
February 1985 and he made commitment that
government will definitely not allow dirty water
thrown in Ganga. In 2008 the former Prime-

18

December 2014

Minister Manmohan Singh
promised that government would
accelerate the pace of cleaning
the Ganga and the Ganga was
declared as a national river. In
2009 The National Ganga River
Basin Authority was constituted.
However no credible answer is
available as to w HX\