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This story is from March 31, 2014

Lok Sabha polls: Protection of Hindon river pushed into poll agenda

Environmental activists in Ghaziabad have raised the issue of unbridled pollution in Ghaziabad ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Lok Sabha polls: Protection of Hindon river pushed into poll agenda
GHAZIABAD: Environmental activists in Ghaziabad have raised the issue of unbridled pollution in Ghaziabad ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. An NGO working in the field of water conservation, Jal Biradiri, launched a campaign in the constituencies of western UP wherein political parties are being consulted about their plans to conserve the Hindon river once they are elected to power.
Apart from Ghaziabad, the campaign undertaken by the NGO covers the constituencies of Gautam Budh Nagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur.

"We are covering all areas through which the Hindon flows. Our activists are meeting candidates of all major political parties to undertake their pledges to conserve the river if voted to power," said Vikrant Sharma of Jal Biradiri.
At a time when Ghaziabad has been in the midst of numerous environmental problems, negligible emphasis placed by political parties on green issues has been rued by activists of the region.
"We have met candidates of major political parties in the recent past. Let alone any understanding of the environmental scenario, they have scant regard for green issues of a pressing nature in the region," said Sushil Raghav, a Ghaziabad-based environmental activist.
Ghaziabad was ranked third in the country in terms of environmental pollution by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2010. Reports compiled by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and New Delhi-based think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment, have rated Ghaziabad as a top-rung city in terms of occurrence of communicable diseases due to environmental pollution.
Activists say that critical environmental issues like rapid depletion of groundwater tables in Ghaziabad and unbridled encroachment of green areas and water bodies have remained beyond the radar of parties and candidates in the poll season.
"Political parties should make their stand clear on environmental conservation while contesting elections. Once elected to power, the government should undertake planning and development with a perspective on the environment," said Akash Vashisht, conservation co-ordinator of the NGO Society for Protection of Environment & Bio-Diversity.
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About the Author
Ayaskant Das

Ayaskant Das is a Noida-based senior correspondent with The Times of India. His areas of interest include politics, urban development, environment and energy. He has also worked on documentary films on illegal mining and international trade. His hobbies include reading, watching movies and travelling.

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