'Save Ganga' appeal in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: A "Save Ganga" appeal echoed in the Lok Sabha on Monday with a Samajwadi Party member making a fervent plea for urgent steps to prevent "disappearance" of the holy river.

Reoti Raman Singh said experts had warned that Ganga will "vanish" by 2030 considering the speed at which the Himalayan glaciers, which feed the river, were melting.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour, he wanted the Government to take expeditious steps to counter the trend, including setting up of a Ganga Authority to take all possible measures.

Singh said Ganga had already become a 'nullah' at several places, including Allahabad, as not enough water is being released from the dams.

"Save Ganga," he pleaded. BJP member Hansaraj Ahir raised the issue of a NASA report which spoke of nitrogen oxide clouds over his constituency of Chandrapur in Maharashtra.

Ahir sought attention of the Government to the report saying that such a phenomenon can cause acid rain. Blaming pollution caused by some industries, including power plants, for the situation, he wanted the state government to take preventive steps.

Bhratruhari Mahtab of BJD said a deadly form of malaria, which had originated from Mekong river, has been reported from Bangladesh and could spread to India soon.

He wanted to know whether the government of India would review its anti-malaria policy in view of this development.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the entire House associated with the member on this issue.