Ayodhya's dying river Saryu doesn't bother netas

FAIZABAD/AYODHYA: The political will that backed and countered the Ayodhya temple movement evaporated into thin air when it came to the river that runs through the temple towns. Locals rue that the miserable state of river Saryu --- packed with hazardous effl uents and toxic chemicals --- is completely ignored by political leaders of all hues. But this time, when voting on May 7, they mean to make their voice heard on the issue.

"Saryu is dying but nobody is bothered. Politicians have no interest in the river. We've decided to support only that candidate who promises to nurse the river," says Eknath Pandey, a local priest. Resident Bhola Tewari says, "The 'holy' town's existence is only because of river Saryu. It is believed a person's sins are washed away here... The VHP and BJP used this seat to launch their movements but failed to respect the sanctity of the river."

Faizabad seat was a Left turf in the 1980s, went to BJP on the back of the temple movement in 1990s and slipped into Congress's lap in the last election in 2009. Saryu the twin towns' lifeline, its upkeep has not even been taken up by the Sangh parivar that uses the town as a launch-pad, say angry locals.

None of the candidates TOI contacted had any answer to why the sorry state of the river didn't feature on their poll manifesto. As V N Arora, a professor in Ayodhya's Saket degreecollege says, till 25 years ago, "the Saryu was so pure we'd drink its water. Now if we take a dip we end up with skin infections. But MPs and MLAs are immune to its plight... busy in the mathematics of their vote banks."

The main reason for increasing pollution levels in Saryu is unplanned development along its bank, says social activist Meraj Khan. "The towns' domestic and industrial wastes are dumped into it."

A central agency report found chemicals in the river can damage both health and soil fertility. The percentage of nitrogen in the water samples was 70.8 against the normal 45, says Ram Gopal, regional pollution control officer.

"Work on a sewage treatment plant is on, but not enough to treat the twin towns' sewage," he says. Sitting MP Congress's Nirmal Khatri told TOI he'd take the issue in his next term if he wins. But he has no answer why he hasn't done so yet.