Uma Bharti flags off Ganga river rafting expedition from Devprayag

DEHRADUN: Praising its contribution towards clean Ganga mission, Union minister Uma Bharti today flagged off ITBP's clean Ganga river rafting expedition from Devprayag.

Led by ITBP Commandant Surendra Khatri, the expedition was flagged off by Bharti from Devprayag in Tehri district where the Ganga's tributaries Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge into the mighty river.

Underlining the need to keep the flow of the river unobstructed to keep it clean, she said only run-of-the-river dam projects will be given clearance in the future.

The 46-member expedition team will pass through five states including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal before its ceremonious conclusion in Ganga Sagar (WB) by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on December 12.

A host of VIPs were present as the expedition was flagged off including Uttarakhand's minister for water resources Mantri Prasad Naithani and ITBP Director General Krishna Chaudhry.