The Ganga water collected and brought back by the people from Kerala after the Sagar - Ganga Darsan Yatra was sprinkled in all the rivers of Kerala in a symbolic gesture of purification and protection. This solemn event took place simultaneously at 10.30 A.M. on 26th January 2009 with the participation of the general public and students. A pledge for River Protection created by SOBG was also taken on the occasion. The event marks the start of a series of ongoing projects to be taken up by SOBG under its Project KEEP (Kerala Environment Education Programme) which will be carried out with the active involvement of local bodies and organisations.

The centralized function held on the banks of Pampa at Aranmula was officiated by Swami Sandeepananda Giri. Under his leadership, SOBG will champion the cause of declaring Pampa as the official state river with action plans that will serve as models for all rivers district-wise and for the country as a whole.

In the state capital of Trivandrum, the event held by the side of the upcoming building of the School of Bhagavad Gita at Kundamankadavu on the banks of the Karamana River had Sri. K.J. Mathew IAS, Chief Secretary of the Government of Kerala as Chief Guest. In his address, he stressed the need for systematic management and upkeep of rivers. Mr. Mathew called on students to contribute to the mission to keep rivers clean.The beauty and purity of our rivers such as the Ganga and the Pampa, visible at the origin, is lost as they flow through cities, polluted by industrial waste and by the callous attitude of citizens, he said. The event was unique in that students palyed a key role in the proceedings. Anupama V.S., the children’s Prime Minister spoke on behalf of the student community and Gopika Prasannan, children’s President administered the pledge to protect rivers.

Anusree V.V, the children’s Speaker, handed over copies of the pledge to the school authorities in the district who will implement the reading of the pledge regularly at school assemblies. As many as 200 school children, NCC cadets and scouts took the pledge, along with people from all walks of life.

Noted writer P. Narayana Kurup handed over a pot of water collected from the Ganga to the children who poured the water into the river.

Several persons committed to the cause of preserving nature in all its purity had turned up to witness the solemn event.

Click here for link to news report

http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/27/stories/2009012750970200.htm

Click here for Pledge for River Protection (in Malayalam)