Dehradun, 49 years later, Earth Day Network the international NGO has engaged in over 50,000 organizations in some 190 countries to take environmental movement forward. Now the organisation is bringing to India, and more so to Uttarakhand, The Great Global Clean Up campaign.
‘’Specially crafted programs are planned along the 2,510 km course of the Ganges River – from Devprayag to the Sunderbans’’ said Karuna Singh, Country Director, Earth Day Network, India, adding, “A people’s movement that will help those on the grassroots level to be a part of the movement and understand keeping the Ganga clean is beneficial to them.”
Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network, Washington said, “This Ganges initiative will serve as a lightning rod for many more countries and communities to get involved worldwide. As we look toward Earth Day 2020, we will mark the 50th anniversary of this historic movement with a myriad of events.”
Serving as an entry point and a springboard for people of all ages from all walks of life to become environmentally engaged, on April 13, the formal inauguration of clean River Ganga campaign will be done by Anil Joshi of HESCO fame, at Devprayag, Uttarakhand at 12.30 pm.
“The upcoming event has already drawn in much interest”, says Mr. Shyam Lal Bhai, Chairman of from Lok Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan, on-the-ground partner.
Over the next nine days, rallies-cum-campaigns will be held enroute to Haridwar. Many locals, saints and academic institutions have pledged to walk along the Ganga and collect garbage. The collected waste will be handed over to the municipal corporations for proper disposal. The 105-km route, volunteers from Lok Paryavaran Shiksha Sansthan (LPSS) will hold sessions to help people understand the hazards of indiscriminate littering of non-biodegradable waste, such as plastic and the adverse effects this has on humans, animal health and species that thrive in the water of the Ganges.
The Rally will culminate at 4.00 p.m. on April 21st, 2019 at Harki Pauri, Haridwar, where a public dialogue will follow:
If you wish to be a part of this Rally follow this route-chart:
April 13th – Devprayag Sangam to Gullar Sangam, Tehri Garhwal
April 14th – Shivpuri to Brahmpuri, Tehri Garhwal
April 15th – Laxman Jhula to Sachha Dham Ashram
April 17th – Purnand Ghat to Ram Jhula Parmarth Niketan
April 19th – Hanuman Mandir to Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh
April 20th – Kankhal, Haridwar
April 21st – Chandi Ghat to Harki Pauri, Haridwar
