"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
22 Mar 2017
In a move that will help to clean the pollution choked rivers, the Uttarakhand high court on Monday declared the Ganga and Yamuna living entities which will bestow on them the legal rights of a person.
Ganga and Yamuna are held sacred by millions of Hindus and this order will enable complaints to be filed in the name of the two rivers. The order gives the Centre eight weeks to set up boards for cleaning and maintaining the rivers. A person will be designated to act on behalf of the rivers which will be considered as a natural person.
The director general of Namami Gange project, the Chief Secretary and the Advocate General of Uttarakhand have been given the right to represent the rivers by a bench of justice Rajeev Sharma and justice Alok Singh. They will work as the human face to protect, conserve and preserve them and their tributaries.
The world’s third largest river, the Ganga is the holiest river for the Hindus, but sadly, it is also among the dirtiest in the world, as toxic wastes are discharged into it. It is respectfully referred to as Maa Ganga (Mother Ganga) for the water it provides to millions.
The Yamuna is its largest tributary and originates from Yamunotri in Uttarakhand.
Prior to this order, New Zealand’s Whanganui River was the only river in the world to be granted the living entity status.
