Plan to rejuvenate Yamuna in Etawah

Lucknow: The Yamuna in Etawah will be rejuvenated with the help of volunteers and community participation as part of an initiative ‘Namo Kalindi’.
The biodiversity conservation and Yamuna rejuvenation project is being carried out by the Etawah district administration and an NGO, Society for Conservation of Nature (SCON).
The first interaction between the district administration officers and volunteers was held on September 9 in which Etawah district magistrate JB Singh and chief development officer, Etawah, R Rajaganpati were present.
“We will prepare the health index of Yamuna and rejuvenate it with the help of locals and volunteers who will be trained for water sample testing and biodiversity conservation,” said Rajeev Chauhan from SCON.
Besides rejuvenating the river, the project will focus on water conservation, biodiversity assessment, applied conservation for important species, rescue and rehabilitation of aquatic life, setting up of Kalindi biodiversity information centres at schools in villages along Yamuna and panchayat buildings, and education and awareness of locals.
Kalindi Mitra Samitis have been formed in villages along the river which work to improve sanitation, health and hygiene in villages so that there is no sewage discharge in the river. “We are getting about 100km stretch of the river in Etawah in four blocks,” said Chauhan.
As many as 27 volunteers have been identified so far who will work with gram pradhan and others to create awareness and further the cause of conservation.
At least five villages will be developed as Kalindi eco-villages. The Centre’s schemes on health and sanitation will also be implemented to develop them as model villages.