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VP Naidu called for a national campaign to revive Indian rivers

 by Bhupen Goswami 

Guwahati: The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today stressed on the need for a powerful national campaign to revive the rivers of the country and suggested that we have to save our rivers with a sense of urgency. Noting that rivers in India have always been honoured for their life-giving power, Shri Naidu said that increasing urbanization and industrialization has promoted pollution in rivers and other water bodies in different parts of the country. In the past, there used to be many water bodies in our villages and cities.

Inspired by the desire for modernization and greed, man has destroyed the natural ecosystem and in many places the water bodies have either almost disappeared or been encroached upon. The Vice President of India, Shri Naidu arrived in Guwahati today on a visit to the North East and inaugurated the Heritage and Cultural Centre on the banks of river Brahmaputra. He also visited the Museum of this Cultural Centre and released a coffee table book ‘Forever Guwahati’ on the occasion. Later in a Facebook post, Mr Naidu described his experience of travelling to Assam and brahmaputra river as unforgettable. He writes that he was “amazed at the natural beauty of the Brahmaputra river. They saw the view of the river from a magnificent garden built on the banks of a magnificent river. I will remember this memory for a long time.

He said that this great river, which provides livelihood to millions of people, is an integral part of the culture and history of the region. Keeping in view the importance of rivers and their conservation, Shri Naidu suggested to the Central and State Governments that lessons on the importance of water conservation should be included in the school curriculum. He also suggested that schools should organize nature camps for students from an early age so that children living especially in urban areas, look at the beauty of nature and enjoy it. The Vice President mentioned the legacy of the hill where this heritage centre is located as the base camp of Lachit Borphukan, the powerful Borfukan, of the Ahom Empire. During his visit, Shri Naidu visited the central hall with several parts of the centre such as art gallery, titled ‘Life Along the River’ and ‘Majuli Corner’ with famous masks, panel paintings and other artifacts.Naidu appreciated the fact that the heritage complex is only for the post passengers and vehicular movement has been restricted here to maintain peace of the situation.

He suggested that other heritage centres across the country should also adopt such green and healthy practices and build foot and cycle paths for visitors. Naidu has earlier also inaugurated the PET-MRI wing at the State Cancer Institute at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). The new PET-MRI wing at GMCH, “first of its kind” in the North East, has been built at a cost of Rs 62 crore. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today called upon the private sector to come forward and partner with the state governments to provide modern cancer treatment facilities in rural areas. The Vice President, who is on an eight-day visit to the North Eastern States, arrived in Guwahati this morning. He was received by Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma and other dignitaries.Inaugurating the PET-MRI Wing at the State Cancer Institute, he said that this is only the fourth such machine in India and the first in the Eastern Region, based on the flight technology of time. Emphasizing the importance of leading a disciplined lifestyle, he said that doing regular physical activity, avoiding unhealthy diet and substances that are harmful to one’s health play an important role in a person’s overall well-being.

“In fact, they are important in preventing the increasing incidence of various non-communicable diseases, including cancer. Stating that there is no dearth of talent in India, Naidu asked achievers to guide and mentor qualified and interested youth in the true spirit of guru-shishya tradition. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Government Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta, Chief Secretary Jishnu Barua and others were present during the function.

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