Tough stand to conserve river urged

As many as 1000 college students clamoured to take appropriate measures to conserve the Lakshmanatheertha river. Banded together with them were their lecturers, representatives, officials and a handful of residents of Hunsur on Monday.

A rally from Inspection Bungalow reached Town Municipal Council (TMC) marking the launch of ‘Save Lakshmanatheertha campaign’ on Saturday by Western Ghats Task Force.

Students of St Joseph’s Pre University College, Government Womens Degree College and members of Save Our Earth Club marched along the main roads raising slogans to protect the river from the brink of extinction.

Youth carrying placards of ‘save our world,’ ‘save water, save earth,’ ‘don’t let polluted water into river,’ ‘there is no alternative to water,’ ‘conserve rivers of Western Ghats,’ ‘enrich our river,’ ‘It’s our responsibility to save our river’ etc proclaimed their views and concern.

The youth possessing saviour-faire formed a human chain at TMC and announced that they would not let their river be ruined. Representing the strength of their generation, they thundered against populace who involved in dirtying the river.

They sang songs of preserving environment for benefit of human race. Pooja was performed to river near the bridge and saplings were planted by students and others.

After receiving the memorandum, chairman of Western Ghats Task Force Ananth Hegde Ashisar said, participation of elected representatives and college students was extremely necessary in the campaign.

Drainage system

Stressing on development of drainage system in the town, he said, residents should play a role in conserving the river, which otherwise would be lost for the coming generation.

He stated that declaring the river as heritage one, prohibiting sand mining and use of plastics obviously helps in protecting the river. Forest department should plant more saplings which would be beneficial for fauna of the area.

He suggested to form committees including representatives, students, environmentalists and officials which would involve in continuous programmes of creating awareness. Villages alongside of the river must strictly stop releasing pollutants into the river.

MLA H P Manjunath said that the launch should not be just a festival of a day but it should be followed by every concerned resident.

President of Save Our Earth Club Sanjay Hunsur said that all rivers were under serious threat of extinction. He expressed happiness over the campaign being started first from Hunsur. “Many such campaigns should begin to take measures for protecting other rivers too.”

TMC president Sunitha Jayaramegowda, CEO Harish, Assistant director of agriculture Kenchegowda, assistant commissioner Vinuth Priya, Sudhamani, DCF Vijay Kumar, ACF Basavaraj, Mahadevaiah and others were present.