Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Performs Religious Rites at Har Ki Pauri to Mark Four Years in Office
In a significant move towards environmental preservation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand has spearheaded notable initiatives focusing on river conservation. These efforts form part of his broader agenda encompassing education and the environment.
At the heart of these initiatives is the organisation of River Festivals, named after Uttarakhand's major rivers. The aim is to engage local communities in the cleanliness, rejuvenation, and conservation of rivers, fostering a culture of water conservation and environmental awareness among the public. Dhami stresses the importance of rivers not only as water sources but also as integral parts of the region’s culture and lifestyle, making these festivals a means to promote public participation in river protection.
On occasions like World Environment Day, Dhami urges citizens, government bodies, and voluntary organisations to participate with dedication in plantation drives and the cleanliness of rivers and water bodies. He emphasises integrated efforts addressing water, forest, and land conservation alongside tackling climate change, highlighting Uttarakhand's unique position due to its rich bioresources and the ecological significance of its rivers and forests.
Recognising and encouraging individuals and institutions contributing to conservation efforts, Dhami has felicitated them, indicating government encouragement for traditional water source conservation and innovative environmental initiatives.
At a recent River Festival program in Haridwar, Dhami performed a traditional worship of Mother Ganga at Brahmakund, Har Ki Pauri. He highlighted the significance of rivers in social, economic, and religious life, emphasising the importance of conserving and rejuvenating rivers to tackle global challenges like global warming. He appealed to all citizens to treat rivers like a 'mother' and contribute to keeping them clean and pure.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister took a pledge along with devotees to never pollute rivers and to always keep them clean. He was grandly welcomed by Nitin Gautam, President of Shri Ganga Sabha, Sabhapati Krishan Kumar Sharma, Reception Minister Siddharth Chakrapani, and other officials.
Notable attendees included former Chief Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', Rajya Sabha MP Kalpana Saini, MLAs Madan Kaushik and Adesh Chauhan, Vice-Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority Vinay Ruhela, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal, along with a large number of public representatives, devotees, and distinguished citizens.
As Dhami completes four years as the state's Chief Servant, his strategy to make river conservation a community-driven movement combines environmental protection with cultural values and public participation to sustain Uttarakhand’s natural heritage.
- The river conservation initiatives spearheaded by Chief Minister Dhami in Uttarakhand extend beyond environmental preservation, with considerable focus on politics and general-news through community-led River Festivals, fostering water conservation awareness, and encouraging public participation in river protection.
- Recognizing the cultural and societal significance of rivers, Dhami's actions as Uttarakhand's Chief Minister virtually bring the political domain into river conservation, as he emphasizes the role of rivers in various aspects of life on occasions like World Environment Day and promotes traditional water source conservation alongside new environmental initiatives.
