Vrindavan, 2014.10.04: Hundreds of activists will march from various western UP districts to Hathini Kund starting from November 2 to demand the release of water from the barrage. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held at Govind math in Vrindavan on Saturday. The meeting was presided over by Vigyanacharya Maharaj.

Jai Krishna Das, convener of the said, “Every year lakhs of pilgrims who visit shrines in Braj Mandal are pained to see the condition of Yamuna worshipped and revered by Hindus all over the world.”

“The river water which is held in Hathini Kund needs to be released for downstream cities like Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra. We are planning to launch a satyagrah with the active participation of saints, farmers and river lovers. People from several districts will join the march,” he added.

Mahesh Arya, national general secretary of the Bahujan Samaj Party said, “The increasing level of pollution in Yamuna is a matter of serious concern. We support the agitation and assure our party’s full backing.”

The meeting was attended by representatives from Kanpur, Jhansi, Hathras, Unnao, and several other districts.

River Yamuna has been described as a huge sewage canal as open drains from Haryana, Delhi and other towns along its banks continue to discharge large quantities of industrial effluents, toxins and poisonous waste from sewer lines.

BJP leaders from the area including Hema Malini have also taken up the river pollution issue with the prime minister. The Water Resources Minister, who was in Mathura and Vrindavan recently, has promised dredging and desilting of the Yamuna river bed.

The long march concluded in New Delhi last year after an agreement between the government representatives and organizers of the movement. But the promises were not fulfilled, claim the Yamuna Rakshak Dal members.