Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Film on Ganga to highlight its plight


Film on Ganga to highlight its plight

 

KANPUR: A seminar and screening of a 24-minute-long documentary film to protect the Ganga from getting further polluted will be organized by the World Wildlife Fund and an NGO Eco-Friends at Merchants Chamber Hall on Thursday.

"The documentary, 'Flowing Forever', is a commentary comprising of narratives of a boatman highlighting the plight of the Ganga. The film revolves around a boatman, who is almost considered to be an important part of the river and comes across its many ups and downs. He starts his journey from Bithoor and traverses through various city ghats, spreading awareness to save the dying river. The main theme of the documentary is to protect the Ganga from getting further polluted," informed Rakesh Jaiswal, president, Eco-Friends.

The film also depicts the love and devotion of the communities residing on the banks of the river for years.

"Flowing Forever is a unique documentary which not only highlights the apathy of the river but also sheds light on the life of people residing along the banks of the Ganga river. It also throws light on the issues like providing long term economic benefits to them," said Suresh Babu, director, WWF (River basin).

The film starts with the portrayal of Bithoor, a pilgrimage at the district's border where the Ganga enters the city, to various ghats dotting the city. The film also contains footages of pathetic condition of river once it enters the city limits.

"The river Ganga has not only been worshipped by millions of people for centuries but has been a lifeline for economic system for many. The ignorant attitude of the government and inhabitants and pollution of the river due to various factors has now brought the sacred river to a stage that it would soon become extinct," added Jaiswal.Once considered as the most sacred river, Ganga now tops the list of five most polluted rivers of the world. "In Kanpur city precincts, it has been reduced to a 'nullah'. The banks of the river are covered with sludge and animal and human carcasses. There are many illegal tanneries and chemical industries operating on the banks of the river. These factories are directly releasing effluents in the river," said Jaiswal.

Despite the Ganga Action Plan, which started way back in 1986 with an allocation of Rs 900 crore, the river remains as polluted as ever and continues to choke to death, he said.

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