'Take a selfie near Gujarat rivers': Environmentalist urges PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi plogging along the scenic coast of Mamallapuram | PTI

Days after pictures and videos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi plogging at a beach in Mamallpuram near Chennai took social media by storm, a Vadodara-based environmental activist urged him to take a selfie from the banks of at least two rivers in Gujarat, in order to give a message against polluting the water.

Rohit Prajapati told THE WEEK that the PM taking selfie from the banks of rivers Sabarmati and Mahisagar would be enough for the cause. He was referring to "treated" industrial waste being thrown into these rivers.

Prajapati's outfit Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti has been regularly taking samples from these two rivers and effluents for testing.

He said in river Sabarmati, near Vasna barrage in Ahmedabad, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the effluent released has been found between 700 and 1000 mg/l whereas it should be less than 250 mg/l.

Prajapati also claimed that it is wrong to release treated effluent into the river near Vasna as water does not flow in the area all 365 days of the year.

In Mahisagar, he alleged, the treated effluent is released into the estuary of Mahisagar and Gulf of Cambay. Quoting Central Pollution Control Board guidelines, he said that treated effluent can be released in deep sea but not in the estuary. "Estuary is a sensitive area where lots of amphibians lay eggs," he pointed out.

According to him, in the estuary, the COD was 800-1200 mg/l.

The prime minister is likely to visit Gujarat by the end of this month. If he takes selfie at these two points, it would serve the cause, said Prajapati.

When pointed out that in Tamil Nadu, Modi was plogging on the beach and here the issue was releasing treated effluents, Prajapati said that the latter is a more serious problem.

Ever since Modi's plogging pictures went viral, Prajapati has taken to social media highlighting pollution in rivers Sabarmati and Mahisagar. He said the people haven't stopped any politicians from coming and cleaning up the place.

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