‘Japanese tech will help clean Ganga by December 15’

ALLAHABAD : Terming the death of environmentalist Prof GD Agarwal, also known as Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand, an irreparable loss to the cause of the Ganga, president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Swami Chidanand Saraswati in an exclusive chat with

Kenneth John shared his plans in association with UP government after his discussions with CM Yogi Adityanath to fulfil the dream of prof Agarwal by stopping flow of sewage into the Ganga before Kumbh in Allahabad, Varanasi and other cities of UP. Excerpts

What did prof GD Agarwal tell you during his last days of fast before passing away in Rishikesh?

I was with him all through the struggle. He was a true-to-heart ‘Ganga Bhakt’. His reverence for Ganga was immeasurable. He called his love for the holy river ‘Gangotva’ — something he could not live without. All he used to say during his last days was that he would do anything to save the Ganga.

What efforts were made to ease the situation?

I talked to people associated with the cause, including union ministers Uma Bharati and Nitin Gadkari, who had assured that the proposed Ganga Protection Act would be passed during winter session of Parliament. They had requested me for persuading prof Agarwal to end his fast and wait for the winter session but he continued with the fast and finally the unthinkable happened.

Do you think this Act will finally come into existence?

Yes, the government has already completed the requisite work. The Ganga Act will be a real homage to Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand. However, it would have been better if the same was done while he was alive.

What if the Act did not come into existence after the winter session of Parliament?

We will not go ahead with an agitation. Instead, we will bring seers together to frame a strategy to achieve the same. But I am sure the Act will be passed in the winter session of parliament.

Do you plan to carry on the movement of prof Agarwal?

Yes. We have already started. We have adopted the Japanese technology for filtering the drain water instantly before it enters the river.

It has been successful in cleaning the Chandrabhaga Nala in Rishikesh.

The pilot project was undertaken by the Ganga Action Pariwar-Parmath Niketan. In just five days through the Geotube technology, fecal coliform level detected at a disturbing 5 lakh maximum probable number (MPN) per 100 ml water was brought down to the safe limit of 500 MPN per 1001 ml in Rishikesh.

Any other place where you conducted the exercise?

We have successfully implemented the technology in Kukrail drain in Lucknow. The results have been encouraging. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level of the drain dropped from a disturbing 71.86 mg per litre to 8 milligram per litre in just five days.