Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Swami Kailashanand Brahmacharyaji and Pujya Swami Narendra Giriji met with Honourable State Minister of Irrigation, Shri Shivpal Yadavji, and Honourable State Minister of Revenue, Shri Ambika Chaudharyji to discuss ways in which religious and spiritual leaders can work together and support the government in addressing the many challenges that the nation and the environment face today. Later in the evening a meeting with Honourable State Minister of Forest, Environment and Horticulture, Shri SP Yadavji, was also held discussing ways in which he can support these efforts.
Pujya Swamiji discussed, in particular, the following five point challenges, solutions, and action plans:
1) Keeping our Waterways Free from Waste:
The availability of new water and solid waste management technologies, such as the Scavenger 2000 – a boat that patrols waterways to keep them free from solid waste, harmful toxins, algae, bacteria, parasites and so much more. This is currently being utilized in Miami, Florida and can be replicated in India.
2) Meeting the Growing Energy Demand of Uttar Pradesh
Harnessing renewable sources of energy such as solar and biomass to meet UP’s energy demands in a cleaner and greener way.
3) Implementing Organic Farming and Smarter Water Practices
Starting a pilot plan in select regions along the banks of Ganga and Gomti as a model of a new river culture completely sustained on organic farming, smarter water and eco-friendly practices. The opportunity to start such a project in Garhmukteshwar and in Lucknow were discussed at length and the necessary procedure of approval will be completed within the coming month.
4) Greening Pilgrimage Sites and Eco-Tourism
A complete plan for sustainable development of pilgrimage sites such as Ayodhya, Kashi, Prayag (Allahabad), Mathura and Vrindavan will be submitted by Ganga Action Parivar as part of the ‘Nai Kashi, Naya Prayag. Nai Ayodhya, Naya Prayas’ programme. Such models of development will include hut culture (instead of the standard hotel culture), organic farming (preventing chemical pesticides from contaminating our natural resources), haryali (inclusive models of greenery bringing together people from all walks of life), yoga and meditation amongst many other innovative ideas to create not only economic opportunities but also protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of India.
5) Bringing International Yoga Festival to UP
The plan to bring yoga culture to Lucknow, the capital of India’s and the world’s most populous state, was also discussed as a way to improve and attract tourists and also celebrate the qualities that truly make India “Incredible India.”
Other important topics discussed were:
• To “green” UP’s capital during the upcoming monsoon season as a step to reduce environmental pollution, bring about cooler temperatures year round, attract tourists and improve the quality of living for all.
• To install much needed bio-toilets in select regions of UP, bringing sanitation for all and empowering women by providing them access to basic necessities for daily living.It was concluded that a few pilot plans will be taken up at the earliest and followed through to create a model of success, and thereafter propagated at a much larger scale throughout the state and throughout India.
