Marathon in Varanasi to save River Ganga

Varanasi, Feb 16 (ANI): Hundreds of enthusiastic people here took part in a marathon organised to spread the message of saving River Ganga from further pollution.

The participants included people from all walks of life who turned out on the streets to support this noble cause.

Swami Abhimukteshwaranand, a seer compared the water of Ganga with the people taking part in the marathon.

"Ganga signifies continuous moment. It originates from Gangotri and culminates in the Bay of Bengal. In the same way, the runners have taken part in this marathon from the starting point and culminate the place where the River ends while spreading the message to keep River Ganga clean," said Swami Abhimukteshwaranand.

Environmentalists say that apart from industries discharging inorganic and toxic effluents into the river, other major causes of pollution are the cremation of human bodies on the banks of the river, the practice of throwing dead bodies into it and immersion of flowers and other articles into the Ganga after religious rituals.

According to a recent official report, only 39 per cent of the primary target of the Ganga Action Plan, which the Central Government had started to cleanse the river in 1986, has been met so far. (ANI)