In a unique initiative, an environmental kumbh would be held during the Maha Kumbh in Allahabad to discuss green issues related to the river Ganga.

“During Kumbh Mela, a special two-day meeting will be held from January 18 in which detailed discussions will be held on purity of river Ganga and environmental imbalance,” head of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, said.

After the deliberations, an environmental declaration would be issued which would give a message to the world to check environmental imbalance.

“The meeting will be attended by chief ministers of five states from where Ganga passes, including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal,” Swami Chidanand said.

Besides chairman of local bodies concerned, local administrative officers and environmentalist R.K. Pachauri would attend the meet. UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav would lead the meeting, he said.

“Media from all over the world will gather during Maha Kumbh and Akhilesh Yadav will not get a better opportunity than this,” he said.

Swami Chidanand appealed to the State Government and Kumbh Mela administration to make the event polythene-free.

“An effort should be made to give a message of green kumbh during the largest gathering of people in the world,” he said.

He also said that a problem was being faced by saints and Sankaracharyas in getting space at the mela site this time due to change in the course of Ganga.

“This has reduced the land available on riverside. Therefore, satisfying everyone will not be easy for the Government,” he said.

He, however, demanded that the Government make lodging facilities at the mela site for the saints at the earliest so that problems are not faced by anyone.

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