Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched the first phase of a massive tree plantation drive along Rispana river yesterday as a major step to revive it by initiating pit-digging work for the campaign.
Attending the pit-digging work as part of the drive, he said the massive response from people was an indication of its success. Mission Rispana to Rishiparna is not a government programme, but a social initiative and every individual has to make their contribution to it, the Hon’ble Chief Minister said, adding, “A mission like this cannot be successful without people’s participation.” District Magistrate of Dehradun S A Murugeshan said under the Rishiparna rejuvenation mission, a target of digging about 2.5 lakh pits from Landhaur Shikhar Fall to Motharwala-Daudwala area by the end of June has been fixed.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Co-Founder of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, who has blessed the mission from its inception, graced the occasion offering His appreciation and unconditional support to the Hon’ble Chief Minister for his green leadership and his commitment to the restoration of water bodies in Uttarakhand. He also inspired all the volunteers and government officials by saying, “आज गड्ढों से गंगा की यात्रा, जल से जीवन की यात्रा, संकल्प से सिद्धि की यात्रा, रिस्पना से ऋषिपर्णा की यात्रा, आइये जोड़े रिश्ता रिस्पना से.” He shared that volunteers weren’t just digging pits but digging spaces in which the potential for a cleaner, greener future lies. He added, “Desh ki liye Ganga hai, leken Dehradun ki liye Rishiparna hi Ganga hai.”
More than 40 government and non-government organisations, and over 8,000 volunteers, school students and people participated in the programme.
