PM Modi meets group of enthusiasts over cleaning of river Ganga

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met a group of nearly 40 enthusiasts who are embarking on an expedition to raise awareness on cleaning the Ganga, an official statement said.

The group included eight mountaineers, who have successfully climbed the Mount Everest, and is led by Bachendri Pal, the first Indian woman to reach the highest peak in the world.

The expedition, which has been inspired by the Centre's 'Namami Gange' campaign, has been named 'Mission Gange'. The month-long rafting expedition will see the group travel through the river from Haridwar to Patna, with halts at Bijnor, Narora, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Buxar.

At each of these nine cities, the group will raise awareness about keeping the Ganga clean and also undertake cleaning activities, the statement said.

Modi interacted with the group and appreciated them for undertaking this initiative. Underlining the importance of a clean and vibrant Ganga, the prime minister urged the group to reach out to schoolchildren during their awareness campaign, the statement added.

(With inputs from agencies.)