India Rivers Day 2014

The first ever India Rivers Week – 2014 (IRW 2014), a nationwide event brought together individuals, organisations and communities who have worked on river rejuvenation in different parts of the country to discuss and adopt a national charter on rivers.  Over 100 River experts, planners, researchers, artists, enthusiasts and activists from different parts of the country congregated in Delhi to discuss, deliberate and exchange their experiences and ideas aimed at the rejuvenation of rivers in the country.

The inaugural session witnessed Sri. Jairam Ramesh, Former Union Minister & Member of Parliament bringing up the curtain for the four daylong consultation, which endeavored to showcase successful initiatives on river rejuvenation.

The four day long consultation also showcased successful initiatives on river rejuvenation and rewarded Koel Karo, Latha Anantha and Akhil Gogoi for their remarkable track record of work on river conservation with the “Bhagirath Prayas Samman”.

The final day of India Rivers Week witnessed the presentation of ‘Delhi Declaration – let Our Rivers Live’, a Charter on  the proceedings of the four day Consultation and required steps for developing a consultative river basin management strategy, to the Union Minister for Water Resources, Shri. Uma Bharti. The Union Minister speaking in the valedictory function of the India Rivers Week hailed the first ever event on the vital issue. She emphasized “if we want to save our rivers, the first step is to ensure that no untreated effluent or sewage is mixed with treated water and finds its way into our rivers.” She assured that minimum environmental flows will be maintained in the river itself.