THOUGH SEVERAL social, cultural and non-government organisations have been making tall claims about cleaning the Ganga, this time a large number of foreign nationals, non-resident Indians, internationally acclaimed musicians, social thinkers and philosophers have also expressed concern for the cause.
A meeting of foreign nationals from Italy, France, Germany, England, Portugal, Canada, Israel, Japan and Vietnam, was held in the city on Thursday night. It was convened by Italian sitar player Gianmi Ricchizi alias ‘Ganga’.
Gianmi had come to Varanasi 20 years back to learn the sitar. During his stay here, he used to bathe in the Ganga daily. His teacher thus gave him the name Ganga.
When he returned after a gap of 20 years, he was disheartened to see the holy river in a poor condition. This 55-year-old musician expressed concern over the increasing pollution in the Ganga: “Ganga ma is in danger”.
“Of course, many industrial activities and big cities all along the river add to the pollution. But, the behaviour of millions of people living along the Ganga is also responsible for this, as they do not take care of the river,” he added.
Ricchizi further said the population had enormously increased and the use of large quantities of chemicals and industrial waste were the main reasons behind the pathetic condition of the Ganga.
{{/usCountry}}Ricchizi further said the population had enormously increased and the use of large quantities of chemicals and industrial waste were the main reasons behind the pathetic condition of the Ganga.
{{/usCountry}}“We will be holding meetings every month to honour those shopkeepers who avoid the use of polythene.” Funds for cleaning of the Ganga would be collected in Italy, he added.
Acharya Srinivas, an NRI, said shopkeepers should take the initiative of not using polythene bags or plastic plates, especially at the ghats.
Prominent among others who participated in the meeting included renowned sitar players Ritwik Sanyal and Rajbhan Singh, pakhawaj player Amarnath Mishra, Mangala Tiwari, Nawal Kishore, Kailash Nishad, Monica, Nectarios Mitritsakis and Patrizia.