STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: In commemoration of World River Day, Save Bharalu (Bharalu Bachao) Abhiyan (SB(BB)A), an NGO, organized a cycle rally and a citizens' meeting. The cycle rally was flagged off from Rajgarh Bihutoli, and after traversing through the city along the Bharalu River, it winded up at Pragjyotish College. Participants in the cycle rally were members of Tilinga Sports Club. Members of the Rotary Club of Gauhati South, which collaborated on the programme, were present. NCC and NSS students of Pragjyotish College also participated.
The citizen's meeting, presided over by Dr. Rabindra Nath Majumdar, President of 'Save Bharalu', later held at Kumar Bhaskar Natya Mandir, Uzanbazar, began with a Ganesh Bandanaby Mehmuda Begum. The objectives of the meeting were stated by Satya Ranjan Barua, Secretary of Bharalu Bachao Abhiyan. The meeting was inaugurated by Dr. Abani Bhagawati, an eminent geographer and retired professor at Gauhati University. Dr. Bhagawati raised a pertinent question: "When the Mekong River, which flows through eight countries, can have a treaty ensuring riparian rights, why cannot Brahmaputra have a treaty among the countries that it flows through?"
Veteran journalist and editor of 'Niyomia Barta', Naresh Kalita, lamented, "The death of a river in the name of development is a great tragedy for the citizens. The ill-effects of a polluted river affect the settlers and encroachers on the banks directly, but all the citizens will ultimately be affected." Kalita further stated, "The so-called 'artificial flood' of Guwahati is a prime example of the wanton destruction caused to the Bharalu River. What 'Save Bharalu' has done must be converted into a wider movement involving the citizens at large."
'Nirbak', a mime group of six performers-Dipankar, Bishal, Dipak, Mompi, Yuvraj, Parag, and Akash-led by Minangka Deka performed skits to highlight the uncivilised behaviour and callous attitude of citizens towards the spitting and disposal of household garbage.
Dr. Rabindra Nath Majumdar, President of SB (BB)A, made a power point presentation of the plight of Bharalu. Dr. Rubi Kataky recited the poem Bharalu, Monalisa Aru Ami, written by Ranjan Kr Mahanta. Dr. Seema Rekha Devi displayed the cloth bags done by the organization and urged all to always carry a bag to the market.
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