Contribute to Namami Ganga initiative, Jaitley tells Indians

Stressing the need to preserve Ganga river which symbolises the country’s culture and heritage, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday made a fervent plea to Indians across the world to contribute to the Namami Ganga and Swacch Bharat campaigns of the Centre.

“Ganga is not merely a symbol of religion. It is a symbol of holiness, culture and geography and most importantly it is one of the most powerful instruments of our economy”, Jaitley said.

He speaking after receiving a cheque of Rs 100 crore from Mata Amritanandamayi for construction of toilets under the Swacch Bharat programme. Another Rs 100 crore would be given by the mutt for the programme later this month.

Ganga influences 40 <g data-gr-id="15">per cent</g> of Indians who live in the area around it, he said.

“We depend so much on the Ganga, being so devoted to it, but yet are careless in preserving the river, particularly in the area from Kanpur to Varanasi where industrial and household pollutants, all untreated, get into the holy <g data-gr-id="17">river damaging</g> the ecology, environment and the river itself,” he said.

Lauding Mata Amritanandamayi (better known as Amma) for her contribution, Jaitley said, “It will send a message across the world that those committed to the cause should contribute.”