Aami pollution: Jayanthi writes to Mayawati

Citing the latest findings of Central Pollution Control Board on deteriorating conditions of Aami river in Gorakhpur district,Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati,seeking “stringent action” against the defaulting industries,and has offered central assistance for taking up conservation projects. Natarajan was expected to personally visit the areas affected by the river pollution,but could not leave Delhi due to the weather,sources said.

Her intervention in the issue of Aami river pollution comes after several such high-profile interventions by a string of Union ministers in recent months,reportedly on the prodding of Rahul Gandhi who is personally leading the Congress election campaign in UP.

The pollution of Aami river has affected livelihood of people living along the river in a large number of villages. The Congress has fielded Vishwavijay Singh,who is the face of the Save Aami river campaign,as its candidate from Sahjanwa in Gorkahpur.