BJP stages walkout in UP assembly over river pollution issue

BJP staged a walkout in Uttar Pradesh assembly today expressing dissatisfaction over the government's reply on measures to control pollution in rivers, specially in eastern districts of the state.

Through an adjournment notice, Congress members expressed serious concern over rising levels of pollution in the rivers.

Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tewari said high level of arsenic in rivers has wiped out several species.

Tewari claimed that a dozen people had died after consuming water from the Rihand dam in Sonebhadhra district in October-November last year.

During the discussion, BJP member Radhey Mohan Agarwal said pollution in Aami river in eastern Uttar Pradesh is due to the absence of a common sewage treatment plant by Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority despite making a promise in
this regard in 1989.

In his reply, urban development minister Nakul Dubey said the government is fully committed to control pollution. Efforts are on to check pollution in all rivers in the state and for checking water pollution a plan has been prepared with 70% central funding, Dubey said.

Not satisfied with the reply, BJP staged a walkout saying that the minister has given no reply on pollution in Aami river.