Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government on Sunday imposed a ban on mining on the Narmada riverbed and formed a committee of experts to suggest measures to prevent ecological damage to the river, considered as the lifeline of the state. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the condition of rivers in the country. He was speaking at a programme last week on the conclusion of a campaign to conserve the Narmada river in MP. The state government has also banned the use of machines for mining in all rivers across Madhya Pradesh. “A committee, which includes experts from IIT-Kharagpur and headed by Cabinet minister Rajendra Shukla, has been formed to make suggestions about mining in the Narmada river,” Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters here. “We have decided to completely ban mining in the Narmada river till this committee gives its report,” he said. Chouhan said the committee would make recommendations, after conducting a scientific study, to prevent any ecological damage to the river. (PTI)
