Green groups come up with manifesto for river protection

It calls for steps to protect river banks from encroachments

Environmental organisations in Kerala working for the protection of rivers have submitted a manifesto for river protection to all political parties contesting in the polls. One of their major demands is to protect river banks from encroachments. The manifesto, which was submitted a few weeks ago, points out the need to measure all sources of water, including rivers and ponds, however small they are, and their banks and to clear encroachments. The minimum distance of any construction activity from rivers should be strictly followed. River banks should be freely accessible to the public, and they should not be sanctioned for private parties at any cost, the manifesto said.