Madikeri: The Art of Living (AoL) in association with State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), has launched the Cauvery Rejuvenation Project at Bhagamandala in Kodagu district.
Speaking at the inauguration at Bhagamandala, AoL Founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said, “Both the government and civil society should come together to protect rivers”, and advised the locals to safeguard the catchment area of the river by planting locally suitable trees, cleaning even the smallest of streams and avoiding construction of big structures in the area.
“We have plans to plant around 2.5 lakh trees within a span of one year along the path, where Cauvery River flows. The aim is to save the environment and the move will help in recharging of ground water and thereby the water table”, Sri Sri Ravishankar said.
Explaining the method, Sri Sri said, “Few pits will be dug and filled with jelly stones to curtail the flow of water and allow it to seep into the ground.” Terming the procedure as scientific, Sri Sri dealt in brief about the success and employing similar methods in other water rejuvenation projects.
The project is expected to benefit 1.5 lakh people in 10 gram panchayats.
AoL has already implemented rejuvenation projects for over 35 rivers and tributaries in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and Virajpet BJP MLA K G Bopaiah were present.
