“Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said,” “It is mentioned in the Atharva Veda that ‘Mata Bhumi Putro Ihm Bhumya’, that is, the earth is our mother and we are its sons.” The Vedic hymns talk about the welfare of the world. Just like our personal life cycle, the life cycle of Mother Earth is also the same. Only when we see connected to each other, will this creation and the universe continue to exist. Events like Mahakumbh provide us an opportunity to connect with the immortality of Maa Ganga and Yamuna with grandeur and divinity, and this is the basis for civilization and culture to flourish. Everyone’s participation is necessary in efforts to avoid the effects of climate change, and bringing it into practical life should be part of the message of Mahakumbh.
CM Yogi Adityanath was speaking at the ‘Kumbh Ki Aastha and Climate Change “conference at Mahakumbh Nagar. On the occasion, he launched short films on environment and climate change. He said that carbon emissions are the main cause of climate change and environmental pollution. The rivers, which served as the arteries of Mother Earth, are now drying up. If the arteries of the body dry up, then how the condition of the body will be, it can be easily understood. Same is the case with mother earth. If the rivers dry up or become polluted, the consequences will also be severe. Rivers in the state have been rejuvenated and the scope of confluence has been increased. Arrangements have been made for continuous availability of 10,000 to 11,000 cusecs of water for bathing in the Sangam.
CM Yogi Adityanath said that people are playing with nature and environment for their selfishness, in view of which single-use plastic has been completely banned. Along with this, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 10 crore free LPG connections were provided in the form of green fuel. In the last 8 years, 210 crore saplings were planted in the state, out of which 70-80 per cent plants are safe. He also said that we must become active partners in nature and environment conservation. Can we stop using plastic in our daily lives? Can we stop encroachment and illegal occupation of river banks?
CM Yogi Adityanath warned that frequent incidents of lightning are a result of climate change. Two years ago, 90 people were killed by lightning from Mirzapur to Bihar. Technical measures are being used to reduce such incidents and Early Warning Centres have been set up.
Much more needs to be done to protect the environment. We should try to apply the messages of Upanishads, Vedas and Puranas in our daily and practical life. We should also become active participants in campaigns like ‘Ek Vriksh Maa Ke Naam’ and ‘Ek Vriksh Aastha Ke Naam’. Man is not the sole creature of this creation, and creation cannot be governed by man alone. The existence of animals and other creatures is also connected with the existence of man. We have to focus on environmental protection from now on without waiting for another cataclysm. Along with the faith of Mahakumbh, we should consider the causes of climate change and work towards their solutions.
CM Yogi Adityanath said that whenever he comes here, he reviews the arrangements related to the devotees coming to Mahakumbh. Today, when he made an aerial survey of various places of Mahakumbh, he saw that despite having parking facilities, people are going for Sangam bath by parking their vehicles on the road. If people park their vehicles at designated parking places, there will be no congestion on the road. They will have to walk only 100 meters and then will be able to go towards their destination easily. This example also illustrates the discrepancies that exist in our daily lives.
CM Yogi Adityanath also said that as many devotees used to come on the day of Mauni Amavasya in the previous Kumbh events, the same number of devotees are now coming every day. When the Sangam Snan people share it in their village and community after the spiritual experience, it attracts a large number of devotees, taking the event to new heights. It has now become the largest event in the world, and due to this size, people have a deep curiosity about the Mahakumbh.
He paid his tributes to those who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident at New Delhi Railway Station yesterday.
Principal Secretary Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Shri Anil Kumar delivered the welcome address on the occasion. President & CEO I Forest Shri Chandrabhushan gave a presentation on climate change. Besides, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, Swami Chidananda Saraswati Muni Ji Maharaj, Swami Mukundananda Ji Maharaj, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Shri Arun Kumar Saxena, Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Shri K P Malik, Chief Secretary, Shri Manoj Kumar Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.