The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju congratulated the 45 members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) rafting team who returned after the successful accomplishment of the ITBP River Rafting Expedition-2015. Flagging in the expedition, Shri Rijiju said that this is a different concept with a new idea and vision. He said that this was not only an adventurous task, but a campaign with a mission.Rijiju also said that awareness spread at various places during the campaign will be very impactful and long lasting. He said that the campaign was run in a scientific manner. He said that the Ganga is a holy river and efforts are being made to save it from getting dirty. Shri Rijiju also appreciated the ITBP for working in difficult circumstances for the safety of the country.Welcoming the Chief Guest, Shri Krishna Chaudhary, Director General, ITBP explained the idea and achievement of this expedition and said that the ITBP will surely take such initiatives related to the citizens in future as well.Inspired from the Prime Minister’s ‘Namami Gange’ project, ITBP had organized the 72 days voyage- ITBP River Rafting Expedition-2015 from October 2, 2015 to December 12, 2015 from Dev Prayag (Uttarakhand) to Gangasagar (West Bengal).
ITBP planned this Rafting expedition with the aim to spread awareness to keep river Ganga clean and to contribute in cleanliness drive of the river. ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ and ‘Swachchh Bharat’ were also included in the awareness programmes by the Expedition. This expedition was flagged off by Sushri Uma Bharati, Union Minister for Water Resource, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, at Dev Prayag on Oct 2, 2015 and terminated at Gangasagar (West Bengal) covering a distance of 2,350 KMs. This expedition passed through five states covering important cities - Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kannauj, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Munger, Sahibganj, Bahrampur and Kolkata including many other small cities and villages. Members of the expedition collected samples of river Ganga at various places and handed over it to state pollution board for detailed analysis of the pollution in the River, subsequently the report will be submitted to the Govt. of India. While their transit stay enroute at various places, team members collected polythene bags and garbage from the River and handed over to local administration for further disposal. Local people and students also participated in this drive.