Date:21/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092161630300.htm

New Delhi

Medha joins ‘Save Yamuna’

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar is the latest to join the ongoing Yamuna Satyagraha here. On the 50th day of the 24-hour vigil over the river’s floodplains, Ms. Patkar joined the activists camping on its banks. Lending support to the campaign against construction of the Commonwealth Games Village on the floodplains, Ms. Patkar said: “Unbridled construction on the Yamuna and acquisition of the riverbed for the Commonwealth Games is a clear issue of commercialisation of the riverbed.”

“This is just the beginning as the Commonwealth Games are aimed at making the poor and the underprivileged in this city even more marginalised while allowing predatory capitalists -- particularly real estate players -- prevail over the city,” she added.

Ms. Patkar drew attention to the threat that constructions pose to the environment. She said apart from pollution, the biggest damage that the Commonwealth Games would cause is destruction of the Yamuna floodplain.