New Delhi

Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil inaugurated the 6th edition of ‘Nadi Utsav’ on Friday, emphasising the collective duty to protect rivers for future generations. He reiterated the government’s commitment to fight pollution and conserve river systems, noting that efforts are being made at short-term, mid-term, and long-term levels under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Water Vision2047 initiative.

Patil highlighted the vital role of rivers in sustaining communities and shaping India’s cultural heritage. “India is a land of rivers, and the Ganga is the finest of them all. It is our duty not to pollute these lifelines,” he said. He also stressed that rivers are more than resources; they carry our emotions, culture, and traditions, and human intervention has caused significant harm, making their conservation a shared responsibility. The Minister appreciated the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Ministry of Culture, for organising the festival.

The three-day festival began with the National Seminar on ‘Riverscape Dynamics: Changes and Continuity’, bringing together scholars and experts to discuss rivers’ ecological, cultural, and artistic importance. Out of over 300 research papers submitted, 45 are being presented during the seminar, organised in collaboration with the University of Delhi’s English Department.

Alongside the seminar, the ‘My River Story’ Documentary Film Festival showcased films like ‘Gotakhors: Disappearing Diving Communities’, ‘River Man of India’, ‘Arth Ganga’, and others, highlighting ecological concerns, traditional practices, and the deep human connection to rivers. Nadi Utsav fosters dialogue between tradition and modernity, inspiring communities to remain connected to their riverine heritage while promoting sustainable conservation practices.