KOLKATA: A mountaineer and trekker from Kolkata, who surrender a company activity to pursue his passion, is getting ready for a mega cycling expedition of 5,500km - from Nubra Valley close to Ladakh to Kanyakumari and onward to Sri Lanka.
Three months ago, he completed a 3,000km solo cycling adventure from Gangotri in Uttarakhand to Kuakata in Bangladesh, traversing the entire length of the Ganga as it meandered thru five states before entering Bangladesh.
"The condition of the Ganga - that we consider sacred and yet pollute - prompted me to undertake the 'Save Ganga' campaign in February-March. I wanted to know what was polluting the river and its impact on the population living along its length," said Samrat Moulik. He began the adventure on February eight this 12 months and finished on March 21.
While the situation of the river is excellent in Uttarakhand, its deterioration was visible after Haridwar. "Pollution actually began at Nagina - a town in Uttar Pradesh. In Moradabad, there is cremation ground at the ghat, a picture that one sees all along the river thereafter. From there on, the river water gets murkier as it flows. The effects of Ganga Action Plan, about which I had heard for years, were not visible. The pollution load of the Ganga increases as polluted tributaries flow into it," said Moulik.
As the river flows downstream, business waste becomes the major pollutant. The situation improved in Jharkhand. But when the river bifurcates into the Hooghly and the Padma close to Rajmahal, its situation once more deteriorates. "The situation is better in Bangladesh because of people's dependence on the river," he said.
Moulik plans to start out his adventure in September. He will duvet a number of rivers in central, west and south India before travelling to Sri Lanka and cycle alongside the rivers there.
Three months ago, he completed a 3,000km solo cycling adventure from Gangotri in Uttarakhand to Kuakata in Bangladesh, traversing the entire length of the Ganga as it meandered thru five states before entering Bangladesh.
"The condition of the Ganga - that we consider sacred and yet pollute - prompted me to undertake the 'Save Ganga' campaign in February-March. I wanted to know what was polluting the river and its impact on the population living along its length," said Samrat Moulik. He began the adventure on February eight this 12 months and finished on March 21.
While the situation of the river is excellent in Uttarakhand, its deterioration was visible after Haridwar. "Pollution actually began at Nagina - a town in Uttar Pradesh. In Moradabad, there is cremation ground at the ghat, a picture that one sees all along the river thereafter. From there on, the river water gets murkier as it flows. The effects of Ganga Action Plan, about which I had heard for years, were not visible. The pollution load of the Ganga increases as polluted tributaries flow into it," said Moulik.
As the river flows downstream, business waste becomes the major pollutant. The situation improved in Jharkhand. But when the river bifurcates into the Hooghly and the Padma close to Rajmahal, its situation once more deteriorates. "The situation is better in Bangladesh because of people's dependence on the river," he said.
Moulik plans to start out his adventure in September. He will duvet a number of rivers in central, west and south India before travelling to Sri Lanka and cycle alongside the rivers there.
Kol cyclist to pedal from Ladakh to Sri Lanka
![Kol cyclist to pedal from Ladakh to Sri Lanka]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
June 15, 2018
Rating:
