“Stop Turning Rivers into Drains”: Why Minister Prahlad Singh Patel Raised Concern at Power Conference in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh’s Labour, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has launched the Udgam Manas Yatra to address the growing water crisis and ensure river conservation. Speaking at TV9 Bharatvarsh’s Satta Sammelan, Patel emphasized that protecting rivers is only possible if society collectively stops treating them as drains.

Udgam Manas Yatra: Reaching River Origins

Patel revealed that he has so far visited the origin points of 104 rivers, with a target of reaching 108 sources. His initiative focuses on conserving natural resources with the participation of local communities.

“Madhya Pradesh is called the motherland of rivers. Despite being a surplus water state, villages still face water shortages. This crisis is not just about numbers — it reflects our mindset. If we stop turning rivers into drains, conservation will become possible,” he said.

“We Made Rivers Dirty, Not Nature”

The minister underlined that human negligence is primarily responsible for the degradation of rivers.

• Throwing waste into rivers has converted them into drains.

• Government efforts can clean water bodies, but without preventing pollution at the source, rivers cannot remain full year-round.

• During the COVID-19 lockdown, rivers appeared clean, showing that nature restores itself when human interference stops.

On Governance and Development

Patel also spoke about transparency in governance, noting that direct benefit transfers (DBT) under PM Modi have reduced corruption. He cited an incident where a living person withdrew benefits meant for a deceased individual, but the fraud was later detected and the money returned.

On urban-rural development differences, Patel explained that issues like drainage and road connectivity persist in semi-urban panchayats. Committees have been formed to address these gaps. He stressed that Madhya Pradesh has made significant progress in roads, tribal development, housing, and gas connections, though some disparities remain.