Press Release ITBP Ganga Punardarshan River Rafting Expedition creates history Accomplises mission of rafting 2525kms Gangasagar, 19th June 2012:- ITBP “Ganga Punardarshan” River Rafting Expedition created history by accomplishing the mission of rafting in the complete 2525 kilometer stretch of Ganga. In spite of extremely difficult and challenging nature of this expedition ITBP has accomplished this mission as ITBP personnel are professionally well trained and physically fit. On 15th June,2012 H.E. Governor of West Bengal Shri M.K. Narayanan has welcomed the team of ITBP “Ganga Punardarshan” River Rafting Expedition at Millennium Park in Kolkata. Shri Ranjit Sinha, Director General, ITBP and senior officers of state government and other CAPF were also present on this occasion. This expedition was launched on 24th April from , the origin of Ganga . Shri Ranjit Sinha, Director General, ITBP congratulated the team and said “ITBP is determined for preservation of environment and this expedition is an attempt in this regard. This team created a milestone and an example for others to follow.” This expedition launched by ITBP for conservation of Ganga has created awareness about cleanliness of water, rain-water harvesting and water related issues among millions by means of lecture, exhibitions, printed material and media. This expedition team collected samples of Ganga water which is being checked in laboratory. The team also educated masses for cleaning of holy river Ganga and conservation of water. The ITBP is celebrating its Golden Jubilee Year from 24th October 2011 to 24th October 2012. This rafting expedition named as “Ganga Punardarshan” is part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. The aim of this expedition was to create awareness about clean water, preservation of ecosystem, preservation of flora and fauna and treatment of affluent water in Ganga. It also aimed at creating a sense of adventure among youths and to promote adventure water sports. Besides this also increased professional efficiency of the Force in high as rafting is one of the means of transportation. This rafting expedition covering about 2525 kms from Gomukh to Gangasagar also created a record in itself as no other team has ever done rafting in whole stretch of Ganga. The Leader of this expedition is Shri S.S. Mishra, DIG, Deputy Leader is Sh. Tarun Kumar, Dy. Commandant and team captain of this expedition is Shri Roshan Singh Aswal, Assistant Commandant. All of them are renowned rafter and have extensive experience in rafting. The rafting team had a balanced composition of experienced and new rafters. ASI/GD Mohammad Ali and ASI/GD Satish Kumar are experienced rafters. They have conducted various expeditions and participated in many national and international level competitions. ASI/GD Mohammad Ali is not only a national level rafter but also a mountaineer, who had unfurled Tiranga on Mt. Everest in May 2006.

The team accomplished its task of more than 2500 kms in six phases as per following details:- S/No Phase Places Distance to be covered From To 1. Phase-I - 210 kms 2. Phase-II Devprayag - 85 kms 3. Phase-III Haridwar - Allahabad 810 kms 4. Phase-IV Allahabad - Patna 410 kms 5. Phase-V Patna - Farakka 360 kms 6. Phase.VI Farakka - Gangasagar 650 kms

The expedition team passed Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand successfully and reached in last phase in West Bengal. The team educated and interacted with local population and exhibited samples of water collected from every 50 kms in Ganga. An appeal was also being made to make its bank free of garbage and polythene. State governments of Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal have also helped ITBP in organizing the state level functions in their respective states. Many huge awareness rallies and awareness run for saving Ganga and water conservation were organized all over . National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) and ‘Zee’ News Channel had also joined hands with ITBP in spreading awareness for conservation of water. ITBP is pioneer in the field of rafting. Till date Force has conducted 20 major rafting expeditions in various rivers of the country including Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. On 19th May,2012, mountaineering team of ITBP has scaled Mt Everest and skied down from the top. It is an unique record that two teams of ITBP-one mountaineering team has conquered world highest Mt Everest and skiing down from Everest, second – the rafting team did rafting in whole stretch of India’s biggest and holiest river Ganga.

Deepak Kumar Pandey PRO, ITBP