Agra, July 25 (IANS) Hundreds of followers of Sri Krishna, who began a trek here to raise awareness about ecological issues, entered Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh Saturday, an official said.
The group of men, women and children left Agra Friday with banners. The trek, that will end at Goverdhan hills in Mathura Monday, was flagged off by Sri Nathji Nishulk Jal Sewa (free water service) director Bankey Lal Maheshwari.

“The water of holy Yamuna is unfit for human consumption. Dozen odd forests of Braj mandal have disappeared, ghats have vanished, holy ponds (kunds) have been encroached upon. Sri Krishna was the greatest environmentalist who killed the Kali Nag, symbolic of pollution, in Yamuna and saved hills and forests.

“Millions of people visit the Mathura-Vrindavan areas every year, but nobody does anything to save the precious natural resources. This pad yatra (march) will help create better understanding and involve the people in the cleanliness drive in the whole of Braj Mandal,” Maheshwari told IANS.

The Sri Krishna followers entered Mathura district Saturday afternoon. “The yatra will end in Goverdhan after a parikrama and bhandara Monday,” said Rakesh Arora, one of the organisers.

Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma said: “We need many more such programmes to instil the values of cleanliness and conservation. At least the holy places should be spared of dirt and polythene.”