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Environmentalists on Sunday claimed that the dust emanating from the drying Yamuna river is creating pockmarks on historical monuments and demanded arrangements be made to ensure minimum flow of water in the river.
River Connect Campaign activists held a protest here against the "deplorable" condition of the Yamuna.
Environmental activists in Agra held a symbolic 'sand bath' to draw attention to the plight of the polluted and drying Yamuna river.
The activists on Sunday evening joined a mass community event to draw the government's attention to the sewage canal that the river has been reduced to without water.
The activists 'pretended' to swim and jump on heaps of sand collected from the dry riverbed. They said if there was no water in the river, they would naturally have to bathe in the dry sand.
The event drew large crowds on the riverbank at the Etmaddaula View Point Park.
"The dry river is a threat not only to the environment as it raises the SPM (suspended particulate matter) level in the air, but also to the historical monuments along its banks, including the Taj Mahal," activist Jyoti Vishal Jha said.
Environmentalist Shravan Kumar Singh said the dust level continues to rise alarmingly in the city.
"This is because there is no water in Yamuna and the dust raised from the river bed hits the surface of monuments, creating pockmarks," he said.
The activists demanded desilting of Yamuna for a minimum flow of water in the river.
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(With inputs from agencies)
