Environmental crusader and ex-IFS officer Manoj Misra of ‘Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan’ fame dies at 68

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Renowned environmental activist and former Indian Forest Service officer Manoj Misra breathed his closing at 12.40 pm on Sunday, abandoning a legacy of battles fought to safeguard treasured forests and rivers. He was 68.

Misra, who examined constructive for COVID-19 on April 8, was current course of remedy since April 10.

The conservation neighborhood, along with members of the Indian Forest Service fraternity, mourned his passing and hailed his tireless efforts to safeguard forests and rivers.

Deeply distressed to be taught of the passing away of Manoj Misra, an indefatigable environmentalist. He was notably passionate regarding the security of rivers and spent loads of his time on the revival of the Yamuna. He helped me inside the drafting of the first algorithm for…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 4, 2023

Born in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Misra’s adolescence was shaped by his love for nature and the environment.

He pursued his coaching from Pant Nagar University in Uttarakhand and later at Allahabad University.

In 1979, he joined the Indian Forest Service.

He belonged to the Madhya Pradesh cadre and served in quite a few capacities all through the nation.

Misra opted for voluntary retirement in 2001.

In 2007, he based mostly the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a movement dedicated to the revival of the river.

While air air pollution inside the Yamuna had develop to be a nationwide concern in 1994, it was Misra’s administration that launched environmental transfer and the river’s floodplains into the spotlight.

Known for his humility, Misra actively fought in opposition to deforestation, illegal mining and air air pollution using licensed avenues to protect pure property.

His licensed battles to keep away from losing forests and rivers gained widespread recognition.

Misra fought fairly just a few licensed battles to protect the Yamuna and its floodplains, taking a stand in opposition to the event of a metro depot (2007), a Millennium Bus depot (2011), dumping of improvement particles (2012), masking of stormwater drains (2013), air air pollution inside the Hindon river (2014), improvement of an elevated avenue with out environmental analysis (2015) and a cultural pageant organised by the Art of Living (March 2016).

The efforts of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, spearheaded by Misra, led to the National Green Tribunal calling for the phased rejuvenation of the river in 2015.

During definitely considered one of our erratic phone calls, Manoj Misra talked about his father lived till 71. “And I know I’m not going to cross that,” he added. I requested why he was being so superstitious? He replied he was being acutely aware. Rest in Peace, fountainhead of knowledge. I’ll miss your presence https://t.co/kwkuOp22uP

— Bharati Chaturvedi (@Bharati09) June 4, 2023

Until his hospitalisation, Misra continued to battle for the preservation of the Yamuna and its floodplains.

In April, he wrote to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, seeking movement in opposition to an illegal cricket ground and academy engaged on the floodplains near the DND flyway.

Misra’s relentless efforts to protect the river and its floodplains have had a profound have an effect on.

According to Sudha, a member of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, “Had it not been for sir (Misra), the floodplain that we are seeing today in Delhi would not exist. Concrete infrastructure, including helipads and five-star hotels, would have come up on the site.”

Misra’s passing leaves a void inside the environmental conservation movement as he was thought-about a one-man army inside the battle to safeguard the Yamuna river.

His dedication and unwavering dedication to the set off operate an inspiration to all who try for a greener and further sustainable future, she talked about.

We are deeply saddened at current to share that our pal, mentor and guiding delicate Shri Manoj Misra (@yamunajiye) is no longer amidst us.

We mourn his loss, and invite you to hold this space with us on this time. Please protect his family, all our rivers and us in your prayers.

— India Rivers Forum (@IndiaRiverForum) June 4, 2023

As info of his passing unfold, tributes poured in from environmentalists, colleagues and admirers, acknowledging the quite a few contributions Misra made all via his life.

“His unwavering determination to protect the environment and his instrumental role in preserving the Yamuna river and its floodplains will be remembered as a lasting legacy. He took me under his fold. He was like my father. I am saddened that he could not see a ‘nirmal’ Yamuna during his lifetime,” talked about Bhim Singh, a member of the South Asia Network on Rivers, Dams and People — a casual group engaged on factors related to rivers, communities and large-scale water infrastructure corresponding to dams.

Congress chief and former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh expressed unhappiness at Misra’s dying and talked about, “Deeply distressed to learn of the passing away of Manoj Misra, an indefatigable environmentalist. He was particularly passionate about the protection of rivers and spent much of his time on the revival of the Yamuna. He helped me in the drafting of the first set of rules for River Regulation Zone, much along the lines of the Coastal Regulation Zone rules. Sadly, we still dont have enforceable RRZ rules.”

Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena, who heads the National Green Tribunal’s high-level committee prepare recently to watch works to rejuvenate the Yamuna, moreover expressed his shock and ache at Misra’s “untimely demise”.

“He remained a warrior for the cause of environment and a son of river Yamuna, consistently striving for her revival. His passing away leaves us bereft of a valuable fellow traveler on path of rejuvenating Yamuna,” Saxena talked about on Twitter.

NEW DELHI: Renowned environmental activist and former Indian Forest Service officer Manoj Misra breathed his closing at 12.40 pm on Sunday, abandoning a legacy of battles fought to safeguard treasured forests and rivers. He was 68.

Misra, who examined constructive for COVID-19 on April 8, was current course of remedy since April 10.

The conservation neighborhood, along with members of the Indian Forest Service fraternity, mourned his passing and hailed his tireless efforts to safeguard forests and rivers.googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

Deeply distressed to be taught of the passing away of Manoj Misra, an indefatigable environmentalist. He was notably passionate regarding the security of rivers and spent loads of his time on the revival of the Yamuna. He helped me inside the drafting of the first algorithm for…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 4, 2023
Born in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Misra’s adolescence was shaped by his love for nature and the environment.

He pursued his coaching from Pant Nagar University in Uttarakhand and later at Allahabad University.

In 1979, he joined the Indian Forest Service.

He belonged to the Madhya Pradesh cadre and served in quite a few capacities all through the nation.

Misra opted for voluntary retirement in 2001.

In 2007, he based mostly the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, a movement dedicated to the revival of the river.

While air air pollution inside the Yamuna had develop to be a nationwide concern in 1994, it was Misra’s administration that launched environmental transfer and the river’s floodplains into the spotlight.

Known for his humility, Misra actively fought in opposition to deforestation, illegal mining and air air pollution using licensed avenues to protect pure property.

His licensed battles to keep away from losing forests and rivers gained widespread recognition.

Misra fought fairly just a few licensed battles to protect the Yamuna and its floodplains, taking a stand in opposition to the event of a metro depot (2007), a Millennium Bus depot (2011), dumping of improvement particles (2012), masking of stormwater drains (2013), air air pollution inside the Hindon river (2014), improvement of an elevated avenue with out environmental analysis (2015) and a cultural pageant organised by the Art of Living (March 2016).

The efforts of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, spearheaded by Misra, led to the National Green Tribunal calling for the phased rejuvenation of the river in 2015.

During definitely considered one of our erratic phone calls, Manoj Misra talked about his father lived till 71. “And I know I’m not going to cross that,” he added. I requested why he was being so superstitious? He replied he was being acutely aware. Rest in Peace, fountainhead of knowledge. I’ll miss your presence https://t.co/kwkuOp22uP
— Bharati Chaturvedi (@Bharati09) June 4, 2023
Until his hospitalisation, Misra continued to battle for the preservation of the Yamuna and its floodplains.

In April, he wrote to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, seeking movement in opposition to an illegal cricket ground and academy engaged on the floodplains near the DND flyway.

Misra’s relentless efforts to protect the river and its floodplains have had a profound have an effect on.

According to Sudha, a member of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, “Had it not been for sir (Misra), the floodplain that we are seeing today in Delhi would not exist. Concrete infrastructure, including helipads and five-star hotels, would have come up on the site.”

Misra’s passing leaves a void inside the environmental conservation movement as he was thought-about a one-man army inside the battle to safeguard the Yamuna river.

His dedication and unwavering dedication to the set off operate an inspiration to all who try for a greener and further sustainable future, she talked about.

We are deeply saddened at current to share that our pal, mentor and guiding delicate Shri Manoj Misra (@yamunajiye) is no longer amidst us.
We mourn his loss, and invite you to hold this space with us on this time. Please protect his family, all our rivers and us in your prayers.
— India Rivers Forum (@IndiaRiverForum) June 4, 2023
As info of his passing unfold, tributes poured in from environmentalists, colleagues and admirers, acknowledging the quite a few contributions Misra made all via his life.

“His unwavering determination to protect the environment and his instrumental role in preserving the Yamuna river and its floodplains will be remembered as a lasting legacy. He took me under his fold. He was like my father. I am saddened that he could not see a ‘nirmal’ Yamuna during his lifetime,” talked about Bhim Singh, a member of the South Asia Network on Rivers, Dams and People — a casual group engaged on factors related to rivers, communities and large-scale water infrastructure corresponding to dams.

Congress chief and former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh expressed unhappiness at Misra’s dying and talked about, “Deeply distressed to learn of the passing away of Manoj Misra, an indefatigable environmentalist. He was particularly passionate about the protection of rivers and spent much of his time on the revival of the Yamuna. He helped me in the drafting of the first set of rules for River Regulation Zone, much along the lines of the Coastal Regulation Zone rules. Sadly, we still dont have enforceable RRZ rules.”

Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena, who heads the National Green Tribunal’s high-level committee prepare recently to watch works to rejuvenate the Yamuna, moreover expressed his shock and ache at Misra’s “untimely demise”.

“He remained a warrior for the cause of environment and a son of river Yamuna, consistently striving for her revival. His passing away leaves us bereft of a valuable fellow traveler on path of rejuvenating Yamuna,” Saxena talked about on Twitter.