A delegation led by Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati Ji comprising of environmentalists and others met the Prime Minister under the auspices of the Ganga Seva Abhiyan on 16.10.2008. The delegation asked for steps to maintain the purity of the Ganga, control the flows of industrial and domestic pollutants into the river and protect the flow of the river. The delegation also asked for setting up a Ganga Environment Commission at the national level and declaring the Ganga as a national river.

The Prime Minister informed the delegation that he has already set up a Group of Ministers to look into a river conservation strategy for Ganga and other important rivers. The Prime Minister also said that he himself will soon be taking a meeting to review the work of the Ganga Action Plan. He stated that it was the duty of all Indians to maintain the purity of the Ganga and that the Government will do all that was possible for the holistic environmental protection of the river. The Prime Minister assured that the views of the Ganga Seva Abhiyan will be taken into account and that he will request the Group of Ministers to hear representatives of the Abhiyan.