Agra, Jan 18 (IANS): Scores of young roller skaters zipped down the Yamuna bank here in an effort to increase public awareness about the conservation of the river.

The young skaters also carried placards with slogans that exhorted people to work for a pollution-free Yamuna.

The event on 'Save Yamuna' was held in the city on Sunday evening.

"As the lifeline of the Braj region, the dying river is a cause for concern. Effective steps should be taken to ensure a minimal flow of water in it around the year to rejuvenate the water body," said River Connect Campaign team member Devashish Bhattacharya.

The dry river bed is posing a threat to historical monuments along the river bank in the city, said historian R. Nath.

Scanty rains this year have dried up the river and its catchment area, also creating a serious drinking water problem in the city of the Taj Mahal.

"The river's flow has been reduced to a trickle. Toxic effluents and polluted discharge from drains upstream have not only made the river an eyesore, but also led to unbearable stink," Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma said.