A follower of Matri Sadan, Atmabodhan, began an indefinite hunger-strike here on Thursday demanding action to end the illegal mining and stone crushing operations along Ganga in Haridwar district. Swami Shivanand, mentor of Matri Sadan, said that despite repeated orders issued by the court and the Chief Minister, illegal mining is still continuing in the Ganga.
He said the fasting should be called tapasya or penance to have the holy river purified of the curse of indiscriminate mining and the stone crushers.He said that the High Court on February 13, 2015 had stayed mining but the order is not being complied with. Swami Shivanand slammed the district administration for shielding the mining operators who are quarrying the riverbeds, flouting norms.
He demanded District Magistrate of Haridwar be removed for not complying with the court order. He further said that the total stock of the stone crushers must be checked. Notably, a few days ago, Chief Minister Harish Rawat had directed the officials, while chairing a review meeting, to probe the complaints of illegal mining and take stringent action against those found guilty. The State Government has also formed an Illegal Mining Prevention Vigilance Unit (IMPVN) headed by DIG/IG Sanjay Gunjyal to check illegal mining in riverbed areas. Gunjyal had conducted several raids in various parts of Haridwar, but in vain.