The Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation has opened mining on the Ganga river bed in Shyampur and Chidiyapur forest range following the orders of the Supreme Court after five long years till May 31. Opposing the move, the seer of Matri Sadan who has been crusading to save Ganga for the past few decades has once again started its silent protest. Demanding the suspension of mining officials and ban on river mining, disciple of Shivananda, Brahmchari Atmabodhananda began his indefinite fast on Sunday.
Amidst the opposition from Matri sadan, the officials of forest development corporation state that as per the norms of National Green Tribunal, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and water resources and after the consent of the Supreme Court, mining has been resumed in the Ganga riverbed. There would be complete monitoring of the activity through close circuit cameras claim the officials.
The BJP legislator Swami Yateeshwaranand inaugurated work on the two mining lots at Ganga river near Shyampur and Chidiyapur forest range. Speaking to the Pioneer, deputy logging officer of Uttarakhand forest development corporation Ashok Kumar said, “At Anjani Chod outlet of Ganga river Shyampur lot, Swami Yateeshwaranand opened mining by inaugurating the ghat. This would give employment to many locals and respite to the villagers who wanted to build homes but were unable since the sand and stone used in building was expensive. Now the market will get these building materials at cheaper rates thus benefitting the poor man.”
The contractor of mining Ajeet Chauhan said, “After five years of struggle, we have been able to get the consent from five bodies including Supreme Court, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of water resources, Central Pollution Control Board and National Green Tribunal. Since the year 2012 mining was closed in Chidiyapur and Shyampur forest division. CCTV cameras and electronic weighing machine have been installed and mining shall be carried out as per the permitted norms till 31st May”
Meanwhile Swami Atmabodhanand has begun his self restraint, indefinite hunger strike demanding suspension of three officials – Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand S Ramaswamy, Secretary mining Sailesh Bagauli and Director Mining Geology Vinay Shankar Pandey. Also the seer has demanded formation of a special investigation team to assess the impact of damage to the environment and punish the culprits.
Reacting harshly on the opening of the mining lot, Swami Shivanand said, “Yateeshwaranand must explain his role if he is a seer or head of mining mafia. They all have share in the stone crushers.” He also targeted the minister of Peyjal and Parliamentary affairs, Prakash Pant who favoured mining. Slamming the state chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Shivanand said that RSS had become black listed organization and TSR was its product who was promoting mining mafia. He demanded from the state to form a special investigation team to probe into the matter.