Resuming the war against illegal mining in the Ganga, Matri Sadan founder Swami Shivanand on Sunday began his fast protesting against inaction by the district administration as the mining activities are back again. The seer has threatened that if his demands are not met, he would restrain from even water intake from Monday. Matri Sadan has written letters to the Mela officials and the Chief Secretary of the State demanding to comply with the early assurances given of imposing a complete ban on mining on Ganga riverbed extension of Kumbh area downstream. His move comes after the district administration allowed the mining to be resumed from Saturday evening on Ganga riverbed.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Matri sadan seer Swami Shivanand Sarawati said, “We have asked the State representatives to stand on their promises and impose a blanket ban on mining in Kumbh kshetra. In writing Matri sadan has asked the Mela Adhikari and IG Kumbh mela to extend the Kumbh mela area downstream till BIshenpur and Bhogpur villages where illegal mining is rampant.”
The seer slammed that the mela officials were following double standards, on the one hand they claimed that the Ardh Kumbh Mela should be grand and safe and on the other they are allowing the mining mafia to rob the mother Ganga of its resources.
Shivanand said, “We received the information on Saturday evening that mining was opened and immediately District Magistrate and SDM were informed about the tractors trolleys engaged in Bishenpur village but no action has been taken. The whole basis of allotment of mining lots is faulty. No demarcations are followed and mining is undertaken beyond the set limits (manual mining).”
Hundreds of tractor trolleys were seen engaged in lifting boulders from the Ganga riverbed in Bhogour village on Sunday morning alleged the seer.
The letter of demand has been addressed to the Chief Secretary of the State Shatrughan Singh and Mela Adhikari S A Murugesan and IG Mela GS Martolia with copies addressed to the State Chief minister Harish Rawat and SSP and DIG of Haridwar.
Panchayati Akhara Naya Udasin demands ban on mining Joining with the seer in his demands is Panchayati akhara Naya Udasin who has written to the Chief minister to stop illegal mining in Ganga. In his letter, Mahant Bhagat Ram of Udasin akhara wrote that not only the mining is being carried out in villages of Bhogpur and Bishenpur but the mafia have also removed the barbed wire laid by the administration as demarcation line of mining lots on the banks of ganga. “This is resulting in crop evasion by wild animals. If the mining was not checked soon the whole of Akhara Parishad shall join the crusade,” said Bhagat Ram.