Three-day long Ganga Aviral Chintan Yatra, which started on Friday from Matra Sadan with an aim to save Ganga, Haridwar, suffered a 'hiccup' on Saturday when police reportedly stopped organisers from visiting the under-construction site of Phata hydropower project near Sitapur village. Organisers alleged that police didn't allow them from visiting the construction site. The police, however, claimed that five of the participants were offered a visit but, they turned the offer down by saying, they would visit only when all participants are given permission to visit the site for which they didn't have due permission.
Hemant Dhyani of 'Ganga Ahwan' alleged that police didn't let participants to visit the spot in presence of hundreds of locals and representatives of various gram panchayats in the area.
"The yatra is getting huge supports of the locals. Yatra passed through several villages where locals gave it a rousing welcome and extended support to continue the struggle for saving jal, jungle and zameen. But as yatra proceeded towards the under-construction site of phata project, police stopped us," Dhyani alleged and added that police didn't give any concrete reason for their action.
Organisers also accepted that the police asked them that the five persons of the organisers may visit the site but they rejected the offer. "We are peacefully continuing our campaign for saving spontaneous flow of Holy River Ganga. We are creating awareness among the people for saving the River Ganga. But the campaign seems to have left the administration with itching eyes. So, it stopped us," Dhyani said.
locals had all rights to know as to how the power projects would hurt the natural resources. He claimed to have received support from Mahila Mandal Dal president Jagdamba Devi, Parkandi village's Pradhan Savitri Devi and several other women of the area.
These women were present when police stopped them. Dhyani said that the Yatra was proceeding further and would conclude on April 7.
Social activists and campaigners are active for saving Ganga would apprise the State Government and people of their view on concluding day of Yatra. Around 200 activists would attend the meeting on concluding day, Dhyani said, adding that it was their bit to save spontaneous flow of the River Ganga.
Superintendent of Police Rudraprayag Barinderjeet Singh said, "Five of the participants were offered to visit the project site. But when they said all the participants of the Yatra would visit the site, they were politely stopped from visiting the site for security reasons."