Following the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC) has put a blanket ban on mining in the Ganga river and its tributaries with immediate effect. No mining activity was carried out in Haridwar after the imposition of the ban on nine ghats of Ganga river where mining was rampant. Acting on a petition filed in the year 2016, the directions were passed by the NGT on February 26. The next hearing for the same shall be on April 16.
The mining activities began in an area of 1250 hectares under the category of chugan (manual mining) began in November last year at Bhogpur, Bishenpur, Chidiapur, Shyampur and two lots of Rawasain and Kotawali each. The responsibility for the same was given to the UFDC. The founder of Matri Sadan, Swami Shivanand had opposed this resumption of mining activity stating that the mining was not being carried out as per scientific norms. For the past two years this matter was pending and discussions were on after the environmental clearance was given and a petition was filed in NGT. The Forest Research Institute had given its report but when questioned about stones in Ganga river and their source the institute had demanded three years time.
Now making fresh allegations, Matri Sadan has slammed the State Government and district administration for irregularities to the tune of Rs five crore in illegal mining. Matri Sadan is filing a writ petition in the High Court demanding probe in this alleged mining scam. Speaking to The Pioneer, founder Swami Shivanand said, “I have been pointing out since beginning about the violation of rules and regulations by the district administration. Neither the High Court nor NGT gave permission to conduct mining in the Ganga region but the state government and district administration have till now allowed mining of materials worth Rs five crores.” He averred that the CM and the DM of Haridwar, Deepak Rawat, among others were involved in the matter and high level probe must be sought against them for which he was filing the petition in the High Court.