Demanding the removal of encroachments from the mela land, Maa Ganga Ahvan Akhara, an independent social organisation, has begun hunger strike at Gauri Shankar sector on Sunday. Akhara alleged that Ganga is becoming polluted due to encroachers as their sewage is directly drained into the Ganga.
“We have given dozens of applications for removing encroachments from the Kumbh mela land but neither district nor mela administration has taken any action so far. Hence, we have started protest. Sewage waste is drained into the Ganga without treatment by the encroachers. Surprisingly some of them are even seers who do this offense. But nobody is aware of this. It is a matter of faith and this will not be tolerated,” said JP Badoni, a senior officer bearer of the Maa Ganga Ahvan Akahra.
Mention worthy Gauri Shankar sector which is the largest sector of the Kumbh land where seers and other organizations camp during Kumbh and ArdhKumbh, is worst affected due to the encroachments. Due to political support some organisations encroached valuable mela land for their own vested interests, say the sources.