The agitation of the Maletha Sangarsh Samiti entered its 22nd day on Monday. The people residing in Maletha and its adjoining villages in Tehri district have been demanding the State Government to issue an order to cancel the operations of stone crushers in Maletha and its adjoining areas.
The agitators from different villages are staging sit-ins and hunger strikes to pressurise the Government to comply with their longstanding demand.
Hundreds of agitators grouped under the banner of Sangarsh Samiti reached the venue where Shahid Diwas was being observed on Sunday. The Chief Minister Harish Rawat was supposed to be present. So, they took the opportunity to take things right to him. But they returned as the CM’s programme was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Chief Minister had earlier instructed the Tehri administration to submit report, following inspection of the stone crushers.
Acting on it, a five-member committee headed by Additional District Magistrate PC Dandriyal visited Maletha on Saturday and inspected the site where the seven stone crushers have been set up. They also met the villagers and representatives from Sangarsh Samiti.
The report of the inspection team will be submitted to the State Government in a week.
Sangarsh Samiti convenor Maletha Gram Pradhan Surveer Singh Bisht said that the inspection team has been shown the site. They have been asked to see if the stone crushers are affecting agriculture.
The team assured the villagers that they would present their views before the State Government.
During the inspection, the team collected details of the residential houses, river, forest and agriculture.
The villagers alleged that the sanction for stone crushers amount to violation of the rules and their agitation will continue till the go for the cancellation of the stone crusher is not issued.
Notably, Maletha Sangarsh Samiti has already given a deadline - January 20. In case, the Government fails to act, their stir would turn into hunger strike.