The protest fast of Matri Sadan founder Swami Shivanand against illegal mining in Haridwar entered its tenth day on Tuesday.
His health deteriorating, his disciple Brahmchari Dayanand repeated the demands laid down by the seer of enforcing complete ban on mining. He also slammed the district administration for not keeping its promise of issuing notification of banning mining activities in Bishenpur and Bhogpur villages. He also said that Chief Minister must be wary of his advisors who had advised him of extending the Kumbh Mela area ahead of Devprayag.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Brahmchari Dayanand said, “Illegal mining is still rampant in the region thanks to the collusion between the district administration and the stone crushers. In spite of repeated assurances, the administration has failed to check mining done through JCBs in Kumbh Kshetra.” He further said that demand for the extension of Kumbh area to Bishenpur and Bhogpur is also pending.
However, the district magistrate Harbans Singh Chugh said, “The owners of the mining lots have legal Patta rights and they are doing things as per rules. We have checked their legality status. There is nothing wrong in it. Matri Sadan has every right to raise its demands, but we have to consider the stances of others too.”
Interestingly, the politicians who are generally inclined to show empathy for the cause the Matri Sadan has been championing by visiting it are steering clear of the matter presently. State Congress president Kishore Upadhyay did not met the fasting seer though he was in Haridwar on Monday evening. Rather, he said by way of roundabout resentment that the seer should agitate against mining going outside Uttarakhand.
He said, “I myself would support him if he protests against mining going outside the State. I am in favour of mining done in a scientific manner.”