Environmentalist passes away fasting to save ‘Ganga’

UTTARAKHAND: NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – Eminent environmentalist and lifelong devotee of river Ganga, GD Agarwal was on ‘fast-unto-death’ hunger strike since 22^nd June passed away on the 111^th day of his fasting due to a heart attack in AIIMS hospital in Rishikesh after the police forcibly admitted him.

Former IIT Kanpur professor, also known as Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand demanded law enforcement for conserving the river Ganga.

On 3^rd July, Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation wrote a letter to GD Agarwal saying, “Our government is considering the proposal for not installing the new hydropower projects on the upper reaches of river Ganga. In addition, we are also planning to stall the projects those have got approvals but not yet started. Our government is serious about Ganga Act and I assure you that it would be placed on the table for cabinet approval within a month.”

Uma Bharti, who was in charge of cleaning the Ganga previously, also wrote a letter to him assuring that the prime minister has faith in the river Ganga and she has prepared a better plan which would be implemented by Nitin Gadkari. But it is surprising to see no change took place when she was in power.

Swami Sanand wrote a letter to the prime minister raising his concern about the dedication and knowledge on the subject, of the State and Central officials. His concern was valid as the impacts of the so-called cleaning projects is not visible on the quality of the river water. he also mentioned that all construction activities of hydro-power projects should be stopped and no new projects should be approved on the rivers – Alaknanda, Mandakini, Nandakini, Dhauliganga and Pindar, deforestation and mining activities should be stopped at least in basin area of Haridwar Kumbh area as well as pass the Draft Rules 2012 for river Ganga prepared by Ganga Mahasabha immediately either through the Parliament or through ordinance by the President and form a Ganga-Bhakt council by nominating 20 dedicated experts.

In a recent gathering, the prime minister told, “Work for cleaning of Maa Ganga has been initiated from Gangotri to Gangasagar. For this work, the projects of worth Rs 21,000 crore have already been sanctioned and work on many large projects in Varanasi too are taking place”.

Sadly, no action has been taken till date.