Matri Sadan Ashram chief Swami Shivanand, who had been fasting against illegal mining on the Ganga riverbed since May 21, ended his protest on Sunday after Chief Minister Harish Rawat assured him that his proposals on the issue will be considered.
Swami Shivanand has ended his fast, Mr. Rawat said after meeting him at Haridwar, adding he has assured the chief that mining on Ganga from Bhogpur to Raiwala would be done only after taking the state of the river and welfare of the people into account.
“Mining on Ganga riverbed would be done in a way of dredging at places where necessary. Decision on this issue would be taken keeping in view the state of river and the livelihood of the people on its banks,” Mr. Rawat said.
The Chief Minister informed that the Swami had been opposing the mining on the riverbed based on some scientific reports. “We have asked officials to study the reports thoroughly before reaching at any conclusion over the issue,” he said.
The Matri Sadan Ashram chief had been on fast since May 21. Additional Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand Rakesh Sharma met him on June 2, persuading him to give up his fast while assuring that Mr. Rawat will meet him soon. However since the Chief Minister didn’t meet him till yesterday, Shivanand had threatened to give up water today. - PTI
