Matra Sadan for total ban on quarrying

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, November 30

Matra Sadan ashram founder Swami Shivanand has alleged that there is a nexus among a section of politicians, administrative officials and the quarrying mafia in the district.

Opposing the illegal quarrying going unabated in the district, Matra Sadan seer Swami Atmabodhanand has been agitating for the past three days, demanding a total ban on illegal quarrying.

At Jagjeetpur ashram, Swami Shivanand said on June 26, 2011, administrative orders regarding a ban on illegal quarry-ing were issued but illegal quarrying is going on unabatedly at various points along the Ganga river.

Expressing displeasure over the statements made by Congress state unit president Kishore Upadhyay questioning Matra Sadan movement against quarrying being restricted only in Haridwar, Swami Shivanand said the statement was totally baseless. The Matra Sadan ashram had been expressing concern and staging agitation against quarrying and pollution in other rivers too, he stated.

“There is a serious question over the state government policy on quarrying prohibition in Uttarakhand. When the state Congress president is siding with the quarrying mafia, how can we expect transparency and stern action against the violators. Chief Minister Harish Rawat should immediately take cognizance of the mass quarrying going on in the state and ensure that his party leaders don’t mislead people on this issue,” Swami Shivanand said.

Earlier, Rawat had himself met him at Matra Sadan, assuring of putting a ban on the illegal quarrying but in veil of permitted legal quarrying, illegal quarrying was being done on a large scale, he alleged.

Citing Bishapur, Bhogpur, Lakshar and Shyampur as the major points where illegal quarrying was going on, the seer expressed unhappiness over the working of the state government and district administration. He also sought explanation from the Garhwal Mandal and Van Vikas Nigam, the two nodal agencies who manage quarrying lots and give permits for quarrying, on inaction over the violators.