Matra Sadan questions govt’s inability to curb quarrying

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, December 3

Matra Sadan inmates have questioned the inability of the state government and the district administration to control the mass-scale quarrying on the Ganga riverbed in the district.

Matra Sadan ashram founder Swami Shivanand said despite assurances by Chief Minister Harish Rawat, given to him in presence of the state and district officials concerned, quarrying was going on unabatedly in the district.

Terming this as an indication of the government going soft on quarrying mafia, Swami Shivanand said Matra Sadan had, on numerous occasions, categorically made it clear that mere assurances would not keep them silent as action and total prohibition on quarrying was required.

Pointing towards mass-scale quarrying going on in the Kumbh mela area, Swami Shivanand said excavators and heavy tractor-trolleys could be seen quarrying on the Ganga river bed day and night but the district administration seemed to be deliberately giving the mafia enough time to carry out the illegal trade.

“All these point towards a nexus among quarrying mafia, some politicians and administrative officials. How can such an illegal work go on at such a large scale, when quarrying is prohibited in Haridwar. Without administrative secret permission, such illegal activities, worth lakhs per day, can’t be done,” he said.