Govt warned on failure to save water flows in Ganga !

'Only Supreme Court can save Ganges !'

Describing the environmental, social and the economic impacts of the hydroelectric power projects, he said that a hydroelectric power project caused more environmental pollution that a super thermal power plant of the same capacity. . .

RELIGIOUS LEADERS, scientists and social workers on Tuesday came together on a single platform to warn the union government of dire consequences if it failed to take immediate steps to save the river Ganga. Demanding a stop on the construction of hydro-electric projects, they asserted that saving Ganga should be on the top priority of the government.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday, the successor to the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth and Jyotirmath, Shri Avimukteswaranand warned the Centre that if it failed in its duty to protect, preserve and maintain unhindered flow in the Bhagirathi River, it would have to face dire consequences in the forthcoming general elections.

Shri Avimukteswaranand said that the views of the Shankaracharyas of all the four holy seats were unanimous on the issue and called for unhindered flow of the holy river from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar.

The press conference was organised by supporters and former students of former IIT (Kanpur) Professor Dr GD Agarwal, who is on a fast unto death since January 14 last in support of his demand to maintain unhindered flow in the river Bhagirathi.

Criticising the statement made by the Prime Minister on November 4, 2008, regarding his government’s assurance of constitution of a Ganga basin authority in two months time, Shri Avimukteswaranand said that the assurance has not been met even after the passage of over three months. He urged the government to initiate positive steps in this direction.

Addressing the press conference, SK Gupta, an IITian and a former student of Dr Agarwal said that the Union Power Ministry as well as the High level Expert Group (HLEG) has agreed to the release of 16 cumecs of water in the river Bhagirathi.

Informing the media persons about the demands of Dr Agarwal and his fast-unto-death, he said the union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and three other member of the HLEG, in a meeting recently, deliberated on the issue and have agreed to leave 16 cumecs of water flow from Loharinag Pala project or “as directed by Ganga Basin Authority”.

PC Tyagi, former Chairman of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) criticised the government’s slow response and said that the main objective of the HLEG was to maintain environmental flows in the river Bhagirathi and Ganga.

Describing the environmental, social and the economic impacts of the hydroelectric power projects, he said that a hydroelectric power project caused more environmental pollution that a super thermal power plant of the same capacity. He demanded that while no new construction should be undertaken on the river Bhagirathi-Ganga, 16 cumecs water should be released from the existing Maneri Phase I and II dams.

On the occasion, renowned economist and writer Dr Bharat Jhunjhunwala explained the various negative effects of building dams on rivers in the Himalayas and also gave an analysis of their cost-benefit ratio.

Sunita Narayan of Centre of Science and Environment (CSE) referred to a letter from the government and said it has become imperative on the part of the government to immediately stop all construction activity on Loharinag Pala project.

A representative of Shankaracharya of Puri demanded that the river Bhagirathi-Ganga should flow unobstructed from Gangotri to Ganga Sagar.

Addressing the media persons, ’Waterman of India’ Rajendra Singh said that as the government had recently declared the river Ganga as the National River, it should immediately stop all construction activities on it.

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