Centre sends scientists to assess ground realities

Acting on a complaint lodged  by a member of Matri Sadan who has caused a stir in the past 26 days, demanding a blanket ban on mining in Ganga riverbed,  the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has sent a team of scientists to Bishanpur Kundi village on Tuesday to see for themselves how mining is going on there under the  Government’s supervision.

The State Government’s move to  resume mining in Ganga riverbed last month has been facing flak from the Matri Sadan head Swami Shivanand and others who are saying that the resumption is in violation of the court’s ruling and the orders of several environment bodies like National Green Tribunal.

The visit of the scientists at the behest of the Union ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change proving a  shot in the arm of the agitating seers of Matri Sadan, its founder Swami Shivanand said that some substantial results are likely to emerge out of the  visit of scientists .

The two-member team visited Bhogpur and Bishanpur villages where mining is going on under the supervision of Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation.  After the team submits its report the ministry would take the final call about  allowing or disallowing mining along the stretch of Ganga in Haridwar.