Uma-Swami Sanand stalemate over Ganga Act continues

Stalemate continued over certain provisions in the draft and timely introduction of proposed Ganga Act between Union minister for drinking water Uma Bharati and Swami Gyan Swarup Sanand on Friday.

Uma Bharati on Friday night arrived at Matri Sadan ashram in Jagjeetpur, 5 kms from Haridwar, to meet Sanand, who is on indefinite agitation since June 22 demanding ban on hydro electric projects and quarrying on Ganga river bed in Uttarakhand.

The union minister held talks with Swami Sanand close to 140 minutes but failed to impress the IIT professor turned saint to give up his agitation.

Swami Sanand was adamant that certain amendments that are vital in the proposed Ganga Act should be immediately implemented in form of ordinance as done by the Union government on couple of occasions on other issues.

“Uma Bharati is almost like a sister to me but she was trying to hold talks without trying to understand the sensitivity of the subject. If the central government had been serious over Ganga sanctity, then union minister for Ganga Rejuvenation-Water Resources, Nitin Gadkari should have himself arrived to for the talks. He had earlier sent a letter through a representative that clearly hints at the government’s reluctance on the matter,” said Sanand.

On the other hand, Uma Bharati on Saturday claimed that talks were held in a cordial manner.

“Union government is quite serious over ensuring sanctity of Ganga and its river bed. Ganga Act draft is ready and will be introduced in Parliament in the next session to make it a law. We urged Swami Sanand to give up his agitation in national interest and cooperate with the government in achieving the desired results,” said Bharati, who has been the Ganga Rejuvenation cabinet minister for three years.

First Published: Aug 04, 2018 21:14 IST