NGT order on Ganga triggers fresh debate over river’s status
HARIDWAR: Efforts to protect the Ganga have put Haridwar in a spot, where a thriving pilgrim age business is likely to be hit by orders from the country’s top environment court that banned new construction around the river and imposed heavy fines for dumping waste in it.
The administration has till now attempted to skirt the restrictions by classifying the river as a canal, drawing the anger of religious leaders.
Gang a, which brings waters to millions of Indians in its more than 2,500- km course from-Uttarak hand to the Bay of Bengal, is considered sacred by Hindus, making Haridwar – largely regarded as the spot where the river enters the plains after originating in the Himalayas—one of Hinduism’s most important pilgrimages.
Lakhs of Hindus visit Haridwar every year, powering the local economy runs by the thousands of thousands of shops, eateries and guesthouses.
Most of these will be subject to the National Green Tribunal’s restrictions announced last week. Th e NG T laid down a fine of ₹50,000 for anyone dumping waste within 500 metres of the river and banned construction work within 100 mtrs of the banks.
But the order mentions the word“river ”, and traders in Ha ridwar said it does not apply to them.
“The British built the Ganga canal for irrigation purposes on which majority of Gang a ghats of Haridwar are based, including Har-Ki-Pauri,” said Durgesh Singh, a local trader and a member of the Samajwadi Party.
H ar ki Pa uri is the most important landmark in the city and the epicentre for Kumbh gatherings that draw lakhs of pilgrims who leave behind trash such as plastic packets and waste from offerings.
The previous state government led by H ari sh Raw at issued a notification declaring the Gang a as a canal from Bhoopatw ala till S hr iD a ks hes war Ma hadev temple, a stretch within which lay H ar ki Pa uri. The notification was seen as an attempt to ‘avoid’ problems for development works close to the bank.
“The previous government’s order stand still date. The authority will deal accordingly when the new notification is issued,” Ashok Pandey, commissioner, municipal corporation told Hindustan Times.