Too late.
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert
To: fairfieldlife@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 7:15 AM
Subject: [FairfieldLife] 'Help Preserve Ganja Ji'
Call to protect & preserve our holy river Ganga Ji
A forum of IIT alumni, open to all, to preserve and protect the
heritage and ecology of Ganga; Prof G D Agrawal, a well known environmentalist,
former dean IITK, and member-secretary CPCB, GOI.is on a fast unto death since
14th Jan 09, demanding that Gangaji be allowed to flow in its natural form;
Noted environmentalists, religious leaders and Indians across the country
pledge support.
IITians for Holy Ganga, a forum of IIT alumni open to all, organized an
interactive session today to share details on the damage being caused to the
holy river and the ecology of the Ganga basin due to indiscriminate
developmental work, and demands of the forum to protect and preserve the holy
river.
The discussion involved Shri Rajendra Singh, Ramon Magsaysay Award
Winner & known as the 'Waterman of Rajasthan'; Shri Paritosh C Tyagi, Former
Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board and Shri MC Mehta, Ramon Magsaysay
Award Winner, Reputed Environmental Lawyer and a committed environmentalist –
who have pledged support to the cause. Also present at the session were members
of the forum.
Shri Rajendra Singh, said, "Ganga Ji is a sacred river, revered and
worshipped by millions of Indians. We need to sensitise the masses about the
damage being caused to the holy Ganga Ji by treating it like an ordinary river
and harnessing it for irrigation, hydro electricity, pisciculture etc. Taking
into cognizance Himalayan geology, construction of the 600 MW Loharinag Pala
hydropower project in Uttarakhand would be disastrous to the cultural and
environmental identity of India."
Shri Paritosh C Tyagi, said, "Ganga Ji is a very special river
demanding special treatment. It has been sullied and polluted all over the
place. It can be seen in its pristine and divine form only in the upper reaches
of the Himalayas, between Gangotri and Uttarkashi. We must protect this stretch
from degradation"
Shri MC Mehta stated, "Even the British respected the sentiments of
Indians for Ganga Ji and agreed to not block the natural flow of the river.
Today, the construction activities are stifling the river, destroying the water
repository of the region and our religious sentiments. Through this dialogue,
we demand that the Government of India and the Government of Uttarakhand take
immediate steps to free this holy and majestic river from bondage, ensure the
uninterrupted flow of the holy river from Gangotri to Dharasu (Uttarkashi), and
conserve the heritage of India."
Gangaji - the holy river has been damaged for so many years due to ill
conceived developmental work. The river is now flowing in its pristine form
today only in a stretch of 125 km from Gangotri to Uttarkashi. However
construction of Hydro Electric Projects has begun in this stretch also which
needs to be stopped so that river flow is not diverted through series of
tunnels and reservoirs resulting in the entire ecology of the river and its
most astonishing self purifying property being destroyed.
Indians across the world have become sensitised to this issue due to
the selfless resolve of Prof Agrawal and are lending their support to him. Many
have written to the PM of India & CM of Uttarakhand & requested them to protect
the Holy Ganges. Govt of Uttarakhand suspended work on the state sponsored
projects but expressed its inability to stop Central Govt sponsored project of
Lohari Nag Pala. With the intervention of group of IITians & Swami Ramdev,
Central Govt gave a commitment in writing on 30th June 2008 to ensure
Environmental flow in all stretches of river Bhagirathi and assured that it
would fulfill this promise in 3 months. On this assurance, Prof Agrawal
suspended his fast on 30th June 2008, after 18 day,s but categorically told the
Govt of India that if the commitment was not kept, he would resume his fast.
In the mean time, the Prime Minister declared Ganga as the National
River of India and announced that the Ganga Basin Authority would be
constituted to take all decisions on activities in the Ganga Basin. The Prime
Minister himself will be the head of this authority.
Inspite of all these developments, the NTPC is continuing construction
of Lohari Nag Pala project. The natural character & form of our most sacred &
holy river, the very identity of our nation, continues to be damaged. They do
not even wish to take cognizance of the pact which the British Govt signed with
the people of India under the leadership of Madan Mohan Malviya and honored
till independence.
Preturbed at this insensitivity, Prof Agrawal has resumed his fast from
Makar Sankranti Day ie from Wednesday, 14th Jan 2008. He is sitting at the
Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan, Near Birla Mandir, New Delhi.
Ganga Ji is a very special river; revered & worshipped by Indians for
millennia and hence demands special consideration. The nectar like water of the
river does not get spoiled inspite of storage for any number of years. The
forum is working to stop degradation of the river due to construction work
which is destroying the environment and the ecology of the area & its
potentially disastrous impact to the cultural & environmental identity of
India.
- End -
