Harish Rawat issues orders to stop mining along Ganga riverbed

Dehradun: Under pressure from 'Save Ganga' activists, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday issued directives to Haridwar district administration asking it to stop all mining activities on the river bed.

The Chief Minister sought immediate closure of mining activity on Ganga riverbed even as Chief Secretary N Ravishankar ordered withdrawal of all heavy mining equipment like Poklands from the riverbed, an official release in Dehradun said.

The issue had garnered support from various quarters, especially Matri Sadan chief Swami Shivanand who has been on a fast for over a month demanding an end to mining along the Ganga river. He recently intensified his Satyagraha going without water for three consecutive days.