The IITians for Holy Ganga ,a forum constituted to preserve heritage and ecology of the river Ganga by Alumni of All IIT’s across the country has expressed deep shock and disbelief at tragic demise of Swamy Gian Swaroop Sanand (Prof G D Aggarwal) former Prof at IIT today at AIIMS in Rishikesh He was on fast unto death to retain the natural flow and purity of River Ganga for last 114 days at Maitri Sadan in Haridwar.
Swami Sanand had begun his fast unto death on June 22 in the Matri Sadan ashram in Haridwar, demanding a law that will protect River Ganga, maintain its uninterrupted flow in its natural form between Gangotri to Uttarkashi and keep the river clean. He on several occasion had written and appealed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari to immediately issue orders to suspend work on all on going Hydro Electric Power (HEP) and Tunnelling projects in Uttarakhand and implement recommendations made by IIT consortium of River Ganga basin to allow river Ganga to flow in Natural form.
“Swami Gyan Swaroop was a Professor at IIT Kanpur. The PhD holder in environmental engineering from the University of California at Berkeley has also served as a Member-Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).An environmental activist for decades, he formally became a ‘swami’ in 2011 at the age 79. Even before that he had undertaken a number of fasts for environmental causes, the most notable being 2009 fast demanding to stop the construction of dams on the Bhagirathi River” said Mr Yatinder Pal Singh Suri, President , IITians for Holy Ganga.
“We,the IItians , urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Water Resources Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari to intervene and accede to three major demands of late Prof G D Aggarwal ( Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand ) including stopping of work on Vishnugad Pipalkoti, Singoli Bhawari and Phata Byung Hydro electric projects ,. Passing of the Draft Ganga protection act drafted by (retired) Shri Girdhar Malviya headed committee in Parliament and Creation of a National Ganga follower committee whose permission will be necessary before taking any decision about Ganga” said Mr Suri.
The Ministry of Environment And Forests had set up A Consortium of Seven Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was been given the responsibility of preparing Ganga River Basin: Environment Management Plan (GRB EMP) , These IIT’s included IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee in year 2010 . The report prepared and submitted by IITs to government describes the strategy, information, methodology, analysis and suggestions and recommendations in developing Ganga River Basin: Environment Management Plan (GRB EMP). The main thrust of the report was that Upper River Ganga segment from Gaumukh to Rishikesh be allowed to flow in its natural form sake of purity holy Ganaga Water.
“The central Government Should accept the IIT consortium report , discuss it and implement it . We were extremely hopeful on quick actions during the current term of the Central Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is sad that Prof G D Agrawal left this world waiting for a formal response and dedicated efforts for the cause of conservation of holy river Ganga in Uttarakhand. Even a call from Our Prime Minister who was held in awe with high expectations by Prof Agrawal would have saved his life which would have strengthened the efforts of government to save the purity and natural flow of Ganga. “said Mr Yatinder Pal Singh Suri, President, IItians for Holy Ganga.
