Two Months of an Indefinite Fast

COMMUNICATION

Swami Sanand (formerly Prof G.D. Aggrawal) has been on an indefinite fast in Haridwar and Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) on issues relating to protection of the Ganga river for two months since June 22. His main concern centres on the legislation for protection of the Ganga river along the lines of a draft bill which was prepared sometime back by an officially constituted committee within the framework of the norms of government functioning. Although he is a saint, all of his interactions on this issue have been on the basis of scientific reasoning and he quotes specific research reports while making his points. He was earlier the Member Secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, a distinguished Professor at the IIT whose students became leading environmentalists of the country, and is widely regarded to be among the topmost authorities on the Ganga river.

Although Union Ministers as well as their representatives have met him from time to time during this fast, the matter has not yet been resolved. One hopes that urgent steps to protect the river and save the old sage will be taken soon on the basis of urgency.

Bharat Dogra
C-27 Raksha Kunj
Paschim Vihar,
New Delhi—110063.