Allahabad: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Thursday
said the status of Ganga as the national river is just an
"eyewash" and demanded a complete ban on projects coming on
the holy river.
"The Tehri dam was constructed despite strong protests
from Hindus. The government is now planning to build a massive
power project worth Rs 400 crore at Lohari Nagpal in
Uttaranchal. We demand that all such projects be immediately
stopped ", VHP international president Ashok Singhal told
reporters here.
The VHP supremo also demanded inclusion of prominent
religious Hindu leaders in Ganga River Basin Authority set by
the Prime Minister as a watchdog to check the contamination of
river's water.
Singhal said Hindu leaders from Akhara Parishad, Hindu
Dharm Acharya Sabha and Sant Samiti, among others, should be
included in the body.
He said that saints and religious leaders will meet in
New Delhi on August 18 to chalk out future strategies.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, August 06, 2009, 18:51