HARIDWAR | Nov 28, 2017: Following complaint of illegal mining in the Ganga in Haridwar from Matri Sadan, the Union ministry of environment and forest resources (MoEF) has sent a team to assess the impact of mining activity in river’s ecosystem.

The team on Tuesday visited two places — Bhogpur and Bishanpur villages — where mining is being carried out by the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation (UFDC).

The team will submit its report after its return to Delhi. A seer of the Matri Sadan, Swami Aatmbodhanand, has been on fast in protest against mining in the river.

Sub-inspector of Kankhal police station, DP Kala said, “A two member team from MoEF had reached Haridwar on Tuesday and visited Bhogpur and Bishanpur villages. After conducting survey they returned in the evening.”

Matri Sadan, a Haridwar-based religious organisation, has been accusing that the district administration has given permission for mining in the riverbed of Ganga at Bhogpur and Bishanpur without necessary environmental clearance. Earlier, environmentalists have slammed the state government for allowing mining in the Ganga at Haridwar despite scientific evidence proving that this was harming the river.

(Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)