Ganga Canal closure irks businessmen

Annual desilting time has been curtailed by a week::

P.S. Chauhan

These days, Har-ki-Pauri, the sanctum sanctorum of the Hindus, wears a deserted look. The reason: the stream of the Ganga has been diverted into Neel Dhara from Bheemgoda Barrage, so that the upper Ganga canal may be cleaned and silt from its bed may be removed. Each year the canal is closed in October for about two weeks for annual cleaning and repair of the powerhouse on its bank. This year, the annual closure was to be enforced for 19 days, from Oct. 17 to Nov. 5 but considering the resentment among the priestly and the business communities here, the UP government, which exercises control over the canal, has curtailed the closure time limit of the closure upto October 30. During closure very little water is available at Har-ki-Pauri, Subhash Ghat, Kushavrat Ghat and other ghats for bathing and performing the rituals. Since the yatra season is still going on, the closure of the upper Ganga canal, necessitating the diversion of the stream of the Ganga into Neeldhara, has hit the arrival of the pilgrims and the tourists. It is adversely affecting the interests of the priestly and the business communities. Most of the pilgrims are flocking to Neeldhara for bathing and performing the rites. However, since there are no ghats at Neeldhara, it is risky to take a dip in the holy river there. The state irrigation minister, Matbar Singh Kandari has strongly protested against the decision of the U.P. government to close the upper Ganga canal at this time of the season without consulting the Uttarakhand government. "The UP government is behaving in an arbitrary manner," alleged the minister.

The Teerth Maryada Samiti and the business organizations are holding demonstrations, protesting against the closure of the upper Ganga canal at this time of the festivals. "Our business has come to a standstill. the canal should have been closed after Diwali when the yatra season would have ended," says Sanjay Chopra, the president of the state small traders association. "As a result of the closure of the canal, the Ganga has gone dry at Har-ki-Pauri. Sufficient supply of water should be ensured at Brahm Kund, Har-Ki-Pauri. We cannot tolerate an affront to the Hindu sentiments," says Ram Kumar Mishra, the president of the Ganga Sabha. The closure of the canal has also hit water supply of drinking water in the National Capital Region NCR.