Anna urges PM to convene meeting of Ganga Basin Authority

Anna Hazare on Thursday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately convene a meeting of Ganga Basin Authority and stop construction of dams on the holy river till a decision is taken by the body.

Expressing solidarity with G D Aggarwal, who went on a fast demanding convening of the meeting, Hazare said the government should listen to the suggestions of the ailing activist.

"It is not right that a democratic government is not listening to the aspirations of its people," he said in a letter to the prime minister.

"The meeting of the Authority has to be convened fast.

And till then, there should not be any activity of construction of dams," he said.

Noting that Ganga has an important place in the hearts of people, he said the present state of the holy river was pathetic. He said the dams built on the river in Uttarakhand were hindering its flow leading to pollution in the water body.

Noting that the Ganga Basin Authority was set up to restore the river in its glory, he said though it was set up three years ago, it met only twice.

"Dams are being built on Ganga's three tributaries -- Bhagirathi, Mandakini and Alakananda -- in Uttarakhand resulting in change of course of river. The authority was formed to take decisions on such issues. The meeting of the authority had to be convened before taking up such activities," he said.

Hazare claimed that the construction of dams resulted in increase of pollution in the river as well as its flow was stopped in many parts of the state.