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Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 18:31:43 -0800
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From: Patrick McCully <patrick@irn.org>
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subject: LS: Bahuguna, Hindu seers, on Tehri Dam & Ganga
http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jan/20kumbh.htm
<bold><smaller>January 20, 2001
</smaller><bigger>Bahuguna at Kumbh, sounds alarm over damming Ganga
</bigger></bold><italic>Prem Panicker</italic> in Kumbh Nagri
"This," said environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, "is the last time you
will be able to bathe in the waters of the Ganga, make the most of
it."
The Chipko leader arrived at the mela site late on Friday, and from his
base at the Nehru Yuva Kendra, promptly launched an attack on the Tehri
dam. As per schedule, work on damming the waters of the Ganga will
begin on February 15.
"Ganga," Bahuguna told this correspondent, "is the country's lifeline,
both religious and social. Damming it will mean that the original
waters, descending from Gomukh, will no longer reach Allahabad and
other centres of pilgrimage."
Bahuguna also pointed out that the dam site falls in an
earthquake-prone zone, adding to the danger.
The Chipko leader argued that the Ganga is vital to the sanctity of the
land, and of the Hindu religion. "No ritual is ever performed in
stagnant water," Bahuguna pointed out. "Once you damn the Ganga and
contain its waters in the proposed 42.5 square km lake, the river will
lose its sanctity, and the consequences of that on the psyche of the
people cannot be calculated."
When it was pointed out that the VHP-led Dharam Sansad, in a resolution
moved on Friday evening, had condemned the proposed Tehri Dam and vowed
to fight it, Bahuguna said he was glad of the support.
"I have been fighting against this for some time," the ageing
environmentalist said, "without any support. People keep talking about
it, but no one does anything. I read recently that Swami Chinmayanand
of the VHP has been speaking against the dam, but no, we have never met
and exchanged ideas. It is good that someone other than me is also
coming out openly against the dam."
Does he believe that the proposed hydel project can be stalled by
protests? "Why not? It is not as if the same amount of power cannot be
generated downstream as well, so there is no logical reason for the dam
to be built at the proposed site.
"In 1916, when the British proposed to build a dam on the Ganga, Pandit
Madanmohan Malviya had sat in dharna protesting the bid to stop the
natural flow of the river -- and he won. I am sure that if like-minded
people come together on this issue, then we can prevent the dam being
built at Tehri."
Bahuguna, who says he will be here "for a few days", proposes to
deliver a series of lectures on the issue, taking advantage of the
large numbers of pilgrims now present at the mela site, to drum up
support for his movement.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/jan/19dharm.htm
January 19, 2001
Ban conversions, stop Tehri project, says seers group
Prem Panicker in Kumbh Nagar, Allahabad
The Marg Darshak Mandal, the core group meeting of Hindu seers met on
Friday and decided to place two resolutions before the Dharam Sansad
which will be convening later in the day.
It opposed conversions from any religion and demanded that those born
into a faith - regardless of it - should not be allowed to convert to
another faith.
And, it opposed the Tehri hydroelectric project for damming the Ganga.
Technically, the 105-strong Marg Darshak Mandal deliberates on various
issues that come up before it, and places the same before Dharm Sansad
which then ratifies the same - rather in the manner of a general body
meeting.
Announcing the decisions to the media, Swami Chinmayanand, who is also
convenor of the Ram Janambhoomi Mandir Nirman Samiti set up at the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Goa conclave, said the MDM felt that in the
north-east, and in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala in particular,
there has been a concerted effort by foreign missionaries to convert
the local population to other religions.
The MDM felt that forced conversions should be stopped, he said. Asked
what he meant by 'forced', Swami Chinmayanand said even taking
advantage of a person's needs qualifies as using force.
Asked if the Marg Darshak Mandal proposed passing legislation banning
conversions, he said while it did, the issue may come up before the
Dharam Sansad which may then see fit to take an appropriate decision in
the matter.
Explaining the reason why the MDM decided to oppose the Tehri project,
Swami Chinmayanand said the Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation
has earmarked a 42.5 sq km area which will be filled by the Ganga
waters once it is dammed on February 15. What this means is that the
main river, Bhagirathi, will be dammed, the feeder streams will
continue to flow, which means in holy places such Varanasi, the water
in the Ganga will actually from the feeder streams and thus devoid of
any sanctity.
Their feelings over this, he said, will be conveyed to the government.
More interestingly, the Mandir Nirman Samiti met on Thursday evening to
discuss the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, and is learnt to
have made up its mind on the issue. However, the decision will be aired
to the public only after it is presented to the Dharam Sansad on
Saturday.
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