Haridwar: After recent assurance by VHP general secretary Rajendra Singh Pankaj that necessary steps would be taken to reverse the Congress government’s order declaring Ganga stretch as a canal, protests by locals and priests have once again started gaining momentum here. Members of a few right-wing groups have also joined the locals seeking a reversal of the Ganga order.The previous Congress government had declared a stretch of Ganga from Har ki Pauri to Daksh temple as a canal in an attempt to skirt an NGT order banning construction within 200 metres of the river. The order was largely seen as a move to protect the interests of builders and businessmen in the area. Soon after assuming office, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had suggested that the order of the previous government that irked religious leaders could be reversed.According to sources, locals and priests have been demanding for long that the order by the Congress government allowing construction along the Ganga banks be rolled back. Kaushal Sikhaula, a priest, said, “It is unfortunate that our governments, including the present BJP one, are demeaning mother Ganga by reducing it to a mere ‘canal’ in the official records. Even attempts by the Britishers to dig a canal passing through Har ki Pauri were thwarted by the locals and priests. The upper Ganga canal begins after the Mayapur dam.” Ganga Sabha general secretary R K Mishra said, “The apex body of priests had written letters to the chief minister urging him to take necessary action in this regard. Former president Ashok Tripathi also met the CM two months ago to press our demands.”During VHP international president Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje’s recent visit to the temple town, its general secretary had said, “We will discuss the issue with our local leaders and sort out the issue at the earliest.”Talking to TOI on Thursday, Nitin Gautam, VHP district president, said, “We will soon stage a protest against the order along with locals.”Speaking on conditions of anonymity, a local BJP leader said that the government is going slow on the matter as a prominent party leader owns a number of hotels along the Ganga banks.Meanwhile, former CM Harish Rawat said that the order was issued in the best interests of the residents of Haridwar. However, he denied that Ganga was described as a ‘canal’ in the order. “The order only mentions that ‘Ganga is brought to Har ki Pauri in a channelized form’. If the present government wants to cancel the order, I don’t have any objection.”Congress spokesperson Mathura Dutt Joshi said, “The order was issued by the then government keeping in mind people’s interests and construction of highway near the said stretch. Locals and priests of the temple town were also duly consulted. Now it is upto the BJP government.”Finance minister Prakash Pant said, “If the previous government has issued any such order, we will reverse it."

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