Namami Gange project: Modi should stall construction of dams over Ganga, says Swaroopanand

The Namami Gange mission will not be successful until Prime Minister Narendra Modi stalls the dams proposed or under construction over the river to maintain its relentless flow, head of Dwarka Shardapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati today said.

"The relentless flow of the Ganga has to be maintained for its cleanliness. The mighty river cannot be cleaned up with machines only. Namami Gange mission will be successful only if the dams proposed or being built over the river are stalled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Swaroopanand told reporters here.

Noting that construction of dams obstructs the relentless flow of rivers and reduces them into pools, the Shankaracharya said the Tehri dam built over the Ganga has had the same effect on the river affecting the quality of its 'sacred' water.

"The Ganga today is polluted at all pilgrimage centres, be it Kashi, Prayag or Haridwar," he said, adding the governments will have to preserve the rivers in their original ancient form.

Mocking the Centre’s claims about reining in corruption, the Shankaracharya said, “Ministers never take bribe from people. Corruption like creeper grows upward from below where things still remain unchanged.”

He said a conference of saints and seers will be held in Haridwar on September 7 to deliberate on the issues of ‘Gaon, Ganga, Ram Mandir and Bhrashtachar (corruption).