Thaindian News

Ghaziabad, June 1 (IANS) Calling the proposed third bridge over Hindon river here an “environmental disaster”, activists have pointed out that the artificial embankment erected for it could be damaged during the rainy season.

“It is the brutal murder of the river and poses a threat to the national capital and defence establishment - the Hindon air base,” said Rajendra Singh, popularly called “the waterman”.

The Magsaysay Award winner was among several activists who came together at the bridge construction site Tuesday in an event organised by Jal Biradari, a national water brotherhood of individuals.

Singh said the intension of selecting the site is malafide. It poses a great threat to the importantly located Hindon Air Force station and ultimately a threat to the national capital.

The artificial embankment is meant to protect vested interests, otherwise the bridge could have been constructed over pillars, he said. The artificial embankment would not only pose a threat to the city and other surrounding areas but also disturb the ecological balance of the environment.

Singh said rivers were the common property of society, state and saints. It becomes the duty of all the three to protect these from any danger. Since ancient times, melas - Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh and Maha Kumbh - have been organised to make a plan to protect the rivers but here the state was playing with nature and ultimately would ruin the river.

Rajendra Prasad of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, who accompanied “the waterman”, said technically the bridge is not feasible here. If the government was adamant, then it should be built on pillars throughout, leaving the river free to move on its bed.

Nagendra Nath Malthotra, president of Jal Biradari, who accompanied Rajendra Singh and the IIT professor, said the government was playing with the environment. The habitat of creatures and rare species would be disturbed by the construction of the bridge.

Construction work has been speeded up, the filling has further been extended about 50 meters. The iron bars are being put in the ground base, and a JCB machine is carrying out work on the artificial embankment.

However, a man who declined to disclose his identity said: “People are creating hurdles in the bridge construction, so the authorities are planning to expedite work at the earliest, if possible during the summer vacations of courts, so that the authorities can present the work progress before the courts if a case is filed.”