NGO finds beach camps running near Ganga in violation of NGT orders

DEHRADUN: In a clear case of violation of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) directions regarding not setting up of beach camps near the Ganga, environmental NGO SAFE (Social Action for Forest and Environment) has found a number of beach camps operating clandestinely near the Ganga in Rishikesh.

A counsel of the NGO, in order to verify the state government's affidavit filed before the green court on January 15 stating that no permission for any beach camp had been granted by the forest department, nor had any company installed such camps, visited the area on January 19.

They submitted before NGT on Wedensday that several camps and semi permanent structures had been built in large numbers on Ganga and its tributary, the Heval. The GPS locations of the camps alongwith their photographs were also submitted to the tribunal. An attempt to elicit a response from the state government proved futile as the forest department officials, who had provided the information in the affidavit submitted to NGT, remained unavailable for comment.

Meanwhile, Anirudh Rawat, a beach camp operator, when queried, defended those who had set up the beach camps. "The committee formed by the state government to formulate a beach camp policy is taking its time, as it is awaiting a report from the Wildlife Institute of India. This may have led to some camp operators, who have lost their means of livelihood, to set up these camps as a last resort to earn some money as otherwise they would starve."
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