Stopping the flow of Ganga at Har ki Pauri in Hardwar has created a bitter controversy, with mahants, purohits and office-bearers of the Ganga Sabha rallying against the decision.The agitators threw away the pipes installed for bringing in some water to the Har Ki Pauri bank. They alleged that instead of river water, sewerage from nearby buildings has been flowing, which was totally unacceptable to Hindus.The flow of Ganga has been diverted for 15 days to build a bridge across Pantdweep and Malviyadweep as part of the preparations for Ardhkumbha in 2004.The course was diverted three days ago by the authorities following an assurance given to the Ganga Sabha, purohits and mahants that water would continue to flow uninterrupted through some pipes to Har Ki Pauri river bank.However, tension prevailed when the labourers started putting sand bags blocking the water flow. A large number of people along with office bearers of the Ganga Sabha gathered at Har Ki Pauri.President of Ganga Sabha, Ramkumar Mishra, who tried to argue with the agitated people was shouted upon. Agitated people threw away the pipes installed to bring some water to the river bed. They argued that of the six pipes only two were working and that, too, bringing in sewer. They charged that officials had gone back on their written understanding to let water flow uninterrupted in Ganga.They stated that the agreement reached between the British government and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya in 1916, clearly states that Ganga would flow uninterrupted at Har ki Pauri. They announced that they would break the sand barrier put up for building the bridge tomorrow.According to Mela officer Om Parkash, the sands bags were put only as a precautionary measure, keeping in view the heavy rains in the hills.
