Former chief minister Harish Rawat apologised to the Ganga and members of the religious fraternity for declaring the Ganga at Har ki Paidi an escape channel during 2016 as the then CM of Uttarakhand.

Stating that the decision taken by him at that time was a mistake, he said that the current BJP government should correct the mistake.Rawat visited Haridwar on Tuesday and met various ascetics of Bada Akhadas and Ganga Sabha members in Kankhal area.

 He apologised  for the decision taken by the State government during his tenure as CM to declare the Ganga at Har ki Paidi as an escape channel.

 As a result, despite the Supreme Court order, a number of illegal constructions along the banks of the Ganga were saved from demolition in this area. It was alleged then that this decision had benefitted those involved in illegal constructions along the Ganga in the area. However, now Rawat is seeking for the decision to be reversed.  Rawat said, “As a result of the Supreme Court's decision in 2016, the sword of the NGT was hanging. Because of this, over 300 constructions were going to be demolished.

The NGT had asked the Government to present its stand.  Due to shortage of time, by making technical changes, the escape channel order was issued and these constructions were saved from demolition.  I apologise to all who were hurt by the decision taken at that time.”Mahant Durgadas of the Bada Nirvani Akhada said that if Rawat apologises, the religious fraternity forgives him.  He has assured that this mistake will be rectified, stating that the current government can change the earlier decision. The Ganga Sabha president Pradeep Jha said that former CM Harish Rawat had realised his mistake.

  For the past four years, there has been a demand to change this decision.The current State Government should reverse the earlier order and declare the Ganga a clean stream, he said, adding that delay in this would result in an agitation.