Hindu organizations threaten to shut down Vrindavan temples if Yamuna ghat work stopped

AGRA: Hindu organisations, Dharam Raksha Sangh (DRS) and Yamuna Rakshak Dal (YRD), have threatened to close the doors of Vrindavan temples for a day if development work in the temple town is stopped over "frivolous" petitions being filed in courts.
The agitation sparked off after a litigation, claiming the ongoing River Front project would destroy the beauty of the heritage ghats, was recently filed in by activist Madhumangal Shukla.
The agitators alleged that the litigations have been filed "purposely" to delay and stop development work being undertaken to beautify the town under various schemes.
Calling Shukla a "habitual litigant", president of DRS Saurabh Gaur said, "Such petitions are hampering the work and a situation would come when the government would stop funding these ongoing projects. The litigant has been misguiding the court, which in good faith, has been issuing directions that may eventually harm the project."
Referring to latest litigation, Gaur said, "The Allahabad high court has issued directions to the administration to ensure that heritage of the ghats is protected at all costs. We also want to protect the heritage of these ghats but such litigations unnecessarily hamper work. Certain vested interests were behind these litigations."
Shukla, refuting the allegations, said, "No development should be done at the cost of destroying our heritage. There are people who have been irked by my move and I have been getting threats. I am thinking of seeking police protection."
Sant Jaikrishna Das, national president, Yamuna Raksha Dal, said, "Groups with vested interest don't want the city to develop. We will approach the court with a plea to be made a party to such cases. If work continues to be hampered like this, government would stop giving money for such projects and the town would die," he said.
Archaeological Survey of India (Agra circle) superintendent archaeologist, Bhuvan Vikram Singh, said, "ASI too had raised objection to the execution of the work around heritage ghats and sent notices in this regard. As per law, no construction can be raised within 100 meter radius of any ASI-protected monuments and prior permission from the National Monument Authority is necessary to build anything in next 200 meters. However, the work had been started without obtaining the permissions," he said.
MLA Pradeep Mathur, who was also the part of the meeting, said, "The River front project, which is worth Rs 300 crore, would benefit the town. Some people had purchased properties near these ghats and they don't want things to change. If any rules prevent construction on the ghats, the same should be modified to ensure development, which would enhance the image of the city."