Sadhus protest lack of clear and adequate water at Sangam

Allahabad, Feb 7 (PTI) A day ahead of Basant Panchamifestival when lakhs of devotees are expected to take a holydip in the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati here, agroup of sadhus protested over lack of sufficient clear waterin the rivers.

The monks formed different groups and squatted onmake-shift bridges constructed over the Ganges, badlyaffecting the movement of vehicles and pilgrims in the areaaround the holy Sangam where the annual religious congregationof Magh Mela (fair) is also underway.

Leading the agitation, Swami Hari Chaitanya Brahmacharirued the fact that "repeated orders of the High Court" on aPIL filed by him "seem to have failed to make the authoritiesrealise what needs to be done with regard to the alarmingpollution levels, especially in the Ganga, which is consideredsacred by millions of Hindus across the country".

No untoward incident took place during the stir whichcontinued for nearly four hours, police said.