Mining banned in Braj hills - Rajasthan side

Mining banned in Braj hills

Special Correspondent
http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/14/stories/2005071410570500.htm

Rajasthan not to issue any new licences The move follows a massive agitation for preservation of sacred spots in the region associated with Lord Krishna.

JAIPUR: All the stone quarries and crushers situated in a 500 square-metre area adjacent to the "Parikrama" (circumambulation) route around the sacred hills in the Braj region in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan will soon be closed with the State Government deciding to terminate their mining licences. The Government has also resolved not to issue any fresh licences for mining activities in the region in future.

The move follows a massive public agitation for preservation of sacred spots in the Braj region associated with Lord Krishna. The Braj Rakshak Dal, which organised a demonstration on the issue at Ghata village on July 10, had alleged that mining activities were continuing in the area despite a ban imposed by the Supreme Court in the Taj Trapezium zone case. The Rajasthan High Court had also directed the Government to ensure eco-friendly mining operations in the State. Hundreds of villagers, sadhus and activists, participating the demonstration, pointed out that the Braj hills had a great religious, historical and ecological significance and should be saved from the threat of extinction posed by quarries.

The Forest and Environment Minister, Laxminarain Dave, said here on Wednesday that the district administration, police and a special force of the Mining Department were taking action to check illegal mining in the region. "The decision to stop mining has been taken after examining the issues such as employment available to the local populace and the revenue earnings," he said.

Mr. Dave pointed out that the State Government had decided in favour of cancelling the mining licences in the 500 square-metre area on January 27 this year as well, but it was not fully implemented. A total of 55 licences had been issued for mining of major and minor minerals on the Parikrama route, while 170 licences are operative outside the route.

The Minister said the licences of 15 minor and two major quarries had been revoked after the January 27 order. The Parikrama route measuring 500 square metres was verified on the basis of the map provided by the local sadhus.

Mr. Dave said that of the 25 hills of religious significance identified by the Braj Rakshak Dal, no mining activity on behalf of the Mining Department was reported at as many as 17 hills. The department gets royalty to the tune of Rs. 7 crores from mining operations in addition to the income to the State Government in the shape of commercial tax and octroi, while the villagers get employment at the quarries.

http://www.brajrakshakdal.org/inner/media.htm

"The inspiration behind Braj Rakshak Dal is Shri Ramesh Baba of Gahvarvan Barsana. He accepts no disciples, donation or help from anybody. He lives on madhukari i.e. bhiksha ki roti, so do all the sadhus of Man Mandir, who live a very simple life, full of austerities.

He has been crusading for the past 52 years for the conservation and preservation of the natural grandeur of Braj - the hills, the forests, the kunds and Yamuna ji.

He has been living on the top of a hill called Mangarh in Gahvarvan, Barsana of Mathura for the past 52 years. It is the same hill which Radha Rani had climbed up when she got annoyed with Shyam Sundar. She posted her sakhis at the entry of Gahvarvan, with the instruction that Krishna should not be allowed to climb up. Finally truce was arrived at. Since then Radha Maan Bihari Lal are blessing the devotees from this hill. When Baba came to live here it was surrounded with deep forest and wild animals. Baba came as a young university student from Allahabad, and immersed himself deep into the Bhakti of Shri Radha Rani. He does not want us to tell more than that."

http://www.brajrakshakdal.org/inner/inspiration.htm

http://www.brajdhamsewa.org/indexHome.asp

We visited Ramesh Baba the last time over with Jagadananda. They are fighting for a righteous cause and deserve all encouragement and support you may give.

In our visit to Kamyavan, I took some pictures of the hills being demolished. The pictures below are taken in the immediate vicinity of Charan Pahari (where Krishna's footprints are impressed on rocks) and other sacred locations.

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We visited Ramesh Baba the last time over with Jagadananda. They are fighting for a righteous cause and deserve all encouragement and support you may give.

In our visit to Kamyavan, I took some pictures of the hills being demolished. The pictures below are taken in the immediate vicinity of Charan Pahari (where Krishna's footprints are impressed on rocks) and other sacred locations.

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We visited Ramesh Baba the last time over with Jagadananda. They are fighting for a righteous cause and deserve all encouragement and support you may give.

In our visit to Kamyavan, I took some pictures of the hills being demolished. The pictures below are taken in the immediate vicinity of Charan Pahari (where Krishna's footprints are impressed on rocks) and other sacred locations.

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[attachmentid=1711]

[attachmentid=1712]

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We visited Ramesh Baba the last time over with Jagadananda. They are fighting for a righteous cause and deserve all encouragement and support you may give.

In our visit to Kamyavan, I took some pictures of the hills being demolished. The pictures below are taken in the immediate vicinity of Charan Pahari (where Krishna's footprints are impressed on rocks) and other sacred locations.

[attachmentid=1710]

[attachmentid=1711]

[attachmentid=1712]

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We visited Ramesh Baba the last time over with Jagadananda. They are fighting for a righteous cause and deserve all encouragement and support you may give.

In our visit to Kamyavan, I took some pictures of the hills being demolished. The pictures below are taken in the immediate vicinity of Charan Pahari (where Krishna's footprints are impressed on rocks) and other sacred locations.

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The petition posted in the News-section from Raghav Mittal is the work of the same group, Braj Rakshak Dal. I trust everyone signed it.

Ha. Several of those Varsana sadhus travel in the US performing bhajans. I first saw them three years ago in Boston and again a month ago in Alachua. Some of the nicest bhajans this side of the hills of Vraja.

Vineet Narain is quite famous for exposing corruption in India. If memory serves, he joined ISKCON for some time and then had a major falling out.

http://www.kalchakra.org/vn.html