Wed Jan 08 06:30:06 UTC 2025: ## Samajwadi Party Leader Accuses UP Government of Environmental Crime in Ganga Dredging
**Lucknow, January 8, 2025** – Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has condemned the dredging of the Ganga River in Prayagraj as an environmental crime, alleging it’s a corrupt scheme to benefit select contractors. Yadav, the MP for Kannauj, shared a video on X showing dredging work underway in preparation for the Maha Kumbh Mela.
He stated that interfering with the natural flow of the river is environmentally damaging and harms aquatic life and the ecological balance of the Ganga. Yadav asserted the dredging’s sole purpose is to award contracts to favored individuals for personal gain, without naming specific individuals or companies. The Maha Kumbh is scheduled to begin on January 13th and conclude on February 26th. The Uttar Pradesh administration is overseeing extensive preparations, including the installation of tents, toilets, solar lights, and plants.
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