Environmentalist GD Agarwal, fasting unto death to save Ganga, dies at 87

Professor JD Agarwal, who was taking only water mixed with honey for the last 110 days, had shunned intake of his only diet on Wednesday.

Noted environmentalist GD Agarwal, who was on 'fast unto death' since June 22 over Ganga cleaning, died on Thursday.

HARIDWAR: Noted environmentalist GD Agarwal, who was on 'fast-unto-death' since June 22 over Ganga cleaning, died on Thursday. The 87-year old IIT professor-turned-saint had been on a fast against the authorities in Haridwar's Kankhal area. Agarwal, who was taking only water mixed with honey for the last 110 days, had shunned intake of his only diet on Wednesday. After his condition deteriorated, Agarwal was referred to a hospital for treatment on Wednesday. A retired professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Kanpur, Agarwal was opposing the construction along the river Ganga, which he said would totally destroy the natural flow and quality of the river water. Agarwal was demanding that the government take steps to save the Ganga river and its ecology, and ensure that the flow of the river water is uninterrupted. His other demands included enactment of the Ganga Protection and Management Bill and halting of work on hydropower projects along the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers. Agarwal was a founder-member and secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board, the country's premier anti-pollution authority, and helped put together environmental legislation in India.