The fast of Swami Shivanand, guru of deceased Swami Nigamanand who died fasting for a ban on quarrying in river Ganga, entered its third day on Sunday.

Five months after the death of Nigamanand, Shivanand began an indefinite fast on November 25 demanding immediate stopping of quarrying in river Ganga in Haridwar.

65-year-old Shivanand, the founder of the Matri Sadan Ashram, had told reporters that he would not break his fast until the state government issues a notification regarding stopping of quarrying in Ganga.

on Saturday, Haridwar administration officials tried to convince him to reconsider his decision but failed.

In June, Nigamanand had died after fasting for nearly four months over the same demand.

The death of 36-year-old swami had sparked off a controversy with Shivananad alleging that he was poisoned at the behest of quarrying mafia.

However, a forensic report during the CBI probe into the case said that Nigamanand was not poisoned.