Vrindavan Today - News of Braj-Vrindavan

Include Green prospects in the Vraj-Developmental Plans

Jagannath Poddar — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:42:55 +0000

Vrindavan, June 18th 2013: A delegation of the Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance met the District Magistrate of Mathura on Monday to stress the need to include the Green prospects in the developmental plans of Vraj. The delegation was led by the BVHA seniors Acharya Naresh Narayan and Baba Madan Bihari Das. The forest land is being diminished rapidly replaced by the concrete structures, and there is no check on the deforestation, complained Acharya to the District Collector. He added, ‘so far no pro-forest policy has been adopted by the state government to revive the Green Zones in Vraja, which was once known for its Sacred Groves’.
Baba Madan Bihari Das pointed out that those sites which should be made example by the forest department are facing utter negligence by the Forest Department. He said that a big amount of money was invested on the Van Chetana Kendra, which was once developed to raise the consciousness about the Green Vrindavan, but one can hardly see any greenery in this park. All the wildlife is banished from this park. The Sunrakh forest land could become a model forest in the middle of the Vrindavan City, but the department is not giving any heed to the repeated requests made by the members of the civil society of Vrindavan. The Forestry Department always cites that it doesn’t have any money to implement the green projects, then what is the need to spend the big amount in their salaries, baba wondered while talking to the journalists after the meeting.
FoV director Jagannath Poddar said that the Vraja is losing its typical trees of Kadamba, Tamal, Peelu etc. The forestry department neither grows these trees in big numbers nor do they plant them in different places of Vraja. The survival rate of the trees planted by the department is very low, so there is serious doubt on the ability of the forestry department of the district to revive the green culture of Vraj.

The District Magistrate assured the delegation that steps will be taken to make Vraja a greener place. He telephoned the District Forest Officer to meet him in person to discuss about concerns of the Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance. The D.M. also said that he would personally visit the locations which the BVHA pointed out. The issues of the encroachment in the Yamuna Flood Plain were also raised by some of the delegates in the meeting.

Shri Krishna Saras, Radheshyam Chowdhry, Dr. Vishwamohan, Madhumangal Shukla, Partha Sarathi were also present in the delegation which met the District Magistrate.

BVHA mounts pressure on the forestry department by visiting the ‘Sunrakh Forest Land

Jagannath Poddar — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:46:53 +0000

Vrindavan, June 11^th 2013: In a bid to mount pressure on the forestry department a team of the BVHA led by Baba Madan Bihari Das reached the said ‘119 acre forest land’ in Surakh village, in presence of all the representatives of the local media. When the team entered in the deeper part of this land it reminded them the ‘swaroop’ of the ancient Vrindavan. The forest was full of groves, the birds, peacocks, rabbits, mongoose and other small creatures. The team observed that the trees could be planted in this forest land, whereas the forestry department had denied to plant trees citing the reason of the saline water and barren land. Madan Bihari Baba said that if the department concentrates on this land it can easily plant the trees here and they will survive with the intensive care.’ If the government can chalk out plan for construction projects then why can’t it allocate fund to arrange water for the greenery of the Holy Dham?’ said Baba Madan Bihari to the reporters.

Acharya Naresh Narayan raised suspicion on the forestry claim that the measurement of this land is 119 acre. He said that the BVHA will request the concerning authorities to re-measure the land and if needed it will not shy to go to the lokayukta (ombudsman) to get that land measured. ‘It is simply the nexus between the bureaucrats and the land mafias that the forestry land is being lost. One can easily see the tall buildings coming up around this forest land,’ said Acharya who is the Chief Editor of the monthly magazine of Anant Sandesh.

Madhumnangal Shukla, the petitioner in the Public Interest Litigation to stop the cutting of the trees in Vrindavan, said that he will pursue with the PIL pending in the court. He will request the court to direct the government to acquire more land for the forestry and protect the existing land.

Jagannath Poddar from Friends of Vrindavan said that this particular land was proposed for the ‘Krishna-Lila Van’ by the District Authorities in the year 1999, but sighed that no green project has ever been successful in Vrindavan. ‘We can hear the chirping of the birds’, then why can’t we make it a proper habitat for the birds?’ wondered Poddar.

Shri Devashis Banerjee, Shri Prateek Verma, Shri Partha Sarathi, Shri Manmohan Pareekh, Shri Anshu Gaud and many journalist were present during this visit.

Member of Parliament from Mathura takes Green pledge on World Environment Day

Jagannath Poddar — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:37:14 +0000

Vrindavan, 5th June, 2013: Shri Jayant Chowdhry, the Member of Parliament from the Mathura Constituency takes green pledge by planting a tree at the Tatiasthan in Vrindavan. The Tree plantation programme was organized by Friends of Vrindavan. Shri Jayant Chaudhry was invited by the BVHA senior member Baba Shri Madan Bihari Das to muster support for the green initiatives jointly taken by the Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance and Friends of Vrindavan. Baba Madan Bihari Das sought the M.P.’s intervention on protecting the forest land from being encroached and requested him to arrange water facility from his M.P. L.A.D.S fund at the forestry land in Sunrakh where the forestry department is reluctant to plant trees due to the lack of water.
Addressing the gathering Shri Chaudhry said he is trying to introduce the Private member bill in the parliament to create the National River Basin Authority. The bill encourages the government to take a more ecologically sound approach in restoring the river’s health through river basin management.
Acharya Naresh Narayan, another BVHA activist demanded M.P.’s intervention to protect the ‘Kumbha Mela Site’ from encroachment. The M.P. said that he will meet the District Magistrate and raise the issue on the encroachments with him. Jagannath Poddar, Director of Friends of Vrindavan invited the M.P. to FoV office during his next visit where the ecological and green issues will be discussed in length.
Madhumangal Shukla, Prateek Verma, Moolchand Sharma and many other saints from Tatiasthan were present during the event.

The Green issues of Vrindavan can’t be compromised

Jagannath Poddar — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:21:21 +0000

Vrindavan, June 2nd 2013: The Green issues of Vrindavan can’t be compromised anymore as we have lost seventy five percent of the green heritages said Baba Madan Bihari Das in a meeting organized two days before the World Environment Day at the Imli Tala Temple. The BVHA senior member Acharya Naresh Narayan said that the Imli Tala Temple was named after the ‘Tamarind Tree’ which had significance in Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the pastime of Lord Chaitanya. We have stopped adoring the trees in which the Divine Souls of Vrindavan reside and meditate in the form of trees. Feeling the uproar and anguish against the forestry department the District Forest Officer Shri K.C. Vajpayee sent a team of two members to meet the BVHA activists led by the range officer Shri O.P. Singh. The team noted down the issues raised by the BVHA to revive the green culture of Shri Dham Vrindavan. The BVHA warned the forestry department of getting back to the hon’ble court on the Public Interest Litigation filed by Shri Madhumangal Shukla to protect the trees of Vrindavan. Jagannath Poddar from Friends of Vrindavan suggested the forum that the State Government and the Ministry of Environment and Forest should be approached to acquire more land for afforestation by making it a reserve forest. If the land can be acquired for the construction works then why can’t it be acquired for forest and peacock sanctuaries! Poddar exclaimed. Last month Shri Mahendra Pratap Singh, a Senior Officer from the head office of the forestry department in Lucknow visited Friends of Vrindavan office and organized a meeting with the civil society group of the Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance to discuss the possibilities of creating new green zones. The BVHA suggested several sites and then it was agreed that massive plantation should be done on those land which are owned by the forestry department. The BVHA suggested that the forest land near Chhatikara at the entrance of Vrindavan be focused to plant the trees, on which the forestry officials asked the BVHA to facilitate arranging the water for the trees as the underground water was saline, in that particular land. Baba Madan Bihari Das was authorized to coordinate for this project, who later met the Sunrakh village head (pradhan ) and requested him to provide water for this cause. The Pradhan assured to provide enough water for the trees to be planted there. But at the last minute the forestry department shifted the venue of plantation to Ahilya Ganj, which irked the BVHA activists. The forestry officials, who joined the meeting at the end, assured that the BVHA will be taken into confidence before any step taken on planting trees in Vrindavan. Dr. Devendra Chaitanya Brahmachari said that a big number of Rudraksha Trees can be availed to the forestry department if they promise to take full care of them. Dr. Chandra Prakash Sharma said that it is disheartening to see that the dust of Vrindavan is getting polluted which was once eaten by the Lord himself. The Krishna devotees can’t separate Krishna from Vrindavan, so they should take steps to bring Vrindavan to its past glory. The meeting was presided by Shri Tamal Krishna Brahmachari, president acharya of the Imli Tala Gaudiya Math.

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 5

Katie Jo Walter — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:48:53 +0000

Logo for the National Green Tribunal, which has been taking its mandate to handle adjudication and enforcement of environmental, forest and conservation related cases very seriously.

In this issue:

Doon Valley Villagers protest against proposed Coca Cola plant that would further strain water supply from Yamuna:

In our second weekly digest, we reported about local water concerns surrounding a proposed Coca Cola plant in the Doon Valley. This week saw protests against the plant, which is planned for Charba Village. The village panchayat had agreed to allow the land where the plant is planned for construction to be used for a government university in 2006 with a two year limit. Now the Uttarakhand government has suddenly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Coca Cola to give the same land to the soft drink company.

Over 1500 people, including over a dozen NGOs and grass roots community organizations joined villagers in the protest. Concren is growing that an already scarce water supply will be further depleted by the plant:

“Nandlal Master of Mehdi Ganj near Varanasi, shared the tragic experience of his community after Coca Cola set up a plant , extracting more than 2 million litres of water daily. The water level has declined dramatically, and the hand pumps and wells have gone dry. As in all other plants, the waste water has very high levels of heavy metals like Lead, cadmium, and Chromium. Initially, Coke tried to supply this polluted water for irrigation, but when the crops failed due to pollution, the farmers organised and refused to allow the company to deposit waste on their land. Now it dumps it in the Sacred Ganga. Nandalal also exposed the lie of employment for the local community.”

Vandana Shiva, world famous environmental activist who delivered the closing remarks at the protest, called for a strengthening of the protest group, claiming that the struggle against this Coca Cola plant would go down in history like the famous Chipko movement of the early 1970′s against tree cutting in the Garhwal Himalayas.

Cited articles: http://www.navdanya.org/blog/?p=693

Green Tribunal gets serious about Delhi, U.P. construction debris on Yamuna banks:

In our first issue, we reported that the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a national entity handling adjudication and enforcement of environmental, forest and conservation related cases, was giving the Delhi and Haryana governments ‘one last chance to report on the amount of debris dumped on the Ymauna banks. This week, after receiving reports from both states, the NGT declared the reports “entirely incorrect” and not in compliance. The governments were given an additional six weeks to file comprehensive reports with all requested information included.
Cited articles: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/affidavits-on-yamuna-debris-entirely-incorrect/article4748737.ece

Noida gets serious about Green Tribunal orders to demolish illegal structures on Yamuna floodplains:

The National Green Tribunal is, however, being taken seriously on another front concerning the Yamuna: In last week’s digest, we reported that the Green Tribunal ruled that all Yamuna floodplain encroachments must be demolished in New Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Just five days after the order the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority demolished numerous encroaching structures, reportedly freeing up between 200 and 300 acres of Yamuna floodplain land. The authority actually began demolition acting not on the NGT orders but, rather, “on allegations about UP government officials conniving with the mafia to usurp large tracts of the floodplains on the Yamuna and the Hindon.” Inhabitants of several of the over 200 buildings destroyed claimed possession of documents proving certification and ownership, but the Authority ignored these claims.

Cited articles: http://www.riverhealthindex.blogspot.com/

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/demolition-drive-on-yamuna-river-bed-frees-up-200-acres-373877

UP officials, Agra Development Authority passing buck re: Green Tribunal orders to demolish illegal structures on Yamuna floodplains:

Meanwhile, the Agra Development Authority (ADA) and Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department are faulting one another for not providing necessary information to begin encroachment demolitions. Both claim lack of clear instruction and demarcation, but petitioner Akah Vashisht is quoted as saying, ““The order is unambiguous, clear-cut and leaves no room for manoeuvring or manipulation. Buildings or farmhouses that have come up on the river’s flood-plains have to be removed.” The NGT’s laxity regarding structures along the Taj Corridor was also questioned in the article.

Cited articles: http://www.readandknow.org/uttar-pradesh-tribunals-order-to-demolish-structures-in-yamuna-plains-ignored

Petition against Lakhwar Dam Project only got 11 signatures last week– Please sign and share!

When first reporting on the Lakhwar Dam Project, Save Yamuna to Save Vrindavan has created an online petition addressed to the Prime Minister of India and other key officials involved to voice concern about the project. The online petition is in support of the petition already addressed to these politicians by eminent lawyers, activists, groups and individuals last week. To read the petition, which offers reliable evidence as to why the Lakhwar Dam Project should not move forward, and to sign the petition, please use the following link:

https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/indian-prime-minister-dr-manmohan-singh-stop-all-activities-related-to-the-lakhwar-dam-project-on-river-yamuna

The petition garnered 200 signatures in its first week, but this is not nearly enough to register on politicians’ radars. We are aiming for the 500 mark, which would require a minimum of 233 more signatures. The Lakhwar Dam Project has no local level planning, no alternative plans and no impact assessment. The Lakhwar Dam project includes two dams and one barrage, starting just 120 km from Yamuna’s source at Yamunotri, and would submerge an estimated 868 hectares of forest and 50 villages.

Fisherman found with carcass of Gangetic dolphin arrested

About a month ago, we shared an article estimating the number of endangered Gangetic dolphins in the Yamuna at 31. Now there is one dolphin can be subtracted from that count: A fisherman from Ashat was arrested in the Fatehpur district when he was caught with a dolphin carcass; the dolphin had been captured in his net.

Cited article: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-01/kanpur/39674107_1_dolphin-carcass-ganges-river-dolphin-gangetic

New Delhi’s India Habitat Center to host dace festival dedicated to Yamuna:

On June 4 & 5, New Delhi’s India Habitat Center is hosting “Yamuna Sutra,” a dance festival dedicated to the Yamuna River and featuring a regionally diverse array of Indian classical dance forms.

Cited article: http://www.delhievents.com/2013/05/yadartha-trust-presents-sutra-festival.html

Pioneer editorial details Delhi’s conflicts over Yamuna water and more:

A quick and concise breakdown of where Delhi;’s water comes from and a number of reasons for water scarcity in the city from over-consumption to poor management to contamination.

Cited article: http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/city-in-deep-water-as-supply-dries-up.html

Activists speak out against Delhi landfills proposed for Yamuna floodplains :

Two of five proposed landfill sites by New Delhi’s North Corporation are on the Yamuna floodplains. Yamuna activist Manoj Mishra says in the article that “[t]he land’s proximity to the river give it an excellent potential for massive water storages, both underground in aquifers and for raising off-channel reservoirs where part of flood flows in river Yamuna could be stored for later use. A landfill site here may pollute the ground water.”

Cited article: http://environicstrust.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/greens-reject-list-of-landfill-sites/

Radhe Radhe!

Every week, Vrindavan Today presents a summary of articles and news about issues affecting the Yamuna River from around the web and elsewhere. If you have Yamuna-related news that you would like to see published here, please email Katie Jo Walter at katie.walter@fulbrightmail.org. To stay up to date with the latest Braj Vrindavan devotion and development news, please follow the Vrindavan Today RSS feed and bookmark our site, which offers articles in both English and Hindi: www.vrindavantoday.org. Also, please join our Facebook news and discussion group for Yamuna issues at:www.facebook.com/groups/ saveyamunasavevrinadavan The group currently has close to 4800 members. We would love to have you help us reach the 5000 mark!

Vrindavan Dham ki jai!

Yamuna Maharani ki jai!

Shiva’s Rudraksha will be planted in Krishna’s Land

Jagannath Poddar — Wed, 29 May 2013 06:46:09 +0000

Vrindavan, 27th May 2013: Massive plantation of the Rudraksha Tree in a place can end the depression, stress, unrest and other problems the society is facing today; said Mahamandeleshwar Swami Martandya Puri Ji Maharaj, while talking to the journalists in a programme organized by Friends of Vrindavan at the Tehriwali Bagichi ashram of its founding Trustee His Holiness Baba Sevak Sharan.
Swami Ji’s name is registered in the Limca Book of records for planting the Rudraksha Trees in different locations. Swami Ji said that he has helped many cities and villages planting the trees of Rudraksha, which will spread the positive energy to bring world peace. As per our holy books the Rudraksha Trees used to grow in many places which included Vraja which has extreme climate. It is the myth that it could be grown only on the hills; Swamiji added.
Shri Madhav Kant Mishra who was later known as Mahamandaleshwar Swami Martandya Puri after taking renunciation, was earlier a famous journalist and given direction to many spiritual T.V. Channels including Disha & Aastha channels. He said that the devotees have great respect for the Rudraksha, but the irony is they never try to grow it in their homes and gardens. Our attitudes to the holy trees need to be changed. He said that the name ‘Vrindavan’ is the synonym of the holy plant of Tulsi (Vrinda) and the group of holy trees (Van-vrind). Unfortunately the holy trees of Kadamba, Tamal, Tulsi and Pipal are not seen here in big numbers in their home land of Vraja.
He said that he will formulate a plan to work with the resident of Vraja to plant Rudraksha along with the other typical trees of Vraja in coming planting season. He said that he will avail the Rudraksha Trees to FoV’s nursery from where they can be planted in different temples, ashrams and in the forest land.
His Holiness Baba Sevak Sharan, Dr. Devendra Chaitanya Brahmachari, Madhumangal Shukla, Joy Krishna Poddar, Prateek Verma, Devashis Banerjee, Jagannath Poddar, Pramendra Asthana and many others were present during the press conference.

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 4

Katie Jo Walter — Tue, 28 May 2013 21:48:41 +0000

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 4

Section of Green Tribunal ruling that demands demolition of Yamuna floodplain encroachments

In this issue:

Green Tribunal demands demolition of all Yamuna floodplain encroachments in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

This week, the Green Tribunal, , a national entity handling adjudication and enforcement of environmental, forest and conservation related cases, ruled that all Yamuna floodplain encroachments must be demolished in New Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The ruling stipulated that the Vice Chairmen,Commissioners, Secretaries of the concerned Department and Deputy Commissioner of Police of encroachment areas were not only responsible for demolishing encroachments, but also for producing plans and maps for public constructions on the Yamuna banks, including whether or not the constructions had received No Objection Certificate (NOC) clearance allowing them to build legally.

The previous week, Jagannath Poddar, along with the Braj Vrindavan Heritage Alliance (BVHA), sent a petition to the Green Tribunal following their meeting with case petitioner Akash Vashishtha see Vrindavan Toda article about the meeting here). The petition asked the Green Tribunal to “direct agencies to raize all illegal structures built on the flood plains (of the Yamuna) and dump the debris accumulated off the river flood zone area.” It also asks that First Information Reports (FIRs) be filed against all farmhouses, plot owners, real estate agents and commercial plot owners currently encroaching upon the river banks.

This ruling could help in accomplishing the demolition of pillars left in Yamuna when a ruling by the Allahabad High court halted construction of a half-moon bridge in the Yamuna at Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan. The gathering of evidence for this case and elated activism was the impetus for groups like the BVHA and Save Yamuna to Save Vrindavan, as well as Vrindavan Today. Construction of the bridge at Keshi ghat is the featured image in the India Today and Daily Mail articles about the Green Tribunal’s ruling.

Cited articles: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/national-green-tribunal-unauthorised-structures-illegal-structures-yamuna-floodplains-yamuna-river-bed/1/272196.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2328027/Green-authority-orders-demolition-illegal-man-structures-wreaking-ecological-havoc-banks-Yamuna-river.html

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Vrindavan

http://www.news.vrindavantoday.org/2013/05/national-green-tribunal-approached-to-protect-the-yamuna-flood-plain-in-vraj-vrindavan/

http://www.ercindia.org/index.php/latest-updates/news/753-protection-of-flood-plains-of-the-yamuna-and-hindon-rivers

Delhi CM urges Upper Yamuna Basin States to finalize agreements related to dam construction to expedite construction:

The Union Water Resources Minister facilitated the fifth meeting for the Upper Yamuna River Basin, which was attended by Chief Ministers from Delhi, Haryana and Irrigation Ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. At the meeting, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit commended the Union Water Minister’s work to expedite the poorly planned Lakhwar Dam Project (see below) to provide more water to the National Capital Region.

Cited articles: http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/delhi-cm-dikshit-welcomes-initiatives-taken-at-upper-yamuna-river-committee-meet-113052801093_1.html

http://www.sify.com/news/delhi-cm-dikshit-welcomes-initiatives-taken-at-upper-yamuna-river-committee-meet-news-national-nf2vakdcchh.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/delhi-cm-dikshit-welcomes-initiatives-taken-upper-yamuna-152822501.html

Petition against Lakhwar Dam Project needs 244 signatures to reach the 500 mark– Please sign and share!

Save Yamuna to Save Vrindavan has created an online petition addressed to the Prime Minister of India and other key officials involved with the Lakhwar Dam project to voice concern about the project. The online petition is in support of the petition already addressed to these politicians by eminent lawyers, activists, groups and individuals last week. To read the petition, which offers reliable evidence as to why the Lakhwar Dam Project should not move forward, and to sign the petition, please use the following link:

https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/indian-prime-minister-dr-manmohan-singh-stop-all-activities-related-to-the-lakhwar-dam-project-on-river-yamuna

The petition garnered 200 signatures in its first week, but this is not nearly enough to register on politicians’ radars. The Lakhwar Dam Project has no local level planning, no alternative plans and no impact assessment. The Lakhwar Dam project includes two dams and one barrage, starting just 120 km from Yamuna’s source at Yamunotri, and would submerge an estimated 868 hectares of forest and 50 villages.

Pollution foam covering Yamuna at Delhi produces numerous photos, comments

A handful of photographs showing the foam created on top of the Yamuna from industrial pollution at Delhi by photographer Daniel Berehulak made for numerous posts of the photos with brief comments about the condition of the river. A blogger named Dani also posted her own pics and commentary.

Industrial pollution on the Yamuna at Delhi: Photo by Daniel Berehulak

Cited articles: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/polluted-yamuna-river-foams-at-the-mouth

http://www.dnaindia.com/bigpicture/1838926/photo-pollution-blights-the-yamuna-river

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/6R1eAPH6w3y/Pollution+Blights+Yamuna+River/fTmwLF7uqb1

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/2013/05/may-24-photo-brief-saddams-torture-masks-self-immolating-monks-baby-animals-and-buddahs-birthday-celebration-continues/pollution-blights-the-yamuna-river/

http://www.wishesh.com/hot-buzz/28541-pollution-damned-the-yamuna-river.html

Motorized aeration device promoted for cleaning India’s dirty rivers:

A new video shows Omnipresenttech‘s “Ro-Boat” technology, which involves the use of a remote controlled motorized boat to clean and filter wate The boats are powered by solar panels and navigated via GPS, could sense & collect plastic & other debris while also filtering water. The makers claim the Ro-Boats (how many and at what cost?) could clean large stretches of the Ganga (like how a large?) in less than a year. Plans are set to launch the device at the Nasik Kumbh Mela in 2015. The machine is reminiscent of the Water Wheel Aerator (see video here) put to use by Braj Dham Seva in the Yamuna at the Vrindavan Kumbh Mela in 2010.

Cited articles:http://www.omnipresenttech.com/home/our-robots

Radhe Radhe!

Vrindavan Dham ki jai!

Yamuna Maharani ki jai!

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 3

Katie Jo Walter — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:01:46 +0000

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 3

Cartoon featured in Centre for Science and Environment’s monthly “Excreta Matters” newsletter

In this issue:

In the Dham: FoV’s monsoon tree plantation drive, BVHA’s push for action against Yamuna encroachments and Banke Bihariji’s Yamuna water bath

This week, Friends of Vrindavan (FoV) announced plans to plant trees along both roads leading into Vrindavan and along the Parikrama Marg. They are conducting a fundraising campaign to sponsor 100 trees at Rs 2000 each. The fee covers tree, plantation, metal guard and three years of maintenance.

Jagannath Poddar, along with the Braj Vrindavan Heritage Alliance (BVHA), sent a petition to the Green Tribunal, a national entity handling adjudication and enforcement of environmental, forest and conservation related cases. The petition asks the Green Tribunal to “direct agencies to raize all illegal structures built on the flood plains (of the Yamuna) and dump the debris accumulated off the river flood zone area.” It also asks that First Information Reports (FIRs) be filed against all farmhouses, plot owners, real estate agents and commercial plot owners currently encroaching upon the river banks.

Note was made that the Yamuna water used to bathe Vrindavan’s beloved Banke Bihariji deity is no longer purified by boiling and “other steps in consonance with vedic procedure.” Now, due to high levels of Yamuna pollution, Banke Bihariji’s Yamuna is purified using reverse osmosis filtration to protect the deity from discoloration.

Cited articles: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Vrindavan

http://www.news.vrindavantoday.org/2013/05/national-green-tribunal-approached-to-protect-the-yamuna-flood-plain-in-vraj-vrindavan/

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=456652&catid=35

Petition against Lakhwar Dam Project progress stalled at just over 200 signatures – Please sign and share!

https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/indian-prime-minister-dr-manmohan-singh-stop-all-activities-related-to-the-lakhwar-dam-project-on-river-yamuna

Delhi-based NGO advocates for for National Rivers Commission Act:

Manoj Misra, founder of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, a Delhi-based NGO serving the Yamuna, wrote an editorial on the need for the central government to fulfill its responsibility for the health of the nation’s rivers; policy places rivers in the hands of the state government, but all interstate rivers (which is almost all of them, according to Mr. Misra) are the domain of the central government

Cited article: http://yamunajiyeabhiyaan.blogspot.com/2013/05/rivers-lost-in-policy-hindu-12-may-2013.html

Heavy metals found in vegetables grown along, washed in Yamuna:

Citing research published by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) last year on heavy metals found in vegetables grown near or washed in Yamuna, this article echoes the protesters from this past March’s Yamuna padyatra, stressing the ritual significance of the river and suggesting that a separate canal be built alongside Ymauna to carry wastewater.

Cited article:http://drugtodayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:poisonous-veggies-from-yamuna-floodplains&catid=83:nation&Itemid=588

Revival of Saraswati River, if completed, could take strain off Yamuna:

The Wall Street Journal reports on an ambitious project to revive the Saraswati River, the third river forming the “triveni Sangam” at Allahabad along with the Ganga and Yamuna. The project, undertaken by India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has stalled in its tracks. The article emphasizes the ways in which revival of the Saraswati would help meet the water needs of the state of Haryana, which currently relies on the Yamuna, creating tensions with Delhi (last year, cited in article) and Braj (this year’s padyatra, not mentioned in the article).

Cited article:

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/05/14/plan-to-revive-mythical-river-dries-up/

Panel set up in response to Yamuna padyatra suggests better rainwater harvesting in Delhi

“Rainwater harvesting was made compulsory in Delhi for buildings with an area of 500 sq m or more in July 2012. It has also been decided that for commercial buildings which fail to implement rain water harvesting within a year and for domestic buildings that do not get rain water harvesting within three years, water will be charged at 1.5 times the normal rate.”

The panel, comprised of the chairman of the Central Ground Water Board and members from Delhi Jal Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee, also suggested removal of all encroachments on the floodplain for proper groundwater recharge.

Cited article: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-15/delhi/39281325_1_rain-water-harvesting-rainwater-harvesting-ground-water-recharge

Delhi consolidates riverbank memorials for figures of national importance:

Important figures in the nation and its capital will have a shared samadhi due to lack of space along the Yamuna for separate memorials. The Union cabinet proposed that a shared samadhi called ’Rashtriya Smriti’ be created along the Yamuna banks (location not disclosed). Memorials to leaders already take up over 245 acres of land along the Yamuna, referred t in the article as “prime real estate.”

Cited article: http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/No-separate-samadhis-VVIPs-now-to-have-common-memorial-place/Article1-1061208.aspx

More on the threat to the Gangetic dolphin in Yamuna:

Times of India reports on threats to the Gangetic dolphin. Although pollution plays a large role, illegal fishing an d dredging practices also pose a large threat. The article cites the Hamirpur district (approximately half way between Agra and Allahabad) as an area where dredging and illegal fishing along the Yamuna are particularly harmful.

Cited article: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Dredging-illegal-fishing-hurting-dolphin-numbers/articleshow/20101812.cms

Ghaziabad government officials assaulted by Yamuna sand thieves/mafia:

Three government officials were left in serious condition at a local hospital after being assaulted by mafia members they were questioning about illegal sand mining. For more information on illegal sand mining and mafia involvement, please see our first issue from two weeks ago.

Cited article: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/uttar-pradesh-sand-mafia-brutally-assaults-officials/392082-3-242.html

Review of book looking at historic, religious, social and scientific aspects of “Dirty Sacred Rivers”:

Praveen Singh, assistant professor at the School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University in New Delhi, praises journalist Cheryl Colopy’s book about her travels across the Ganga basin. The subject is a common one amongst scholars: “The story revolves around the question of how south Asian rivers have been transformed from being considered sacred, living beings to commodities, and sewers for industrial and domestic waste.” However, Singh praises this work as unique and insightful: “she weaves together mythology, scientific discourses, political drama and technological blunders in a manner only a master novelist can do, without compromising with the reality that she captures through her seasoned journalistic eyes. “

Cited article: http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/rivers-blue-and-black

Yamuna Biodiversity Park: Phase one complete

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has developed 157 of the 457 acres set aside for a biodiversity park. The park, which is part if the DDA’s Yamuna Beautification Plan (YBP), is meant to cultivate and conserve native trees, plants and animals. According to the article, “the flora and fauna which were found in abundance along the Yamuna 100 years ago have successfully been revived.”

Cited article: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Dredging-illegal-fishing-hurting-dolphin-numbers/articleshow/20101812.cmshttp://www.dailypioneer.com/city/biodiversity-park-revives-yamunas-pristine-glory.html

CSE’s Nitya Jacob: Aggressively convert Delhi’s drains into treatment zones

Frustrated with piecemeal attempts at treating Delhi’s wastewater, Nitya Jacob advocates conversion of all drains into treatment zones, IF and AFTER:

Separate drains and treatment facilities are set up for waste from batteries, electroplating and engine oil
Drains fully covered with no ventilation (done to beautify the city for 2010′s Commonwealth Games) are given vent
A large stretch or entire drain is approached all at once, rather than in segments that receive isolated attention while the rest of the drain is forgotten

Cited article:http://www.cseindia.org/content/excreta-matters-monthly-newsletter-remedies-start-small-doses

Radhe Radhe!

Every week, Vrindavan Today presents a summary of articles and news about issues affecting the Yamuna River from around the web and elsewhere. If you have Yamuna-related news that you would like to see published here, please email Katie Jo Walter at katie.walter@fulbrightmail.org. To stay up to date with the latest Braj Vrindavan devotion and development news, please follow the Vrindavan Today RSS feed and bookmark our site, which offers articles in both English and Hindi: www.vrindavantoday.org. Also, please join our Facebook news and discussion group for Yamuna issues at:www.facebook.com/groups/saveyamunasavevrindavan The group currently has close to 4800 members. We would love to have you help us reach the 5000 mark!

Vrindavan Dham ki jai!

Yamuna Maharani ki jai!

National Green Tribunal approached to protect the Yamuna Flood Plain in Vraj-Vrindavan

Jagannath Poddar — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:53:55 +0000

The time has come when the people should move to the Supreme Court on to review the guidelines given under the Taj Trapezium Zone. They should demand that the focus should be shifted to the living heritages than the dead monuments. Too much fund is wasted on these dead monuments, but the living heritages are kept in stake. Yamuna is a living heritage for the millions of people who have faith on Lord Krishna.
The National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Water Resources, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh governments, UP irrigation Department and Up Police, on a petition highlighting the massive and fast rising concretization on the river beds and flood plains of Yamuna and its tributary Hindon. The petition, filed by water conservationist Akash Vashishtha and Gaziabad municipal councilor Rajendra Tyagi, raised the issue of fast –paced encroachments on the highly eco-sensitive river bed and flood plains of the two important rivers, by farmhouses, colonies, stone crashers , factories and other commercial establishments. The petition is represented by legal activist Amit Khemka. Most part of the Yamuna River, for nearly 220 kilometers of its stretch along Yamuna Nagar, Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana, Delhi and Noida, Greater Noida, Mathura and Agra in UP has been encroached by away of farmhouses colonies, stone crashers , quartzite-washing plants and other units which have erected permanent constructions on the Yamuna bed and its flood plain. if grapevines are to be believed, the mafia has been operating in close connivance with the local administrations in usurping the eco sensitive river bed and the flood plains. At many places the land sharks have converted the eco-sensitive flood zone areas into concrete colonies by laying out cement concrete roads, erecting poles laying electric wires, fixing street lights, and this all inside the river bed area. The concretization is still occurring on a vast scale.
Once the farmhouses and commercial plants are set up, they discharge a huge chunk of solid and human, toxic waste into the already highly polluted Yamuna and its tributaries which are battling for their survival and holy existence. The situation is really too bad and the Environment Ministry has been sitting idle with no action being taken up on this issue. There has been a long pressing demand for River Regulation Zone (RRZ), but the MoEF has still not bothered to notify it till date. The loss of flood plain is irreparable and irreversible hazard, affecting the human population on a vast geographical scale and also affecting the geological and physical features of the earth, with serious implications for the present as well as future generations. The present state of affairs on Yamuna and Hindon embankment violates the core principles, guidelines, and spirit and stipulations of the National Water Policy. It also violates the Draft National Water Policy 2012 formulated by the Ministry of Water Resources and release by Prime Minister which emphasizes upon the urgent need for conservation of water corridors, water bodies. The construction of concrete houses farmhouses, commercial set-ups and colonies, disturb the natural hydrological cycle of the basin and places along the river, which often extended up to several kilometers, was also perhaps stated in the petition. As stated in the plea, shrinking of river stream due to encroachments result in reduced evaporation and evapo – transpiration if ( there is vegetation on embankments) from surface water and hence reduce the condensation (rainfall) in adjoining places.
The petition seeks immediate registration of FIR against farmhouses plots sellers and buyers and commercial unit owners who gave encroached upon the river beds. It also seeks to direct the agencies to raze down all the illegal structures built on the flood plains and dump the debris accumulated off the river flood zone area. The petition, thus seeks and early notification of the River Regulation one by the Environment Ministry. Hope the authorities are listening.
The Braj-Vrindavan Heritage Alliance represented by Baba Madan Bihari Das has also become co-petitioner in this case. In his prayer Baba requested the NGT to demolish all concrete structures and those of permanent nature on the river bed and its flood plains in Mathura –Vrindavan area. He has requested to direct the agencies to prevent any new concrete structure or commercial set-up from coming up in the area. In the prayer Baba said that the agencies should be directed to conduct a massive plantation drive and raise a dense forest along the banks of Yamuna, which should be named as ‘Mayur Van’, which would serve as an ideal habitat for a vast population of peacocks in Vrindavan as would also provide an alternative habitat to about 10000 strong monkey population here. This would solve the monkey menace to a large extent. Provisions of registering FIR against all the individuals, realtors and other entities which have set up their structures inside the Yamuna bed or its flood plains and arresting them are also demanded in the prayer. The flood plains should only be allowed for agriculture/ horticulture use and constitute a commission to investigate the role of the officials of the concerned agencies behind the setting up of such illegal farmhouses, colonies, houses, buildings and commercial set-ups on river beds and flood plains. The NGT was requested to issue such direction as the Tribunal may deem fit for the restoration of environment of the affected areas in Vrindavan and Mathura.

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 2

Katie Jo Walter — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:37:08 +0000

Vrindavan Today Weekly Yamuna River News Digest: Issue 2

Girls sitting amongst the ruins of their homes along Delhi’s Yamuna banks, which were demolished in 2004.

In this issue:

Power plants and industry want more Yamuna water:

This week, there were reports of a new Coca Cola plant near Dehradun (opening in 18 months if all goes according to plan) planning to use Yamuna surface water. Local organizations are concerned that the plant’s water usage will negatively affect the areas hydroelectric (referred to as “hydel”) plants along the river.

Meanwhile, the new Bara hydel plant coming up on the Yamuna near Allahabad has scholars, local residents and farmers worried: “The Bara project will draw 150-cusec water of the Yamuna per hour, which the farmers fear will drain smaller streams that feed the Yamuna, adversely affecting cultivation. Engineering experts opine that the drain of water will also drastically affect the water supply here, which according to a recent study by Allahabad University has a depleting groundwater level.” A Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan article on the Bara project notes the high levels of pollution it will contribute doe to the burning of both coal and “heavy oil” and cites other disputed projects like a coal-based thermal plant at Mau, Chitrakoot (which has not yet received environmental clearance) and Karchana, U.P. which has been subject to land dispute with farmers now protesting for nearly 1,000 days.

Cited articles: http://www.eng.chauthiduniya.com/coca-colas-dehradun-plant-water-supply-to-hydel-projects-threatened/

http://yamunajiyeabhiyaan.blogspot.com/2013/05/power-plants-near-yamuna-robbing.html

Petition against Lakhwar Dam Project signed by over 200 in first week – Please sign and share!

https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/indian-prime-minister-dr-manmohan-singh-stop-all-activities-related-to-the-lakhwar-dam-project-on-river-yamuna

Delhi-based NGO for sustainable Yamuna opposes rezoning of Yamuna floodplain:

As mentioned last week, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is planning to re-zone of some areas of Yamuna’s banks to allow illegal constructions such as the Delhi Metro Yamuna Bank station, while slums are set for demolition. According to the April 24 Hindustan Times article, the DDA plan, with its permitted developments, will reduce the 10,000 hectare riverbed by 20%.Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, a Delhi-based NGO serving the Yamuna, takes the issue up in an open letter to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, arguing against the re-zoning for the sake of the river’s health. The letter also points out that people living on the same land being re-zoned to allow industrial and government developments were forcibly evicted between 2004 and 2006 (see www.yamunagentlyweeps.com for information about this, including a documentary film). Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan asked that any law on use of the Yamuna floodplains be applied equally to all instead of evicting people from slums (called “JJ clusters,” – standing for Jughi Jhopri – in the letter) while allowing other projects.

Cited articles:

http://yamunajiyeabhiyaan.blogspot.com/2013/05/sir-please-do-not-open-flood-gates-to.html

http://in.news.yahoo.com/yamuna-facelift-plan-sent-green-tribunal-183000161.html

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) experts organize joint workshop with religious river activists and organizations tackling river issues:

Last week in Rishikesh, IIT jointly organized a workshop on Ganga and Yamuna with Holy Ganga and Ganaga Action Parivar. Sarva Dharma Sansad, Green Pilgrimage Network, The Clean Ganga Initiative and World Conscious Pact were also represented at the conference. There was very little reporting on the workshop and he only outcome repeated throughout the press was that the workshop attendees agreed that at least 51% of Ganga and Yamuna should be allowed to flow freely at all times.

Cited article: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/workshop-mulls-ways-to-save-ganga-yamuna.html

More information about film project focusing on hardships faced by children along the Yamuna downstream from Delhi:

“Rescuing the Stolen River” director Krishna-lila dasi spoke to ISKCON News about her film project. The article focuses on the shock that viewers will experience from seeing the illness and death that occurs on Ymauna’s banks. Krishna-lila dasi says,“The film is shocking, because the reality is shocking,” says Krishna-lila. “Unless people’s hearts are touched, there will be no change.” She also talks about the mass march from Vrindavan to New Delhi to demand a cleaner, freer flowing Yamuna and marks this as a “major victory”. The film, set to release this fall, is going to be screened at festivals and universities and be made available for television.

Cited articles: :http://news.iskcon.com/node/5078

http://www.stolenriverfilm.com

Delhi government publishes its 2013-14 water supply and sanitation plan and budget

Delhi’s water and sanitation plans, including dams, pipeline repair, wells, water treatment and more. It includes 30 crore rupees budgeted for Yamuna Action Plan III activities, which are supposed to be focused on sewage treatment plant construction and upgradation. A quick look at the report shows that plans for sewage treatment hold Delhi’s population constant – so that although by 2021 there is a projection to treat the entire city’s sewage, that will only happen if there is zero population growth!

Cited article: http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/18af3c004f725cfaa190b3beae5848ca/72-81+Water+Supply.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&lmod=2017535994&CACHEID=18af3c004f725cfaa190b3beae5848ca&lmod=2017535994&CACHEID=18af3c004f725cfaa190b3beae5848ca

Huffington Post article looks at Delhi’s Yamuna Bank farmers:

According to the article, “the Yamuna farmers present a paradoxical situation. On the one hand, they are a very significant subject for urban agriculture globally in terms of the sheer scale of their production. But at the same time, there is the imminent threat of development and it is unlikely that the farmers will exist in this capacity for much longer.” Farmers do not own the land that they work. Note: many recent studies have found that items grown on Delhi’s Yamuna banks or are even washed in the river’s waters have high levels of toxins and are not fit to eat!

Cited article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-redwoodmartinez/urban-agriculture-in-delhi_b_3231174.html

Travel blogger features Yamuna activists:

The faces behind India Water Portal (Minakshi Aroroa and Kesar Singh) and Yamunabachao.org (Ashwini Kumar Mishra) are featured in this travel blog about activist efforts for the Yamuna taking place in Agra and Delhi. The article seeks to point out small victories in the overwhelmingly large battle for the river. These include Mishra’s success in getting the Agra government to set up water treatment “lagoons” for sewage and Balbir Singh Seechewal’s success gathering community members to clean Punjab’s Kali Bein and get local governments to take notice and act.

Cited article: http://cdepman.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/the-other-side-of-the-taj-mahal/

Radhe Radhe!

Every week, Vrindavan Today presents a summary of articles and news about issues affecting the Yamuna River from around the web and elsewhere. If you have Yamuna-related news that you would like to see published here, please email Katie Jo Walter at katie.walter@fulbrightmail.org. To stay up to date with the latest Braj Vrindavan devotion and development news, please follow the Vrindavan Today RSS feed and bookmark our site, which offers articles in both English and Hindi: www.vrindavantoday.org. Also, please join our Facebook news and discussion group for Yamuna issues at:www.facebook.com/groups/saveyamunasavevrinfdavan The group currently has close to 4800 members. We would love to have you help us reach the 5000 mark!

Vrindavan Dham ki jai!

Yamuna Maharani ki jai!