Gujarat: Vishwamitri river clean-up destructive, claim activists

VADODARA: Environment activists and concerned citizens have asked the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to immediately stop the clean-up activities at the Vishwamitri river.
Terming the entire exercise being carried out by the civic body as utterly destructive, the citizens through notices issued to all the authorities have claimed that the process was in violation of order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
On May 25, NGT had issued order stating that the entire flood plain zone of Vishwamitri river should be mapped and demarcated. The order had also stated that unauthorized, illegal structures should be removed and river’s integrity should be maintained and restored. The order was issued in connection to the Vishwamitri River Action Plan.
“We have visited the location of ongoing works multiple times to gauge the nature of work being carried out by the VMC.
Prima facie, it appears as an effort towards the re-sectioning of the river resulting in further encroachment on the river section through dispersal and levelling of the soil,” the notices issued to all the authorities by the group of citizens states.
“Though VMC is claiming that they have been guided by the Gujarat forest department, Gujarat Pollution Control Board and other authorities, we believe that these activities are in violation of various orders, directions, and acts specifically The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the recent NGT order,” said environment activist Rohit Prajapati.
The citizens have demanded that the civic body should stop work and plan systematic ways to deal with river flow, flooding and water-logging.
“We are reiterating an urgent need to establish well qualified quasi-governmental or semi statutory body or task force that includes subject experts as well as other knowledgeable experts and experienced members of community at-large. This body should not merely be a teeth-less and perfunctory advisory body,” said Prajapati.
Such an interdisciplinary and empowered body will go a long way in ensuring transparent, participatory and proactive processes for holistic development of our city and Vishwamitri river watershed, the representation made by the group states.