The future of Vrindavan and Yamunayi is in your hands – poster

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Yamuna, Water & India

Stop the bridge over the Yamuna River

United Vrajvasi Coalition

Mister K.P.S. Gill interviewed by the local press

Eco-activists led by former director general of police K.P.S. Gill and working under the Save Yamuna to Save Vrindavan campaign have demanded rethinking on building a new bridge at the heritage Keshi Ghat

Deena Bandhu das – About the Yamuna bridge construction

Bridge over troubled waters – Anjali Dasi pictures

Vrindavan eco-activists launch Save Yamuna campaign

Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 26 (IANS) Even as preparations are underway here for a large religious festival starting next month, eco-activists led by former director general of police K.P.S. Gill and working under the Save Yamuna to Save Vrindavan campaign have demanded rethinking on building a new bridge at the heritage Keshi Ghat.

Though district authorities are working overtime to ensure that basic civic infrastructure is ready by early January for the festival they call a Kumbh Mela, leaders of various Akharas (Hindu sects) in Vrindavan are not satisfied with the state of preparedness.

“Time is running out and our chief worry is the sad state of river Yamuna,” a sadhu near the Keshi Ghat said.

Full article: www.dailytimesindia.com

Against Bridge Building Across Holy Yamunaji

In order to pursue money which is like honey for almost everyone, certain individuals and political bodies do not care for the destruction of historical or religious sites. Thus the building of a bridge across Yamuna takes place. Many devotees and well-wishers are protesting. This will bring about an ecological destruction of the Kesi Ghat area.

Here we are trying to preserve what is ours, yet there are those who are bent on seeing it go forever.

shukasari.blogspot.com

Bridge Construction Threat to Yamuna and Vrindavan

By Harmonist Staff

The government of Uttar Pradesh, along with private contractors, has begun construction of a bridge that will cross Vrindavan’s Yamuna River in close proximity to the historic Kesi Ghat. The project is an effort to facilitate further growth in the area, nearby parts of which are already overwhelmed with buildings and people, particularly during certain times of the year in which pilgrims from all over the world flood Vrindavan to celebrate and honor various holidays.

In recent days it seems that the issue is coming to a head with many devotees and environmental activists speaking out against the construction. One of the more prominent voices involved in the protest is that of K.P.S. Gill, former director general of police, who has previously been credited for cleaning up and helping to reduce crime in the area surrounding Kesi Ghat.

full article : harmonist.us

Stop the Yamuna Bridge

On Dec. 25, a few hundred persons, mostly from Vrindavan’s religious community, including many foreigners from several maths and ashrams, gathered at Vrindavan’s Keshi Ghat to protest the building of a bridge.

This bridge, which loops around the ancient redstone ghat, will permit car traffic to make the full tour of Vrindavan, turning the Parikrama Marg into a Ring Road.

Jagadananda Das Blog

Protest in Vrindavan by the World Watch Volunteers

http://worldwatchvolunteers.wordpress.com

I want the Yamuna Ghats to be protected. Please restore them to the most natural and original position possible.

Dear Friends of Vrindavan

The cultural heritage is to stake. Imagine no more Keshi Ghat Yamuna view.

Instead a highway with four lane traffic. A half moon bridge right on the Yamuna or better said driving Yamuna away from the Ghats.

The citizens of Braj are sad. Many will protest on the 25th of December at 12.30 p.m. starting from Keshi Ghat and Imlitala.

We need your signature as a defender of the Ghats of Vrindavan and specially against this already started Bridge.

I want the Yamuna Ghats to be protected. Please restore them to the most natural and original position possible.

Thank you for your participation.

In the service of the citizens of Vrindavan who oppose the bridge and loss of the Yamuna Ghat heritage.

World Watch Volunteers

December 25: Bridge breaking ceremony

The Governor of Uttar Pradesh is building a big bridge around Keshi Gath. It is against the will of all the local residents in Vrindavan. The new bridge threatens Vrindavan’s heritage ghat. The governor of the state of Utthar pradesh is doing this without consulting anyone and not revealing the plans to anyone. This project is an ecological disaster, unethical and anti-aesthetic.

The bridge brings a freeway in front of the sanctuary. Hundreds of activists are against this and we will have a civic uprising with the presence of respectful leaders, citizens and schools students. This ceremony is called bridge breaking ceremony. It is about breaking symbolically a part of the bridge. Also the press was invited so the protest can be seen in the national press . More than 500 kids of the Sandipani Muni School of Vrindavan are joining the pacific march with dancing art. We only see economic interests of some politicians behind this bridge. Please join the protest with your signature.

At the outset, it is necessary to mention that our campaign is in accordance with our fundamental duty as citizens by virtue of Article 51 A (g) of the Constitution of India, which enjoins “ …every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life and to have compassion for living creatures”.

Please, foreign and Indian devotees, join the signature campaign to stop the construction of an unnecessary bridge.

Click here to sign our petition

World Watch Volunteers

Cleansing, Preservation and Rejuvenation of the Yamuna River

Declaring the Yamuna River, a river of National Importance
We humbly submit our state of distress and misery over the gravely deteriorating condition of the sacred Yamuna River. It’s a matter of serious concern that the Yamuna, which is considered an eternal consort of Lord Shri Krishna in Hindu scriptures, and has been an essential source of water for hundreds of millions of people through ages has alas, been declared a dead river by ecological agencies.

Sign the Petition

Delhi students launch campaign to save River Yamuna

New Delhi, Feb 23 (ANI): Hundreds of students, environmentalists and residents have joined hands in a campaign to save the River Yamuna from further pollution.
Holding placards and banners, they gathered at the Jamia Milia Islamia University’’s Ansari Auditorium and raised slogans in favour of ”Yamuna River-Cleaning”.
The River Yamuna that holds not only mythological but also historical significance to the country, is today in a pathetic state and its water is unfit for bathing, leave alone consumption.

read the article

Foreign, Indian devotees join campaign to clean Yamuna River

Vrindavan, Mar 23 (ANI): Hundreds of devotees, including foreigners, converged on the banks of Yamuna River here to do their bit to save the river from pollution.
Organised by an The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) Temple here, the programme saw devotees singing devotional songs of their lord as they took out a procession of the Radha and Krishna on a decorated boat on the holy river.
” The campaign is going on for the past ten years. We have taken out a procession of Radha and Krishna and prayed to the lord. All the devotees have decided to come together and join in the campaign,” said Mahant Anandswarup, a priest.
The foreign devotees who attended the programme called for a major initiative from all the devotees to save the river.
“We all should come together and protect Yamuna River otherwise it will disappear for sure,” Radha, a foreigner from Switzerland who is staying in India for the past 30 years.
The River Yamuna is today in a pathetic state, and its water is unfit for even bathing, leave alone consumption.
According to a Central Pollution Control Board report, around 70 per cent of the pollution in the Yamuna is human excrement.
A major pollutant of Yamuna is Delhi, which contributes 3,296 MLD (million litres per day) of sewage falling into the river. Only half of the sewage produced in Delhi is treated effectively.
Sewage discharge from Delhi and major towns like Mathura, Vrindavan and Agra has irreversibly altered its ecology. The river has been termed as incapable of supporting any aquatic life whatsoever.
Environmentalists have also been highlighting the damage caused to human health by allowing the discharged sewage to re-enter the human food chain via the agricultural produce watered by it in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
The Yamuna Action Plan started in 1993 with the aim of conserving the river has met with no success, despite billions being spent on it. (ANI)

source

Hundreds march to Mathura for ecological awareness

Agra, July 25 (IANS) Hundreds of followers of Sri Krishna, who began a trek here to raise awareness about ecological issues, entered Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh Saturday, an official said.
The group of men, women and children left Agra Friday with banners. The trek, that will end at Goverdhan hills in Mathura Monday, was flagged off by Sri Nathji Nishulk Jal Sewa (free water service) director Bankey Lal Maheshwari.

“The water of holy Yamuna is unfit for human consumption. Dozen odd forests of Braj mandal have disappeared, ghats have vanished, holy ponds (kunds) have been encroached upon. SriKrishna was the greatest environmentalist who killed the Kali Nag, symbolic of pollution, in Yamuna and saved hills and forests.

“Millions of people visit the Mathura-Vrindavan areas every year, but nobody does anything to save the precious natural resources. This pad yatra (march) will help create better understanding and involve the people in the cleanliness drive in the whole of Braj Mandal,” Maheshwari told IANS.

The Sri Krishna followers entered Mathura district Saturday afternoon. “The yatra will end in Goverdhan after a parikrama and bhandara Monday,” said Rakesh Arora, one of the organisers.

Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society president Surendra Sharma said: “We need many more such programmes to instil the values of cleanliness and conservation. At least the holy places should be spared of dirt and polythene.”

source

About the bridge

Pile foundation contractor in New Delhi: B.C. Contractor and Cranes Pvt. Ltd., INDIA

Jai Prakash Associates Ltd.

Description : Bidge in the Yamuna river of 720 mtrs.

Immediate Client : PWD

Location : Construction of Keshi ghat bridge on river yamuna

and approaches located on Vrindavan Parikrama Marg.

Projected value of Contract : Rs.180 Lacs

Period : 2009-2010

Duration : 18 months

Source

Heritage status, separate authority demanded for Yamuna

Agra, Jan 5 (IANS) People’s representatives, NGOs, environmental activists and pollution experts from Agra and its surrounding areas in Uttar Pradesh at a conference here have demanded heritage status and a separate authority for the Yamuna river.
In a resolution passed unanimously late Sunday evening, the conference demanded that a Yamuna Authority be set up to take over the responsibility of keeping the river clean.

read the article

Every citizen can object to environmental damage: Court

New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) Be it public spirited people, environmental activists or voluntary groups, everyone has the right to raise a voice against environmental damage and be considered an aggrieved party, says Delhi High Court.

Justice S. Ravindra Bhat said, ‘The world as we know it is gravely imperilled by mankind’s collective folly. Unconcern to the environment has reached damaging levels that threaten the very existence of life on this planet.’

‘In cases where complaints or appeals are filed bona fide by public spirited, interested persons, environmental activists or other such voluntary organisations working for the betterment of the community as a whole, they are to be construed as aggrieved persons.’

In the ruling last week, the court made it clear that the law is accessible and the same for all and set aside an order of the National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA).

read the article

New bridge threatens Vrindavan’s heritage ghat, say activists

Agra, Aug 13 (IANS) A new bridge being constructed in Vrindavan has come in for criticism from local environmental activists, who term it a threat to Kesri Ghat – the only remaining ghat in Vrindavan. They also contend it will obscure the magnificent panoramic view of the Yamuna river and affect its flow.

‘Kesri Ghat, which happens to be the last ghat of Vrindavan from where river Yamuna flows through, is being endangered,’ said Sri Vatsa Goswami of Friends of Vrindavan.

Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority’s plan to link the disconnected portions of Vrindavan Parikrama Marg (circumference road) by constructing a bridge across the Yamuna would seriously affect the river’s flow along Vrindavan’s banks, local residents claim.

They also say the livelihood of hundreds of boatmen will be endangered as the free passage of boats across the Yamuna would get hindered. Kesri Ghat, constructed by Rani Laxmi of Bharatpur, remains the only boating spot in Vrindavan.

‘They are destroying nature and culture. Ordinary folks in Vrindavan have no voice while the ‘developmentalists’ are out to murder a rich heritage,’ environmentalist Swami Sewak Sharan said.

However, the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority Vice Chairman R.K. Singh denied the charges and claimed these had been raised by people who do not understand development or environment.

‘They are just obstructing. We have got proper studies done. The Kesri Ghat was any way crumbling. The bridge is a little distance away from the ghat. Pointless controversies are being raised,’ he added.

PWD Chief Engineer C.D. Rai told IANS that it was only ‘vested land owning interests’ who were raising the objections.

‘The bridge on the river does not affect environment in any manner, nor does it obstruct the flow of the river. We will later take up the renovation of the Kesri Ghat,’ he said.

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