A Letter to the Judge

With all respect due to the Honorable Judge of the High Court, I would like to raise some questions to him and anyone whom may be concerned for the future of a sacred and clean tirtha with the famous Yamuna Maharani as its riverfront.

While Yamuna is mentioned in the national anthem, it is here, in Vrindavan, where her sacredness reaches its zenith, as Bhagavan Sri Krishna plays his childhood lila on Yamuna's riverbanks.

Below are a few questions that steal away the sleep of my preoccupied soul:

Your Honor,

What made you think that there is no contamination of Vrindavan's environment, while there is no effective plan to stop dumping black, contaminated water into the Yamuna, or while the bridge constructors have stopped the flow of water, thereby creating a huge, filthy sewage lake in front of the sacred ghats?

What made you think that this is a bridge that crosses the Yamuna while the only plan PWD has shows 23 huge pillars taking a fly-over motor way from one side of the Yamuna (Cheer Ghat) back to the same side of the Yamuna and right in front of the unique and historical landmark known as Keshi Ghat?

What made you think that this was a well planned project when no model was ever presented, nor do any lateral views of the bridge exist in the plans, which would show how the bridge affects the area where all Yatris begin their Parikrama by taking achman from the filthy pool mentioned above?

What made you think that the completely contaminated pool of standing water mentioned above, which is full of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis elements, poses no threat to the health and well being of the local population as it seeps into the ground water?

What do you think of the fact that almost all religious leaders are strongly opposed to such as bridge?

What do you think can be done to save Vrindavan and the Yamuna river? Is it possible to provide a healthy environment with dirty river water running so closely to a place that is not only inhabited by people, but is also world famous and attracts over 80 crores of Hindu Yatris per year?

Is it possible to have adequate facilities for those Yatris without public parking and with small roads that are choked with cars and buses for hours on end?

Is it possible to trust our leaders if there is not even a master plan in place to tackle these problems in a realistic manner? Such as in the case of the black water pipes that were installed, at great expense, but which have proven to be totally inadequate?

Your Honor, I have many more questions to ask but I was eager to first present only these few questions to you in order to learn how to handle the problems we are facing today.

The initial Stay Order that you granted revealed plenty of concern about many of the problems mentioned herein. But, now that the restrictions in the Stay Order have been lifted, how will we be able to advance the public interest?

In cases where people may prefer a shortcut to reach the other side of the Parikrama, the proposed Ring Road would most certainly be welcomed. Another alternative would be a bridge that actually crosses over the Yamuna at the point where Radha Madan Mohan is located, and which would connect with parking facilities hidden behind a nice Braj forest. In this case, the forest road could connect motorists to the present pontoon bridge. In such scenarios, all parties would be appeased without spoiling the most beautiful river and riverfront landmark in North India.

Your Honor, did you know that, according to our research, there are no other examples, in the entire world, of such a fly-over bridge in the middle of a river that stops the flow of water and causes the accumulation of black, polluted water? If the bridge in question were to be constructed, Vrindavan would become famous for having the worst conceived public works disaster on a river front in the world.

Hrishikesh and Haridvara, on the other hand, are examples we can learn from. They both contain beautiful promenades, sandstone steps, no dirt, no black water, and happy Yatris everywhere. What crime have the Yatris to Vrindavan committed to deserve broken and encroached old ghats, with a Yamuna to be replaced by a filthy pool of contaminated water?

The road on top of the real ghats is another problem that has to be addressed. It is common place for cars to hit Yatris that are walking on the Vrindavan Parikrama path.

I pray to you dear Judge, Your Honor, to clarify my doubts, and to help us restore sanity and sanitation to the people of Braj and all the Yatris.

Sincerely,

A humble Yatri who prefers to remain unknown, but who waits for your answer on the Braj Vrindavan Heritage Alliance homepage.

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This is not my letter. I think you can guess whose it is, but since it is anonymous, I will leave it that way.