2010-06-02 Braja News Digest

Vrindavan Project

In Gaura Nagara Colony, in Tarawali Gali behind the Chari Sampradaya Ashram, the sewer line digging work on the Parikrama Marg has broken a watermain, and the leaking water has seeped into the ground under the houses, causing flooding, movement of foundations and cracking of walls. Beside this, the waterfill trench dug by the sewage pipe laying work has kept some people unable to leave their homes. Municipality EO S.K. Sharma came to inspect the damage but threw the ball back into the Water Dept’s court, saying it was their responsibility.

In the meantime, the Chattikara Road is going to be one-way from the Raman Reti Police Chowki up to the Hari Nikunj intersection. At first the encroachments were blamed for the slowness of the sewage work, but now in most places along the road, these encroachments were removed more than a month ago, and still there has been no speedup. When Commissioner Bobade came, he was told that the traffic jams were now the principal reason for delay. The Commissioner approved the plan to make this section one-way and the SSP B.D. Paulson is engaging more police officers in the area to enforce the rule.

Old age home being built in Moti Jhil

On June 3, the International Banke Bihari Sevak Sanghatan will have a religious ritual consecrating the ground and a cornerstone laying ceremony for a hostel for the aged, named after Haridas Bihari. Details were discussed by organizers on the grounds of the Haridas temple in the Moti Jhil area on Tuesday. The president of the meeting, Lalita Vallabh Goswami said that the home would give an opportunity for elderly people who wanted to engage in the devotional life. Coordinator Prahlad Vallabha Goswami said the hostel is being built near the Sukhada Bhakti Ashram. The ceremony will take place at 4 p.m.

Yamuna

One of the reasons that the Yamuna Action Plan is failing is that when nodal officers come and make recommendations, no action is taken. Last month the nodal officer came and inspected the drains, the Yamuna and pumping stations. At one pumping station, two of the six pumps were found to be broken. Silt was blocking the flow in the drains. At the Bengali Ghat pumping station, three of four were inoperative and silt was blocking the channels. Because of it, neither station was able to properly clean the dirty waters. One month later, nothing has changed.

Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) and Chemical Treatment Plant (CTP) are not being properly monitored and so many chemicals are entering the Yamuna. Most of the points raised by the officer have not been acted on. In particular the silver polishing industry is a growing source of chemical pollution (cyanide and chromium). Other chemical polluters are the cloth and metal industries. Recommendations have been made to move these centers away from the river area, but nothing has yet come of it.

In Vrindavan, Mohanananda Lal Baba is back in the papers promising to start agitation for the purification of the Yamuna, beginning on June 5 for an indefinite time. His principal complaint is the way the government and NGOs are doing its work. Day by day, the river is becoming more and more polluted. He will take his movement to various spots along the river and also to Delhi and Lucknow.

Heat wave

After a short respite, the mercury is climbing again. The average high temperature throughout the district on Tuesday was 44.9C. The Mathura area was hottest at 45.7C. The last few days saw some light showers.

Irrigation officers say that due to the heat wave less water is available and they are not able to fill reservoirs as planned. The shortages begin from Meerut. As a result the canals have not been able to supply the secondary channels. The rice nurseries along the Agra Canal and the Mat branch canal have not got enough water for their needs. The head portion are able to get by, but the tail section will be left thirsting.

This is the usual time for planting rice seedlings, but the water problem is serious. The requirements in the Dehra head are for 2000 cusecs, but on Tuesday, only 750 could be granted. Dividing the water between the various sections has become a headache. Water needed for the irrigation has been sent to Hathras, for Mathura drinking water and Agra area farmers.

Satellite imaging to stop forest fires

Satellite imaging is being used to give timely inform of fire outbreaks in Mathura. The program was started by the Forest Survey of India, headquartered in Dehradoon, to detect forest fires to within a single square meter. Its success has led to use in other areas. This new program started only on May 15, but already 8 fires have been detected in the Mathura district.

Haryana's governor does car parikrama of Govardhan

Haryana’s governor Jagannath Pahadia came to visit Govardhan, did a parikrama sitting in his car with his family. Stopped at the Danghati temple to offer milk to Govardhan before heading off to Delhi. He was greeted here and there by local Congress Party leaders.