A group of citizens and environmentalists have panned measures to desilt and resection the Vishwamitri river in Gujarat’s third-largest city of Vadodara, terming it a ‘serious deviation’ from the mandate of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
In a letter to the mayor, the municipal commissioner, and other officials from Vadodara and Gujarat, the group wrote that the integrity of the riverine ecosystem should not be compromised in any way while carrying out these activities.
The city’s municipal authorities want to dredge the river to prevent floods. Vadodara was hit by severe floods on August 26 last year. The Vishwamitri burst its banks and many areas were waterlogged till the water began to recede around August 29.
However, the citizens asked the persons addressed in the letter to take note of the Order dated 25.05.2021 of the National Green Tribunal in Application O. A. No. 228/2020 (Earlier O. A. No. 49/2016 (WZ)) and Execution Application No. 45/2016 (WZ) (Rohit Prajapati & Anr V/s Secretary, MoEF & CC & Ors.).
“… The River consists of catchments, floodplains, tributaries, ponds, river-bed and adjoining ravines which, along with the soils and vegetation on both sides, is the river’s natural mechanism to retain the additional water, prevent floods and provide habitat for various species. River harbours and interacts with innumerable organisms like microbes, plants and animals. It is a natural, living organic part of a larger ecological system. River is also a network of tributaries, floodplains and ponds spread over its basin and the estuary,” reads the order, defining a river.
It continues: “[...] The action plan is to address the issues relating to demarcation, protection of flood plain zone and maintaining minimum environment flow. The other consequential and incidental issues like sewage treatment, management of waste, preventing encroachment, etc. are also covered by the action plan. Demarcation of the entire flood plain zone of the river needs to be undertaken. Further, steps are required for plantation and maintaining the integrity of the river in totality. While directing consideration of all the issues by the applicants, we reiterate the direction for implementation of the “Vishwamitri River Action Plan” including the steps for removal of unauthorised structures, demarcation and protection of flood plain zone and other action points as per the river restoration plan.”
The citizens added that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), in reference to an application for “Vishwamitri River Flood Mitigation & River Rejuvenation with associated activities”, had clearly mentioned that the Vishwamitri River Action Plan must be implemented in its true spirit.
The Action Plan advises that the entire operation will be carried out in the presence of local forest department officials and staff, under their technical guidance and supervision.
Proponents shall ensure that care will be taken that wild animals in the river are not injured. Crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles will be safely rescued and released in the river, in coordination with the forest department, if the need arose.
Suitable places will be demarcated on the riverbank for such species so that they can lay and incubate their eggs. The Plan also advises stopping illegal sewerage outlets draining their waste into the river.
The citizens made 15 different recommendations to the authorities addressed in the letter. They must implement in letter and spirit, the terms and conditions mentioned by the SEIAA while granting permission for ‘Vishwamitri River Flood Mitigation & River Flood Mitigation & River Rejuvenation with associated activities’ at the stretches of the river.
All legacy waste should be systematically removed from the river, including the debris from the active flood plains on a priority basis.
Most importantly, the citizens advised taking all necessary measures regarding crocodiles and other Schedule 1 and 2 species.
Their unnecessary shifting must be avoided. The crowding of the rescued crocodiles must be avoided to prevent internal conflicts among them. Rescued crocodiles and other such species must be tagged to ensure their release within their home-range. Data on rescue-release of all the animals within the Vishwamitri riverine ecosystem must be recorded and maintained.
The group of citizens include Rohit Prajapati, environment activist, researcher, and writer; Neha Sarwate, environmental and urban planner; Deepa Gavali, wetland ecologist; Krishnakant, environment activist; Ranjitsinh Devkar, zoologist; Shishir R Raval, landscape architect and ecological planner; Jitendra Gavali, botanist; Shakti Bhatt, water resources expert; Arjun Singh Mehta, biotechnologist; Jayendra Lakhmapurkar, hydro-geologist; Hitarth Pandya, educationist and writer; Sanjay Soni, field expert and Mitesh Panchal, architect and urban planner.