Concerned citizens of Vadodara, Gujarat, led by senior environmentalist Rohit Prajapati have written a letter to the district collector and the Gujarat Pollution Control (GPCB) taking strong exception to “tactless” removal of riparian vegetation growth under the pretext of pre-monsoon clean-up while spending tax-payers money on “ill-conceived” activities, especially along the Vishwamitri river of the city. They have released photographs of the river, taken on June 21, 2020.
Pointing out that this this is an annual feature, the letter states, “Either of these two authorities do nothing to remove construction debris and other toxic and questionable solid wastes that they dump along the banks of our river, it's tributaries, wetlands, and in the ravines throughout the year. Such mindless dumping reduces the water holding and carrying capacity of these water bodies.”
The letter demands, the district authorities and GPCB should ensure that Vadodara Municipal Corporation should “stop this dumping into the ravines and other water bodies immediately and conduct well-planned, ecologically and technically informed, and timely clean-up activities along the Vishwamitri River channel and the major tributaries/ naalaas and wetlands respecting the habitats of the various species that inhabit these diverse environs.”
The letter seeks meeting of experts from various fields soon after monsoon each year to plan and implement ravine and banks cleaning systematically/scientifically. The focus must also be on post-clean up phase and activities so that the removed debris etc. are not unceremoniously dumped somewhere else and instead are recycled and upcycled properly.”
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