Skip to main content

Why this rushed attempt to get the Vishwamitri river project through?


A concerned citizens’ letter to the Municipal Commissioner, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, with copies to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change; Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat; Additional Chief Secretary, Forests & Environment Department, Gujarat; Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, Gujarat; and Chairman, Gujarat Pollution Control Board:
***
We, the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara, would like to reiterate our key concerns regarding the Tender for the consultancy for preparation of Detail Project Report for Master Planning of Rejuvenation and Flood Mitigation for the Vishwamitri River (Vadodara) from the origin of the river (Pavagadh) to end point of the river (Gulf of Khambhat), which was introduced on March 6, 2020 with a closing date of May 7, 2020, further extended till June 30, 2020.
Our previous letter dated April 17, 2020, we have explicitly stated our concerns and have demanded that the aim, content, and process be rethought. We still question the:
  • Rushed attempt to get this project through without having addressed the previous backlog of issues raised
  • Terms of Reference (ToR) laid out for a project of such complexity and sensitivity
  • Obscurity in the criteria and process of consultant selection with regards to what is appropriate and desired in the context of Vishwamitri River and her watershed
  • Absence of pre-bid meetings and involvement of local expertise and know-how to formulate the project and the tender
  • Capacity and capability of the identified nodal agency in handling the multi and inter-disciplinary nature of the project; and
  • Ability of the concerned authorities to assure transparency in the tendering process and successfully keep at bay various vested interests that may negatively affect the proposed project that is focused on ecological rejuvenation of the river.
Having comprehensively summarized the broader apprehensions about the approach and attitude towards this subject, we would like to assert that we, as citizens of the city, want to see a rejuvenated Vishwamitri River in the true sense of the word. We strongly believe that Vishwamitri River and Vadodara city deserve much better. This Tender falls miserably short of this expectation as well as potential. In light of all this, the proposed project and its current tender ought to be reconsidered seriously for pragmatic reasons and greater good.
The Local Authorities, with the help and coordination with the State and Central Governments, must take substantial, participatory, proactive, and accountable initiatives in the right (holistic and inclusive) direction. Hence, we resolutely demand that the concerned authorities:
  • Cancel the tender in its current form in the wake of the pandemic and other environmental concerns as well as its current lack of understanding about ecological sciences and implications.
  • Revise the current terms of reference (ToR) to include thorough studies on community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology as well as Human and Social Ecology to determine all the existing and potential ecological and technical issues and opportunities.
  • Put together an Advisory / Quasi-Statutory body, that would include subject experts (ecologists, geologists, hydrologists, environmental-ecological planners, wetland specialists, landscape architects, environmental and civil engineers, legal and legislative specialist, sociologists, investors, and such) to advise the reformation of the ToR and aid the authorities in overseeing and monitoring the process to a desirable fruition.
  • Prohibit previously hired consultants from participating as per legal precedents or else the purpose of this Tender is defeated.
  • Implement first and immediately ‘The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016’ and ‘The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016’ in letter and spirit. We have been raising the questions in this regard and we now need reliable answers and verifiable action on ground. As needed, study and adapt already existing best practices in India and elsewhere to achieve goals of these Rules.
  • Establish a semi-statutory body, with legal teeth, that would include subject experts (ecologists, geologists, hydrologists, environmental-ecological planners, wetland specialists, landscape architects, environmental and civil engineers, legal and legislative specialist, sociologists, investors and such) as well as knowledgeable and experienced members of the community at-large, to guide and monitor the remediation and restoration of the damage done and new development initiatives that the Governments would undertake reactively and proactively to improve the quality of the local ecosystems and lives of the citizens of Vadodara and many other communities of life in the Vishwamitri River Watershed area.
  • Establish a fully functional, effective, and knowledgeable Urban and Environmental / Ecological planning Department in the VUDA and/or VMC that also includes experts from various related fields (such as well-qualified ecologists, environmental and civil engineers, geographers, landscape architects, and urban designers) for ensuring better plans and detailed designs for the city.
  • Commission a well-qualified agency acceptable to all the concerned parties for preparation of a new Feasibility Study that would focus on larger vision and related effective strategies, followed by a DPR for multiple phases of the proposed project as may seem appropriate, building upon the existing data as well as required new studies and data.
  • Conduct a Pre-bid meeting to add transparency to the consultant selection procedure
  • Ensure inclusive, transparent, and democratic processes for all stages of the proposed project.
  • Work towards bringing about a paradigm shift in the way we envision, govern/administer, and plan our cities and eco-regions. It is time to redefine administrative boundaries (like wards and districts) according to the boundaries of watersheds and sub-watersheds. Though seemingly difficult, it has been done elsewhere and provides a better model for well-conceived development that honors nature’s patterns and processes and human aspirations.
We look forward to your positive response and immediate action to protect, restore, enhance, and nurture the environment while following sounder and saner paths to development. This will add to the brand value of Vadodara city and River Vishwamitri, nationally and internationally, as well as enhance sense of pride for and responsible actions by all citizens.
Instead of spending our energies and time reacting to the Centre, State, and Local Governments’ initiatives, we offer our expertise, energies, and time to proactively work towards a win-win situation.
We do appreciate that all the concerned and responsible government authorities aspire to make Vadodara a Smart City. We sincerely hope that these authorities will go beyond such labels as well as turf wars. We urge the authorities to heed to our inputs and demands to help make Vadodara city and the River Vishwamitri eco-region a timeless, healthy, and happy place at the earliest possible.
—
Concerned Citizens of Vadodara:
Rohit Prajapati, Environment Activist, Researcher, and Writer
Neha Sarwate, Environmental and Urban Planner
Dr Shishir R. Raval, Landscape Architect and Ecological Planner
Rutvik Tank, Civil Engineer and Urban Planner
Dr Deepa Gavali, Wetland Ecologist
Dhara Patel, Landscape Architect and Architect
Dr Jayendra Lakhmapurkar, Hydro-Geologist
Dr Jitendra Gavali, Botanist
Shakti Bhatt, Water Resources Expert
Dr Arjun Singh Mehta, Biotechnologist
Dr Ranjitsinh Devkar, Zoologist
Hitarth Pandya, Educationist and Writer
Mrugen Rathod, Visual Artist

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING

The silencing of conscience: Ideological attacks on India’s judiciary and free thought

By Sunil Kumar*  “Volunteers will pick up sticks to remove every obstacle that comes in the way of Sanatan and saints’ work.” — RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat (November 6, 2024, Chitrakoot) Eleven months later, on October 6, 2025, a man who threw a shoe inside the Supreme Court shouted, “India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan.” This incident was not an isolated act but a continuation of a pattern seen over the past decade—attacks on intellectuals, writers, activists, and journalists, sometimes in the name of institutions, sometimes by individual actors or organizations.
Post a Comment
»

'Violation of Apex Court order': Delhi authorities blamed for dog-bite incidents at JLN Stadium

By A Representative   People for Animals (PFA), led by Ms. Ambika Shukla, has held the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) responsible for the recent dog-bite incidents at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, accusing it of violating Supreme Court directions regarding community dogs. The organisation’s on-ground fact-finding mission met stadium authorities and the two affected coaches to verify details surrounding the incidents, both of which occurred on October 3.
Post a Comment
»

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...
Post a Comment
»

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu.  He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat
1 comment
»

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...
Post a Comment
»

Citizens’ group to recall Justice Chagla’s alarm as India faces ‘undeclared' Emergency

By A Representative  In a move likely to raise eyebrows among the powers-that-be, a voluntary organisation founded during the “dark days” of the Indira Gandhi -imposed Emergency has announced that it will hold a public conference in Ahmedabad to highlight what its office-bearers call today’s “undeclared Emergency.”
Post a Comment
»

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...
Post a Comment
»

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...
Post a Comment
»

From seed to soil: How transnational control is endangering food sovereignty

By Bharat Dogra  In recent decades, the world has witnessed a steady erosion of plant diversity in many countries, particularly those in the Global South that were once richly endowed with natural plant wealth. Much of this diversity has been removed from its original ecological and cultural contexts and transferred into gene banks concentrated in developed nations. While conservation of genetic resources is important, the problem arises when access to these collections becomes unequal, particularly when they fall under the control of transnational corporations.
Post a Comment
»