PRESS RELEASE

Date: 2 February 2015

Notice to the Vice-Chancellor and The Registrar of M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara – Stop illegal dumping, restore, nurture and protect the ‘Bhookhee Nala’ a Major Tributary of the Vishwamitri River. – Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti.

It is shocking and surprising that university authorities has been illegally dumping construction debris into and along the Bhookhee Nala behind boys hostel campus, east and south of near D. N. Hall Cricket Ground, near C. C. Mehta Auditorium, etc. under the highly questionable pretext of stopping erosion.

Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti

 

 

Date: 2 February 2015

Email & Fax

To,

The Vice-Chancellor, M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara.

 

The Registrar, M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara.

 

The Municipal Commissioner, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Vadodara.

 

The Collector, District Vadodara.

 

The Member Secretary, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar

 

The Regional Officer, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Vadodara

 

Subject: Stop illegal dumping, restore, nurture and protect the ‘Bhookhee Nala’ a Major Tributary of the Vishwamitri River

Sirs,

Bhookhee Nala, an important tributary of the Vishwamitri River, somehow traverses origin in Chhani till it meets the Vishwamitri River in Sayaji Baug. On its route, both or one of its banks touches the M. S. University of Baroda campus.

In fact the Bhookhee Nala and its environs are, abused and neglected almost throughout its length by the by Vadodara Municipal Seva Sadan and M. S. University of Baroda as well.

Since 2004, we have been photographing the Bhookhee Nala at regular interest to document its conditions.

It is shocking and surprising that university authorities has been illegally dumping construction debris into and along the Bhookhee Nala behind boys hostel campus, east and south of near D. N. Hall Cricket Ground, near C. C. Mehta Auditorium, etc. under the highly questionable pretext of stopping erosion. Even Science, Arts, & Commerce Faculties, Polytechnic and their departments are dumping their garbage and laboratory waste along the Bhookhee Nala.

This is happening next to history department, behind Vice Chancellor Bungalow, behind Science Faculty which has department of environment science. Even department of Architect of Faculty of Technology is just walk away distance.

Educational institute should show the way, set the examples and not demonstrate the wrong practices. It is a unique asset passing through the campus; we should restore and nurture it and make it a central green place for all to enjoy and learn the biodiversity and habitat values, cooler micro-climate, educational value, as ravines and tributaries serve as seasonal wetlands, store water during floods and gradually releases it back into the river, it helps recharge the ground water. It also has its own unique aesthetic value.

Recent some pitching work is going on between the bridges near Natraj Cinema and the C. C. Mehta Auditorium, on both side banks –east bank is along the M. S. University campus and west bank along Natraj Cinema and behind the new Mall cum Bus Depot: Who has allowed this to take place? What is the need for this? What is the cost? Who is paying? How much?

This action destroys the natural habitat

Your such illegal action will increase the flood water velocity and the down stream parts of the Nala will get more eroded and it will, in turn, destabilize the banks and affect biodiversity as well.

Let us first stop dumping and polluting the Bhookhee Nala. Let us work together for it’s scientifically, technically, aesthetically appropriate design for restoration;

We demand that the concerned authorities should be immediately directed;

(1)       To remove all the recently dumped debris and remove the debris dumped since 2006 and install Bio-Engineering Natural Water Treatment Facilities…

(2)       Bhookhee Nala must be thoroughly cleaned up and make it model stream restoration project.

 

Expecting positive quick response.

 

Rohit Prajapati

[Rohit Prajapati]

Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti