Mathura man’s Mission to save Yamuna

By Brij Khandelwal        (pix whatsapped)

Mathura May 22 (IANS)

An innovative green crusade by a businessman from Mathura, Pradeep Bansal, to save Yamuna from environmental degradation has drawn attention of environmentalists and eco-activists who now want the experiment replicated in other towns along the banks of the river.

In less than three years, the Yamuna Mission launched by Pradeep Bansal, to green the vast stretch of waste-land, land-fills, garbage dump-yards, along the Yamuna, using sewer and drain water, has started yielding results. “Drains which use to open into the river earlier are now diverted to trenches and pools in a systematic manner, the waste water filtered and recycled to turn the area green,” local project director, Rashmi Sharma told IANS.

Mathura’s longest Masani Nala (drain) has been diverted and turned into a five kilometer-long canal along the river. Water is channeled into trenches and slush removed periodically to ensure the water remains safe, a worker at the site told IANS.

“All solids including polythene, plastics are stopped, then solid waste removed by machines, before water is allowed to flow freely into the five km long canal. On the way it gets filtered as it passes over sand. Half the water seeps into the earth, a good percentage is absorbed by trees along the way, and a fairly large quantity gets evaporated bringing temperature down, and hardly any water is left at the fag end of the canal,” explained Rashmi Sharma.

Pradeep Bansal told IANS “we are getting support from a variety of groups and activists. From Mathura we are gradually proceeding towards Vrindavan. Most drains on the way have been diverted and prevented from discharging into the Yamuna. We are encouraging people to come to our Tulsi Van and plant saplings.”

The total distance covered so far is around seven kilometers including Kans Kila, Badhpura, Dhruv Ghat area. A dozen big and small drains that were earlier opening into the river are now tapped and water diverted to pools and trenches.

Launched on February 15, 2015 the Harit Yamuna Mission Foundation  is a dream project of Pradeep Bansal  who says it aims to  protect, conserve and  create awareness about the environment

”Harit Yamuna Mission Foundation has been working on various issues related to the environment since last two years. We have taken initiative to clean-up Yamuna river at Mathura and Delhi. Actions often speak louder than words, so over the times Yamuna Mission has built a strong base of supporters spread across the country.

Besides that Harit Yamuna Mission has raised its voice in various climate change issues. To maintain its independence, Harit Yamuna Mission does not accept any donations. Its perspective has broadened to reflect a more holistic understanding of conservation issues facing the country.”

Each year millions of Sri Krishna devotees visit Braj mandal and conduct puja\parikrama of the holy river in Vrindavan. “But unfortunately, Yamuna is in a very poor state due to filth and stink all around and the sewer lines openly discharging all the untreated waste. In some stretches the pilgrims can not even take a holy bath. In the rat race for so-called development, the lush greenery of Mathura and Vrindavan has disappeared. Projects like the one Yamuna Mission has launched hold hope for the future,” said Jagan Nath Poddar, convener of Friends of Vrindavan.