Vadodara: Environmental activists and interested citizens have asked Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to immediately stop cleaning activities on the Wiswamitri River.
Pursuing all exercises carried out by the Civic body as truly damaging, citizens through notifications released for all authorities have claimed that the process violates the National Green Tribunal (NGT) sequence.
On May 25, NGT has issued orders stating that the entire zone of the Wiswamitri River Flood Plain must be mapped and limited.
The order also states that illegal structures are invalid, must be removed and the integrity of the river must be maintained and restored.
The order was issued in connection with the planned action of the Wiswamitri River.
“We have visited work locations that are ongoing several times to measure the nature of the work done by VMC.
Prima Facie, apparently as a retirement effort to return the river which results in further encroachment in the river through the spread and leveling of land,” notifications released for all parties authorized by a citizen group.
“Even though VMC claims that they have been guided by the Gujarat Forestry Department, Gujarat pollution control council, and other authorities, we believe that this activity violates various orders, directions, and special actions of wild life (protection), 1972 and the order of NGT recently recently , “said Rohit Prajapani’s environmental activist.
Residents have demanded that the Civic’s body must stop work and plan systematic ways to handle river flows, floods and water logging.
“We repeat the urgent need to build quasi-government-qualified both semi-obligatory body weight which includes subject experts and other knowledgeable experts and experienced community members.
This body should not only be the body of advisors who are less persistent and no less, “said Prajapati.
Interdisciplinary and empowered body like that will be far in ensuring the transparent, participatory and proactive process for the holistic development of our city and the wiswamitri river watershed, representation made by group countries.