Indrayani cleanup action

District collector joins Indrayani cleanup action

The pathetic condition of Indrayani river in Alandi has moved the district collector Prabhakar Deshmukh into cracking the whip. Deshmukh has banned washing of clothes by local residents on the ghats of the Indrayani river with immediate effect.

“Everything happens on the ghats of the river. People take bath, wash clothes and perform ceremonies. The condition of the river is worsening,” said Deshmukh, emphasising that from Friday washing of clothes will not take place at the ghats.

Deshmukh’s directives follow the mission launched by citizens, shopkeepers, engineers, doctors and industrial workers from Pimpri-Chinchwad to clean Indrayani of its pollutants. The mission completed a year on Thursday with a function attended by many, including MIT president Vishwanath Karad and spiritual leader Narayan Maharaj Jadhav.

Deshmukh said while the ghat would remain out of bounds for washing clothes, residents would be provided space away from the river for the purpose. The collector said the ‘mutts’ in Alandi have also been asked to provide basic amenities like toilets.

Deshmukh, who went to Alandi to join the mission of cleaning the river said, “I have not come here to attend the function, but I want to join the mission.” He said he would put the government machinery in action in Alandi to clean the Indrayani river. “Whatever help the volunteers require will be provided. Whether equipment or vehicles, we all provide them all,” he said.

Deshmukh said the Rs 400 crore draft plan for infrastructure uplift of Dehu, Alandi and Bhandara areas was with the state government. “Once the plan is sanctioned, these temple towns will a see complete overhaul of the infrastructure,” he said, showering praise on the Indrayani Seva Sangh which has taken the initiative to clean Indrayani river every Thursday and Sunday.

PUNE: The Jal-dindi, a water expedition on the Indrayani and Bhima rivers to promote eco-conservation, health and spiritualism, took off from the picturesque ghats of the Indrayani in Alandi on Thursday, turning an instant success with the villagers. A large crowd of villagers and members from the organising agencies, Dnyaneshwar Mandir Sanstha, Clean River Committee (CRC), College of Military Engineering, University of Pune's environment studies and mass communication departments had gathered along the banks of the Indrayani. The Jal-dindi consisted of four kayaks and one boat on their way to Pandharpur. The Jal-dindi is scheduled to halt along 10 villages on the way, to spread awareness about environment and the importance to keep the river clean. “Such dindis have to take place in order that people realise that the of mainstay of their existence, natural resources and rivers, are getting polluted,” said Jagannath Sable, a villager. Another villager, Govind Garade, appreciated the efforts of the NGOs and local bodies, but felt the government also had to do more to encourage such efforts. He added that villagers were ready to help the NGOs in their work and in carrying forward the message of eco-conservation. Noted Garade: "If the government can provide proper water facilities for daily domestic use, half the problem would be solved. Our women wouldn't have to wash clothes in the ghat if we had proper water supply." Dagdu Mahale felt that it would be good if all polluting activities —washing, throwing ashes and waste — were banned. He also stressed on the need to educate village children on cleanliness. CRC president Vishwas Yevale said the Jal-dindi would first halt at Markad village. "This is the second year that we have organised the dindi, and there are plans to make it an annual exercise," he said. Kavita Bokre, the first woman member of the Jal-dindi and rowing team, who has participated at the national level in the sport, said it was a new experience for her this time. Santosh Bokre, another member of the team, expressed satisfaction at the fact that there is more water in the river than during the inaugural Jal-dindi last year. "Scarcity of water in the river last year forced us to take land detours. This year, however, the situation looks good," he said. Warkaris (pilgrims) of the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi are now focusing their attention on the pollution of river Indrayani. They have threatened to launch an agitation against the Pimpri- Chinchwad Municipal Corporation if the civic body fails to take proper measures to curb pollution. The warkaris as well as various office-bearers of the temple trusts, non governmental organisations (NGOs) and others have together formed the Indrayani Bachao Kruti Samiti (save Indrayani action committee). The committee headed by warkari leader Bapu More will discuss and plan counter measures to reduce river pollution. More and members of the committee said that the municipal corporation was not taking adequate measures to reduce pollution. He said that the river was getting polluted due to discharge of industrial effluents from units which are mostly located in the Chikhli-Kudalwadi area. "Most of these industries are small scale enterprises which deal in scrap and tool-making and have no facilities to treat effluents," he said. More said that the committee will conduct another meeting on Thursday in Dehu to decide further course of action. The committee is also planning to issue a deadline to the municipal corporation to curb pollution. If preventive steps are not taken, the warkaris will undertake a "bhajan" agitation at the municipal corporation, the committee members said. However, the civic officials said that the temple towns, which incidentally are not in the municipal corporation limits, themselves need to take proper measures for reducing pollution. Bathing, washing of clothes and vehicles and direct release of sewage from these areas are major causes of river pollution, the officials said. The Save Indrayani Action Committee (SAC), comprising environment groups and warkaris, has decided to conduct a detailed study on the causes of pollution of the Indrayani river and support the local civic bodies take preventive measures with the help of the state government. The action committee, which met at the temple town of Dehu on Thursday, decided to form different groups which will study the river from its origin near Lonavla to right up to where it joins the Bhima river. Speaking to TOI, convenor of the action committee Vikas Patil said the study groups which consist of experts will document the reasons of pollution by clicking pictures, preparing short films and by collecting water samples. The study is expected to be completed by March next year. The report and the demands would then be submitted to the state government as also to government bodies, like the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. He admitted that local civic bodies such as the Lonavla Municipal Council, the Vadgaon Gram Panchayat, the Talegaon Municipal Council and the Dehu Gram Panchayat do not have necessary facilities to treat domestic effluents which get released in the river directly. However, he added, the action committee would assist the civic bodies in setting up these essential facilities with the help of the state government. "We are not going to agitate against the civic bodies, but will try to help them out by getting in the required funds. We also want to create public awareness regarding river pollution," he said. Another study group would be examining geographical details of the river, its original width and the changes that have happened over time, he added. While 19 environment groups attended the meeting on Thursday, he said more groups and citizens have expressed their desire to join in. According to Patil, the committee would also initiate a similar movement in relation to the pollution of the Pavana river, as well as the Mula and Mutha rivers. The committee would also take up issues regarding air pollution, he added. The Jal-dindi, a water expedition on the Indrayani and Bhima rivers to promote eco-conservation, health and spiritualism, took off from the picturesque ghats of the Indrayani in Alandi on Thursday, turning an instant success with the villagers. A large crowd of villagers and members from the organising agencies, Dnyaneshwar Mandir Sanstha, Clean River Committee (CRC), College of Military Engineering, University of Pune's environment studies and mass communication departments had gathered along the banks of the Indrayani. The Jal-dindi consisted of four kayaks and one boat on their way to Pandharpur. The Jal-dindi is scheduled to halt along 10 villages on the way, to spread awareness about environment and the importance to keep the river clean. “Such dindis have to take place in order that people realise that the of mainstay of their existence, natural resources and rivers, are getting polluted,” said Jagannath Sable, a villager. Another villager, Govind Garade, appreciated the efforts of the NGOs and local bodies, but felt the government also had to do more to encourage such efforts. He added that villagers were ready to help the NGOs in their work and in carrying forward the message of eco-conservation. Noted Garade: "If the government can provide proper water facilities for daily domestic use, half the problem would be solved. Our women wouldn't have to wash clothes in the ghat if we had proper water supply." Dagdu Mahale felt that it would be good if all polluting activities —washing, throwing ashes and waste — were banned. He also stressed on the need to educate village children on cleanliness. CRC president Vishwas Yevale said the Jal-dindi would first halt at Markad village. "This is the second year that we have organised the dindi, and there are plans to make it an annual exercise," he said. Kavita Bokre, the first woman member of the Jal-dindi and rowing team, who has participated at the national level in the sport, said it was a new experience for her this time. Santosh Bokre, another member of the team, expressed satisfaction at the fact that there is more water in the river than during the inaugural Jal-dindi last year. "Scarcity of water in the river last year forced us to take land detours. This year, however, the situation looks good," he said.