Braj – Vrindavan Devalaya Samiti backs execution plea
Vrindavan Today | Bureau Report
23rd April, 2026: In a significant development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Ministry of Water Resources, the Uttar Pradesh Government, Mathura Vrindavan Nagar Nigam, Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority, Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, and the National Mission for Clean Ganga on a petition highlighting the unchecked discharge of sewage and industrial effluents into the Yamuna River in the sacred towns of Vrindavan and Mathura, along with the rapid spread of illegal and unauthorized constructions on its floodplains.
The petition has been filed by Vijay Kishor Goswami, head priest of Shri Radha Madan Mohan Temple and Joint Secretary of the Braj Vrindavan Devalaya Samiti. The execution application was moved following a resolution taken by the Temple Alliance in a meeting held at Bara Bagicha of Shri Rangnath Temple in the month of March this year, reflecting the collective concern of temple representatives over the deteriorating condition of the Yamuna.
The application seeks enforcement of the Tribunal’s earlier order dated 17 December 2021, which had directed the Chief Secretary and concerned authorities to overhaul sewage treatment infrastructure, remove encroachments from the floodplains, and undertake plantation drives to protect and restore the river ecosystem.
Advocates Akash Vashishth, Shubham Upadhyay, and Anukriti Bajpai appeared on behalf of the applicant. During the proceedings, Advocate Akash Vashishtha emphasized that the Yamuna continues to fall under Category D as per the CPCB’s designated best-use criteria, rendering its water unfit for bathing, drinking, or domestic use.
He further submitted that despite clear judicial directions, unauthorized constructions continue to emerge along the riverbanks. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he pointed out that thousands of devotees visit the Yamuna daily, many of whom unknowingly perform aachman (sip) with severely polluted water, making the issue not only environmental but also a matter of public health and religious concern.
