2026.02.21 (Vrindavan Today News): The district administration has initiated measures to preserve Braj’s historic ponds and kunds as cultural heritage sites while encouraging public participation in the development and maintenance of parks across the municipal area.
A joint meeting of the District Ganga Committee, District Environment Committee and District Plantation Committee was held under the chairpersonship of Chief Development Officer and District Ganga Committee Nodal Officer Dr. Pooja Gupta (IAS). Proceedings were conducted by Divisional Director, Social Forestry Division, Mathura, Venkata Srikar Patel (IFS).
Officials were directed to strengthen monitoring and periodic inspections of systems related to solid waste, plastic waste, e-waste, construction and demolition waste, and biomedical waste disposal to ensure compliance with environmental norms.
Restoration work has already begun at Radha Kund Van Block and Malyaharan Kund in Govardhan tehsil. Removal of water hyacinth is underway, and both sites are being developed as model water bodies with a focus on rejuvenation and cleanliness.
During the meeting, District Environment Committee member Ramdas Chaturvedi proposed that parks within Municipal Corporation limits be developed through public participation. The Chief Development Officer endorsed the proposal and directed the Additional Municipal Commissioner Anil Kumar to identify suitable locations.
A major focus of the meeting emerged when special invitee District Ganga Committee member Jagannath Poddar strongly raised the issue of Yamuna river desilting and dredging. Highlighting the growing threat of monsoon flooding, Poddar stressed that accumulated silt in the river stretch between Mathura and Vrindavan has significantly reduced the river’s discharge capacity and natural flow. He urged immediate desilting and scientific dredging of the river channel to prevent flood risks and restore ecological balance.
Responding to the concern, the Nodal Officer informed members that coordination would be established with the National Mission for Clean Ganga, New Delhi, to initiate necessary action on the proposal.
Poddar, who is also a special invitee member of the District Environment Committee emphasized strict adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines mandating at least one metre of open space around trees during permanent construction activities to ensure their protection and healthy growth. The Chair directed all concerned departments to comply strictly with NGT norms.
District Environment Committee member Manoj Saxena suggested engaging boat operators in river cleanliness efforts by equipping each boat with dustbins to prevent littering in the Yamuna.
Concerns regarding pollution from brick kilns were also discussed, following which the Regional Officer of the Pollution Control Board, Mathura, was directed to issue No Objection Certificates strictly in accordance with government regulations.
The Forest Department informed the meeting that petrol pump operators seeking NOC approval will now be required to plant at least ten trees as part of environmental conservation measures.
