2025.06.25 (Vrindavan Today News): There lie several once-beautiful and spiritually significant water bodies in the Govardhan – Radhakund area of Braj, which have turned into dumping grounds and sewage tanks. The Baldeo Kund of Raal, the Mahdar Kund on the Govardhan-Deeg road, and the Gopal Kund situated along the Barsana-Sakarwa route are some examples.
Constructed or restored with significant public investment running into lakhs of rupees, these kunds (traditional stepwells or ponds) are today in a state of alarming neglect and degradation. Despite grand declarations by the Uttar Pradesh government and its agencies, the ground reality offers a painful contrast to their promises of rejuvenation and beautification of Braj’s sacred kunds and sarovars.
Deterioration Amid Grand Promises
The Baldeo Kund which falls on the way from Vrindavan to Radhakund in the village of Raal is filled with garbage full of plastic. Once known for its sacredness, the kund has turned to be a sewage tank. Since there is no sewer system in the vicinity all the drains from the houses flow into the kund. The water body is encroached upon from all the sides by the local residents.
The Mahdar Kund, artistically designed and constructed with a substantial financial outlay, was envisioned to be a tranquil and spiritually uplifting space for local residents and visiting devotees. However, it now stands as a disheartening example of bureaucratic apathy. No provision for clean water inflow has been maintained, nor have efforts been made for its periodic upkeep. What could have been a symbol of Braj’s living heritage is now reduced to a receptacle of stagnant rainwater and unfiltered runoff, festering with green algae, sludge, and waste. The sheer neglect has rendered it practically unusable, raising critical questions about the sincerity and efficiency of the agencies responsible.
Equally distressing is the condition of the Gopal Kund. Located on the Barsana-Sakarwa road, it has virtually transformed into a dumping site for the adjoining residential colonies, local shops, guesthouses, hotels, and marriage homes. Daily, garbage and sewage make their way into the kund, turning the once-pristine water body into a source of unbearable stench and potential health hazards. Villagers from Sakarwa and nearby areas complain of the overwhelming foul odor, making it difficult even to pass by. Shopkeepers and local households in the vicinity express similar concerns, voicing distress over the degraded environmental and spiritual ambiance.
Administrative Apathy
This degeneration is not merely the outcome of localized neglect but is symptomatic of a wider systemic failure. Despite being under the jurisdiction of the district administration, and the Nagar Panchayat of Govardhan, these sacred water bodies have been allowed to fall into disrepair. Announcements regarding their beautification are made frequently, yet at the grassroots level, even the most basic necessities such as cleaning, waste management, and regular maintenance are glaringly absent.
The local population — both devotees and residents — feel betrayed. Their repeated appeals and growing disillusionment have yet to stir meaningful action from the authorities. The lack of sanitation has not only eroded the physical sanctity of these kunds but also weakened the spiritual essence that they once exuded.
A Contradiction to the Vision of Braj as a Global Pilgrimage Destination
It is deeply ironic that even as the government seeks to position Braj as a global religious and tourism hub, the very lifelines of its sacred geography are being forsaken. The kunds, integral to the spiritual and cultural topography of the region, are far more than mere water bodies — they are embodiments of living history and devotion, associated with age-old narratives and daily worship traditions. To allow them to deteriorate into sites of pollution is not only an environmental concern but a cultural and spiritual crisis.
If the vision for a rejuvenated Braj is to be realized, the restoration and preservation of its kunds must be treated as a priority — not merely as a symbolic gesture but as a tangible, ongoing responsibility. Concrete steps must include establishing dedicated maintenance teams, regular cleaning schedules, proper sewage management, and community involvement in their preservation. These sacred waters once reflected the divine — they now mirror our collective neglect. It is time that the district authorities and developmental bodies honor both the faith of the people and the heritage of the land by taking decisive and sustained action before this damage becomes irreversible.
