Yamuna Cruises In Mathura Even As Taj Mahal Thirsts For Water
Agra, June 14 (TNA) As tourists revel in Yamuna cruises in Mathura, Agra's iconic Taj Mahal is left parched. The Yamuna River suffers from severe neglect, with toxic pollutants floating in the air and bacterial colonies emitting a noxious stench.
Constructed in 2003 to ensure a consistent water flow to Agra and Mathura, the Gokul Barrage in Mathura district is now in disrepair. Instead of providing clean water, it discharges highly contaminated water unfit for human use, says green activist Anil Sharma.
Civil Society activists in Agra are sounding the alarm over the dire state of this critical water source. Initially designed to release 30 cusecs of Yamuna water to Mathura and Vrindavan and 115 cusecs to Agra, the barrage now discharges far below these levels.
The water quality has plummeted, now comparable to urban drain water, posing serious health risks to residents and devotees who bathe in the river out of habit and faith.
Devotees at Gokul Tirtha, who bathe in the Yamuna river, face grave health risks due to the contaminated water. It's essential to build bathing areas with purified water to safeguard their well-being. The Uttar Pradesh Braj Tirtha Vikas Parishad should step in to construct and maintain these facilities, given Gokul’s limited resources.
Currently, Ganga water is the primary supply for Mathura-Vrindavan, leaving Yamuna water levels neglected and unsuitable for cruises. The use of Harnal Escape water for floating cruises is unjustifiable. Agra, heavily dependent on a clean Yamuna, should benefit from this resource instead, say the river activists.
Green activists are urging the state government to prioritize Agra’s drinking water needs by redirecting Ganga water via the Pachawar Drain. "150 cusecs of Ganga water from Harnal Escape is being used to operate cruises, while Agra faces a water shortage.
This water should be rerouted through the Pachawar Drain to Gokul Barrage’s downstream to enhance Agra's water supply. The Supreme Court initially mandated the supply of Ganga water to reduce Yamuna’s pollution for drinking purposes, not for maintaining river levels for cruises," says Anil Sharma, president of Agra Civil Society.
Residents and environmentalists, disheartened by the Yamuna’s plight, continue to perform evening aartis and prayers. Despite their efforts, Agra’s rightful share of water is being diverted to support limited tourism experiments like the Garun cruise. "This mismanagement reflects poorly on the commitment to addressing Agra's water needs," they say.
Pollution from Delhi’s Okhla Barrage and Haryana, along with inadequate sewage treatment in Mathura-Vrindavan, exacerbates Yamuna's contamination. Although Mathura’s sewage scheme under the Hybrid Annuity based PPP Mode (HAM) aims to manage sewer tapping, its progress remains unclear.
Immediate implementation and transparency in sewage treatment projects are crucial to restoring Yamuna’s health and providing Agra with safe water. "The water needs of Agra should take precedence over tourism ventures," assert the Taj City activists.