Environmentalists concerned over concrete embankments in Jaipur

Environmentalists have questioned the wisdom of the move initiated by
the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) to make permanent banks for the
Amanishah-ka-Nallah, a river that once flowed through Jaipur. By
making concrete and cement embankments on the river, referred to as
"Drabhavati" in the archives of the former Jaipur State, the JDA would
only be helping an ecological disaster in the city, they warned. In
what apparently is an otherwise well-meaning move, the JDA is planning
to spend an estimated Rs. 410 crore for the work on the presently dry
river — starting from the Bhooteshwar Mahadev temple to the
Ramchandrapura dam into which it drains. As a part of the project, the
Authority has surveyed and earmarked the land forming part of the
river and its banks on both the sides in this fast-growing city where
land grabbing and encroachments on common land have become a routine
affair."The Nallah has a great potential for the city. Originating
from the Nahargarh Hills and traversing though a 50-km stretch, the
drain is the most unique feature of Jaipur's eco system," says Harsh
Vardhan, honorary general secretary of the Tourism and Wildlife
Society of India, who has petitioned the authorities in this regard.
"We are not questioning the intentions of the JDA. However, the most
ideal thing for it to do would have been to declare the entire stretch
of the river, along with the banks, an eco-sensitive zone," Mr.
Vardhan said.In fact, the Indian Army has shown how it can be done by
restoring a portion of the Nallah keeping intact its basic features
thus providing benefits to both the defence personnel and the
civilians living in the neighbourhood. "This kind of work in soil
conservation, grass plantation and creation of rubble check dams can
be initiated on the entire stretch of the dry river and benefits would
soon start reaching the people," Mr. Vardhan argued.

The Hindu, 25th May 2009