In a letter to local, Gujarat, and Indian authorities, several concerned citizens* have said that there has been devastating flood and waterlogging situation in Vadodara region since Monday 26th August 2024 which was "avoidable", stating, this has happened because of "multiple follies, flaws and fallacies across all levels of governance."
Referring to "non-compliance" of the Supreme Court and Gujarat High Court orders, the letter -- addressed to the municipal commissioner, Vadodara mayor, and top Gujarat and Indian government officials -- claims that even orders of the National Green Tribunal orders, the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the assessment of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Gujarat, and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) were summarily ignored.
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In the wake of the recent floods and waterlogging in Vadodara region since Monday, 26th August 2024, it is apparent that, practically, no lessons have been learned from the past flooding and waterlogging events and from the ill-advised and ill-conceived “rejuvenation” efforts of Vishwamitri River. Instead, the intensity and extent of the flood and waterlogging events have only worsened over the last 20 years, with the inundation of previously ‘safer’ areas in addition to the ones that regularly experience submergence, including the walled city. Reasons being an unprepared city that choked and blocked every natural water drain and reduced absorption and carrying capacity in its ill-conceived quest for development. Mega infrastructure projects like The Vadodara-Ahmedabad Express Highway, the eight lane Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway, and the Bullet Train project have obstructed and altered the interlinked natural river system flows through temporary, semi-temporary and permanent interventions, with no or inadequate precautionary measures during their construction. A temporal analysis through satellite images and other secondary data can be undertaken to identify the extent of disruptions over the years.
In the past one year, superficial and ad-hoc actions had been taken by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation in terms of identifying and tokenistically removing the debris from selected ravines. Still, dumping of debris and other waste continues into the river environs. Even clear directions given by the concerned authorities of the State and the Centre in conjunction with the various Court Orders are conveniently ignored for the reasons best known to the VMC.
There is agreement that mapping of the Vishwamitri River System including (a) the ravines, riparian areas, ponds, kaans (channels), tributaries, wetlands, natural waterways; (b) locations and extent of all areas of solid waste (including debris) dumping and encroachment; and (c) untreated and ill-treated sewage disposal will be conducted for assessing the nature, amount, and impacts on the river system. This exercise is crucial to do systematic work of redressing the issues comprehensively, avoiding ad-hocism.
The VMC has sat on our letters and recommendations since 2017 (see Reference Number 11) and has done nothing significant to address the issues. Actually, the VMC has allowed and been allowing all illegal activities to add to the past disasters as if the latter were not enough. The ravines and wetlands are being systematically destroyed and filled with debris and municipal solid waste to reclaim land for further “development”. This will further exacerbate the already existing waterlogging and flooding woes in various parts of the city.
We all must address the so-called “flood” and “waterlogging” issue by treating not its symptoms but its root causes. This is the real work that has been deliberately ignored. Since our last letter to all concerned authorities, we have not seen any relevant remedial action from the authorities. Instead, this practice of dumping in the ravines is still continuing and getting worse without any repercussions to the concerned authorities and concerned parties. This is happening despite the prevailing laws of the land, directions of concerned authorities, and Courts’ Orders. There must be some responsible and accountable persons in the government and the executive branch of the VMC, VUDA, and state level for the past, present, and future disasters.
We once again bring to your notice that the above-mentioned inactions are in deliberate and blatant violation of the Order dated 25.05.2021 of the National Green Tribunal in Application O. A. No. 228/2020 (Earlier O. A. No. 49/2016 (WZ)) and Execution Application No. 45/2016 (WZ) (Rohit Prajapati & Anr V/s Secretary, MoEF & CC & Ors.), that defines the river as: “… The River consists of catchments, floodplains, tributaries, ponds, river-bed and adjoining ravines which, along with the soils and vegetation on both sides, is the river’s natural mechanism to retain the additional water, prevent floods and provide habitat for various species. River harbours and interacts with innumerable organisms like microbes, plants and animals. It is a natural, living organic part of a larger ecological system. River is also a network of tributaries, floodplains and ponds spread over its basin and the estuary.”
We would like to make it very clear once again, that this order does not prevent you from scientifically and technically correct preparations, removal, and proper treatment of the debris and other wastes from the catchment, floodplains, tributaries, ponds, riverbed, ravines, and banks of Vishwamitri River. Please do not deliberately misinterpret the Order, which will also amount to the Contempt of the Court.
The recent and past disasters have only proved that the status quo approaches will only worsen the situation on the ground. It is astonishing and unfortunate that the City and the State do not take any coordinated, substantial, participatory, proactive, and accountable initiatives, year after year!
We feel very distressed to reiterate that your inaction and silence indicates a non-serious attitude, nonchalant behavior, and unscientific approach of all the concerned authorities. All the concerned officials in the authorities should be fully responsible for the short-term and long-term consequences on the environment, the affected people, their livelihood options, and for the contempt of the Supreme Court Order and National Green Tribunal Orders.
- Stop all activities inviting flooding and water logging.
- Immediately devise and implement proactive and sound Action Plans for proper and well-monitored remediation, restoration, and future waste management by adopting proper ways of removal, transporting, storing, sorting, recycling, reusing, and upcycling the debris and other wastes from the river, ravines, ponds, wetlands, and such.
- Implement the Order, dated 22.02.2017, of the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 375 of 2012 (Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti & Anrs V/s Union of India & Ors). We have been raising the questions in this regard and we need reliable and verifiable answers now.
- Immediately implement Order dated 25.05.2021 of the National Green Tribunal in Application O. A. No. 228/2020 (Earlier O. A. No. 49/2016 (WZ)) and Execution Application No. 45/2016 (WZ) (Rohit Prajapati & Anr V/s Secretary, MoEF & CC & Ors.). The Order in para 7 clearly states: “… While directing consideration of all the issues by the applicants, we reiterate the direction for implementation of the “Vishwamitri River Action Plan” including the steps for removal of unauthorised structures, demarcation and protection of flood plain zone and other action points as per the river restoration plan…”
- Implement recent Order of the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, Delhi, Order, dated 23.02.2023, in Original Application No. 606 of 2018.
- Establish a semi-statutory body, with legal teeth, that would include subject experts - ecologists, geologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, plants and animal experts, environmental / ecological planners, wetland specialists, landscape architects, legal and legislative specialist, other built environment professionals as well as knowledgeable and experienced members of the community at-large, to proactively guide and monitor the remediation of the damages done, nature and heritage restoration, and new development initiatives that the government would undertake for improving the quality of the local ecosystems and lives of the citizens and other living beings of Vadodara.
- Establish a fully functional, effective, and knowledgeable Urban and Ecological Planning Department in the VUDA and the VMC that must also include experts from various related fields, such as ecologists, environmental and civil engineers, and landscape architects for ensuring better plans and detailed designs for the city.
- Make detailed, legally, scientifically, technically, and ethically correct action plans for restoring and conserving the river as a system of catchment, floodplains, tributaries, ponds, riverbed, ravines, and the immediate riparian zones so as to ensure their natural functioning and monitoring year-round.
- Immediately prepare, technically correct, and accurate land survey and digital elevation models (DEMs using the latest technology and know-how, with spot elevations at 3 x 3 meters, contour lines at 10 or 25 centimeter intervals, plinth levels of the structures, and other physical and biological features, with watershed and sub-watersheds as units within and beyond the entire VMC and VUDA areas and with the advice from relevant experts.
- Plan and design, in advance and comprehensively (not in piecemeal manner), all physical and infrastructural interventions, including roads and other structures, seriously and scientifically considering the above stated data and adopting participatory methods.
- Prepare Disaster Mitigation Plans for the city by using the landscape and ecosystem approaches right from the origin of River Vishwamitri and include all the villages and towns in the watershed of this river. If and as needed, remove, retrofit, and/or restore parts of the built environment. Cosmetic and ill-advised interventions or projects, implemented in piecemeal and uncoordinated manner only within the VMC or VUDA limits will not solve the problems arising from the current, inadequate way of developing the city, but they will exacerbate them further.
- Set up an adequate, fully functional recycling and upcycling plant, at the earliest, to treat construction debris and other household waste and convert it into some usable form with their own EIA and public health implications. This will help us to take the necessary steps to move away from the current throughput economy to a new, regenerative economy. No new permissions for reconstruction or renovation of old buildings should be allowed till official permits and protocols for demolition are properly devised as well as fully operational recycling and up-cycling plant is well established.
- Implement appropriate rainwater harvesting systems as per the macro and micro-level geology-hydrology of the area to harvest and manage the excessive water available while protecting and restoring the natural water entities and maintaining the e-flow of the river.
- Make the satellite images of the past and recent floods and other relevant information and data available in the public domain. These should display all areas covering the entire VMC and VUDA that get waterlogged, flooded, and dumped or encroached upon in the entire city. This information must also be updated on a yearly basis and put in the public domain for increasing awareness amongst the people, evaluating actions taken, correcting mistakes, and monitoring.
- Work towards bringing about a paradigm shift in the way we envision, govern/administer, and plan our cities and other areas. It is time to redefine administrative boundaries (like wards and districts) according to the boundaries of watersheds and sub-watersheds. Though seemingly difficult, it has been done elsewhere and provides a better model for well-conceived development that honors nature and accommodates human aspirations.
- As a significant first step, the GPCB, the VMC, and the Collector’s Office together must chart a plan of action for (a) before, (b) during, and (c) after phases of debris and solid waste removal from the ravines and low-lying areas, both at the city and district levels. For this to happen, immediately form a task force comprising of local and field experts and representatives of the concerned authorities. This task force must systematically act towards all three phases, taking into consideration examples and lessons of other cities / places that have explored alternative methods as well as determine Best Practices for all aspects and phases of the work described in this letter. This task force must also conduct one or two pilot projects for the three phases mentioned in this paragraph, starting with the upper parts of the sub-watersheds within and beyond the VMC limits. Not doing this much will result in another lost year.
- Mobilise and commit enough funding to fulfill the above demands / objectives for a better city, care of its natural and cultural assets, and the resulting richer experiential qualities.
- The presiding officers of the concerned authorities responsible for all the various inactions mentioned earlier should pay compensation, from their personal accounts, for properties and / or life due to flooding and / or water logging.
We look forward to your response and immediate action to protect, conserve, restore, enhance, develop, and nurture the Nature of the city’s ecoregion while following the best practices and sounder and saner paths to development that will add to the brand value of Vadodara city, nationally and internationally, as well as enhance a sense of pride for and responsible actions by the citizens. Heed our inputs and demands at the earliest possible. Let us make Vadodara and its eco-region a timeless, healthy, and happy place to live and thrive for all species.
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*Concerned Citizens of Vadodara
- Rohit Prajapati, Environment Activist, Researcher, and Writer
- Neha Sarwate, Environmental and Urban Planner
- Deepa Gavali, PhD, Wetland Ecologist
- Krishnakant, Environment Activist
- Ranjitsinh Devkar, PhD, Zoologist
- Shishir R. Raval, PhD, Landscape Architect and Ecological Planner
- Jitendra Gavali, PhD, Botanist
- Shakti Bhatt, Water Resources Expert
- Arjun Singh Mehta, PhD, Biotechnologist
- Jayendra Lakhmapurkar, PhD, Hydro-Geologist
- Hitarth Pandya, Educationist and Writer
- Sanjay Soni, Field Expert
- Mitesh Panchal, Architect and Urban Planner
- Rutvik Tank, Civil Engineer and Urban Planner
- Dhara Patel, Landscape Architect and Architect
- Dhrumil Kantharia, Landscape Architect
- Mrugen Rathod, Visual Artist
- Kareena Kochery, Landscape Architect and Architect
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