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Citizens voice for Adi Ganga

                                  AN APPEAL 

To 
Honourable Minister of Railways, 
Government of India 
Honourable Minister of Environment 
Government of West Bengal 

You must be aware that Tolly’s Nullah, the original course of the Ganga (Adi Ganga), is in a a sordid state. Thish eritage river is now polluted and nearly a dead one. Though there are a number of schemes to clean it, nothing much is taking place. 
We are happy to know about the recent plan to extend Metro Rail from Tollygunge to Garia. However this railway will be laid on pillars constructed on the bed of Adi Ganga. This will exterminate this navigable river. There will be impact on environment.  We appeal to you to hasten the cleaning of Adi Ganga and review the Metro expansion plan and to enquire alternative so that this heritage river is not lost forever. 

Sankha Ghosh (Poet), Ashish Ghosh (ExDirector Zoological Survey of India), Prof. S.C.Santra (Head, Environmental Sciences Dept. Kalyani University), Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay (Novelist), Prof. Partha Chattopadhyay (Director, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta),    Prof. Dipesh Chakrabarty, Historian, Chicago University,  Jogen Choudhury (Painter),Ramananda Bandyopadhyay  (Painter)   Shaonli Mitra (Actress and Playwright),      Gautam Bhadra (Historian)  Bhola Nath Aich (Former Chief Engineer, Irrigation & waterways, Govt. of West
Bengal), Rebati Ranjan Bhattacharya (Environmental Activist), Amal Dutta (Ex MP,Bar-at-law),                     Prof. Ratan Khasnobish (Head, Buisness Management, Calcutta University), Mohit Ray (EIA Specialist),         Subhas Dutta (Ganatantrik Nagarik Samity) and others. 

Adi Ganga ....now.....

     The first public meeting to protest construction of Metro Rail over Adi Ganga, the Heritage River, was organised by Vasundhara at the auditorium of Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, 10 Lake Terrace, Calcutta 700 029.The meeting started at 3-10 pm. By that time the auditorium was full to capacity. 

       Shukla Mitra introduced Vasundhara to the audience speaking briefly on its past and present activities. Mohit Ray initiated the discussion on behalf of Vasundhara. He informed that a news in a daily on 7th January stated that Metro Rail is going to be constructed on Adi Ganga. Being concerned Vasundhara members enquired to Dept. of Environment, Govt. of West Bengal and to Metro Rail. After being confirmed, Vasundhara decided to launch protest as this will destroy a river both ecologically and culturally. On their request a number of eminent people from the field of environment and culture appealed for cleaning of Adi Ganga and for change in Metro’s plan. Mohit Ray also explained how the work has started without any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and thus violating legal norms.

       Gautam Bhadra, eminent historian, recalled his days when Adi Ganga was in better shape and its link with local life. He also expressed concern about the displacement due to the project. Debashish Basu, a specialist on history of Calcutta and physician by profession, gave a lucid description of the historical and cultural aspects of Adi Ganga. He also described the role of Major Tolly in reviving the canal system. Ashish Ghosh, former director of Zoological Survey of India, talked about the CEMSAP (Calcutta Environmental Management Strategy Action Plan) project and how the recommendation to revive Tolly’s nullah was made. K.Bandyopadhyay, former hydrologist of Calcutta Port Trust, expressed his doubt of reviving the canal system because of inherent problems of tidal rivers.
B.N.Aich, former Chief Engineer, Irrigation and waterways, Govt. of West Bengal, described in details of reviving plan for the canal systems including meeting the problem of tidal variations. Sunanda Bandyopadhyay, Geographer from Bardhaman University, showed satellite imageries of the track of Adi Ganga and explained the rivers present status. Rebati Ranjan Bhattacharya who had first took up the cause for cleaning of Adi Ganga narrated his long lone struggle with the authorities. His effort has resulted in sanctioning several crores of rupees for cleaning of Adi Ganga.
At the end Vasundhara presented an interesting slide show titled “Adi Ganga – From Kalighat to Shamukpota”. Shamukpota is the place where Adi Ganga meets the Vidyadhari river.

     The meeting had to be cut short because of shortage of time so no discussion could be held. However the whole proceedings has been highly appreciated by the audience.

    The programme was assisted by Calcutta 36, Tollygunge Development Council and Disha. Mazahar-ul-Hussain, Gautam Sen, Basudev Ghatak, Amit Dutta, Saswati Ghosh of Vasundhara and others helped to make it a success.
 

HIGHCOURT’S JUDGEMENT AND AFTER

CITIZENS MEET EXPRESSES FRUSTATION ON CALCUTTA HIGHCOURT’S JUDGEMENT ON EXTENSION OF METRO RAIL OVER ADI GANGA

Calcutta High Court has recently passed an order, which allows Metro Rail to continue its construction on Adi Ganga without the requirement of any environmental clearance. To discuss the present situation and future course of action Vasundhara convened a citizen’s meeting on 25th April 2001, at 5 pm at the auditorium of Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta. Mohit Ray of Vasundhara explained the background for this meeting. He said that the meeting was to discuss the legal issues related to the Adi Ganga case and also the issue of revival of defunct rivers to improve environment and heritage. 

Vasundhara first raised the issue of destruction of Heritage River Adi Ganga by Metro Rail expansion project and mobilized the citizen’s support. Shri Rebati Bhushan Bhattacharya, known for his long fight to revive Adi Ganga, discussed the latest position of his contempt case in High Court for cleaning of Adi Ganga. It may be recalled that Rebati Babu filed a writ petition in 1995 to clean Adi Ganga. In April 1998, High Court disposed the case ordering the State Government to clean Adi Ganga from Hastings to Garia in 18 months. Rupess 290 million has been given by Central Government for this work. But nothing has been done so far. Rebati Babu has therefore filed a contempt petition which is now pending.

Shri Subhas Dutta of Ganatantrik Nagarik Samit Howrah is already fighting more than twenty environmental cases. He filed a writ petition in Calcutta High Court challenging the Metro Rail project in January 2001. He spoke in details about the case and the verdict. Calcutta High Court has allowed the Metro Rail to continue work without any environmental clearance. It justified its action by citing Clause 11 of the Railways Act, 1989 which permits Railway administration to construct “upon, across, under or over any lands, ….any rivers, canals, brooks, streams or other waters”. It is in fact Clause 7 of the Railways Act, 1890 which was updated in 1989. As Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is an earlier act, High Court thought to give preference to Railways Act, 1989. Shri Subhas Dutta spoke eloquently to explain that the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, has been enacted as a commitment to the United Nations Stockholm Conference of 1972 which has been mentioned in the preamble of the Act. India later also was one of the signatories of agenda 21 of United Nations Biodiversity conference in 1992. So with this background Railways Act, 1989 should not get any preference. Subhas Dutta is planning to challenge the verdict in Supreme court. There was a live discussion on this topic. 

Dr. Ashis Ghose, ex-Director Zoological Survey of India, Samar Bagchi, ex-Director Birla Science Museum took part in it.
Before Tea-Break, Vasundhara released its new publication on Medical Waste. Shri Raju Mukherjee, a community environmental organiser presented first copy of the book to Shri Mahadev Naskar, a medical waste collector with a long political background. Shri Mahadev Naskar spoke a few words on the hazards of his profession.
After Tea-Break, Shri Dhiraj Sen of Sonai Andolan presented a short but very specific history and legal situation about the lost Sonai River of North Twenty four Parganas. He stressed the need of support from environmental groups and persons to built up the campaign. Dr. Kalyan Bandyopandhyay, senior and eminent hydrologist, explained with sketches in the black board how pillars on the river affect the flow of the river and specially in case of a tidal river. He wondered how with 300 pillars, a shallow river with difficult tidal flow would be able to survive. Dr. Kalyan Rudra, geographer, spoke about the problems of interference with the rivers. Representatives of Utsa Manush, Nagarik Mancha, Disha, Swastha-O-Paribesh, Purba Kolkata Paribesh Sameekshan, Bigyan O Bigyankarmi, Sahay, Calcutta 36, Tollygunge Development Council, Kaladhawani and others were present.

Mazahar-ul-Hossain, Debaprasad Bhattacharya, Saswati Ghosh, Shukla Mitra, Gautam Sen and others helped in smooth functioning of the meeting.