Pilgrimage spot has dried up exposing its concretised bed, opening up a long debate
With the prevailing drought situation, river Godavari has gone dry and so has Ramkund, exposing not only its concretised bed but also the sorry state of affairs.
A large number of pilgrims come to Nashik every day to take bath in Ramkund and also to immerse the ashes of their kin who have passed away. A few days back, the water in Ramkund was stagnant, turning green in colour and stinking.
A lot of debate has been taking place in Nashik over pouring fresh water in Ramkund. Commissioner Dr Pravin Gedam had tabled a proposal in the general body meeting of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) proposing to dig a bore well a few feet away from the flow of the river and at a distance from Alhilyabai Holkar (old name Victoria) bridge. The members of NMC have accepted the proposal. But this has led to the debate.
Environmentalists and the priests who practise by the river Godavari have vehemently opposed this suggestion.
Deputy mayor Gurmeet Bagga, who is in favour of filling the Ramkund with water from a bore well, explains: "Earlier, water from the dam helped fill Ramkund and the river. But now, we pick up water through a direct pipeline and no water is released like earlier. Water scarcity is very very acute. Ramkund has gone dry. A large number of pilgrims come to Ramkund every day to take bath. From where do we provide water to them? In such a situation, pouring water externally seems to be the only way out."
Environmentalists Rajesh Pandit and Nishikant Pagare, who are already fighting a legal battle for Godavari, have in a letter to NMC objected to this proposal. They have reminded that National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which was asked by the high court to study the river situation and submit a report, has mentioned that no wells or bores be dug at least in the 200 metre range. On this recommendation, the subcommittee stated that the no objection certificate be taken from the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency to do so. The environmentalists have reminded that neither the main committee headed by the divisional commissioner nor the high court has opined on the sub committee's say, and hence, the matter is subjudice.
"If the matter is subjudice no such decision should be taken of digging a bore well by the river to pour water in Ramkund," stated Pandit. "The main issue however is removing of the concrete on the bed, no one talks of it though", he adds.
Devang Jani who has also filed a PIL in the court regarding removing of the concrete over the river bed ridiculed the suggestion of the bore well. "The main issue of removing the concrete and opening up of natural springs has been put aside and they speak of a bore well".
As for caring for the beliefs of the people, Jani states that this is like fooling people by pouring water into Ramkund.
The Purohits of Ganga Godavari Panch Koti Purohit Sangh, Nashik, feel that the corporation is not consulting anyone on the subject. The sangh's president Satish Shukla has stated that they should have been consulted.
"What really needs to be done is preventing waste from mixing into the river and removing the concrete over the bed. Rejuvenating the natural springs has been totally sidelined and new proposals are being considered instead," Shukla alleged.
Ramkund
The ghats on river Godavari were built by the Peshwas and Holkars. At that time, the river bed was rocky with many small and big streams that naturally provided water to the river. Even today, some small springs can be seen flowing through the steps of the ghats of Ramkund. The Gangapur dam was then built by the British and water from it was released into river flow. In 2003, during the Kumbh Mela, the river bed was concretised and since then it has been a point of contention. A PIL on opening up of the river bed by removing the concrete on it and rejuvenating the natural springs is pending the court. Waterman of India Rajendra Singh who visited Nashik before the Kumbhmela in 2015 had also urged the authorities to remove the concrete and rejuvenate the river. During the Kumbh Mela Mahant Gyandas, chief of Vaishnav akhadas, had also taken a stand to the same effect but had to give it up as the time for the shahi snan was too close
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