Mathura: As millions
of pilgrims visit
Brij Bhoomi on the auspicious occasion of "Adhik Maas" from June 17
to July 17, questions are being asked how many experts bodies would be good
enough to manage developmental activities in Mathura.
Adhik Maas is a month
long religious functions. In the Hindu calender, an extra month is added after
three years. This year an extra Asaadh has been added and it occurs after 19
years.
While local member of
parliament (MP) Hema Malini has her own vision of development, the saints of
Braj Mandal, international society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) spiritual
leaders and Sadhvi Ritambhara, want the original glory and heritage status to
be restored. As of now mosts are opposed to the current trend for speedy
development.
"Around 21-member
experts committee would be formed to give suggestions for development of
Mathura and Vrindavan. He has already announced Rs.120 crore for Mathura's
infrastructural development," said Mahesh Sharma, union minister of state
for tourism.
Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Akhilesh Yadav has already constituted a city level advisory committee
for heritage city development. The committee includes all the member of
legislative assembly (MLAs), member of parliament (MP), senior officials,
representatives of local bodies, GLA university chancellor, Mathura Vrindavan
Development Authority vice chairman and secretary, architect Mayank Garg, city
anchor Vineet Narain of Braj Foundation, software engineer Ranjeet Singh. This
committee will make plans and submit for implementation.
The elected local self
government bodies are also busy drawing up their individual plans Mathura,
Vrindavan, Govardhan, Sonkh, Gokul and Barsana. Their proposals and detailed
project reports (DPRs) are under consideration of various funding bodies.
The uttar pradesh (UP)
Awas Vikas Parishad has drawn up a long term development plan for the twin
cities. Residential areas are accordingly being segregated and taken up for
phased development.
As a part of the Taj
Trapezium Zone, the eco-sensitive area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal, no
plan for development can progress without a clearance from the Taj Trapezium
Zone Authority that came into existence in 1984 with approval from the
parliament after the M.C Mehta PIL on Taj pollution.
"With such a plethora
of bodies often at logger heads, how can a coordinated plan for heritage
conservation in the Braj area move ahead. This is why, you only see haphazard
clusters of mismanagement and inefficiency due to large scale corruption. The
Forest department and the UP state pollution control board have a little say in
matters relating to urban development," said Surendra Sharma, president of
the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society.
"Instead of
creating so many new bodies, filled with too many politicians, the existing
nagar palikas, gram panchayats, the zila parishad, and other similar statutory
bodies should have been empowered to get the locals involved in the development
of their areas. Outsiders can not do justice as they do not have the same
vision like locals about Mathura's development," said BBS members in a
memorandum to the district magistrate on Tuesday," said Braj Bachao Samiti
members.
IANS
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