Vasai Residents Fight to Protect Traditional Water Bodies from Development
Holding Their Ground: Vasaikars Push Back Against the Burial of Their Ponds
Image: The Times Of India
Residents of Vasai, Maharashtra, are mobilizing to protect their traditional water bodies, known as bavkhals, from illegal land reclamation and development. These ponds are vital for groundwater recharge and local ecosystems, yet many have been filled in recent years, exacerbating water scarcity. Local activists are pushing for legal recognition and protection of these water bodies in the new Development Plan.
- 01Vasai is home to at least 800 bavkhals, traditional water bodies crucial for local water supply.
- 02Over 50 bavkhals have been lost to landfilling in the past six years, with eight filled in just the last five months.
- 03Local activists have filed multiple complaints regarding illegal reclamation, citing violations of environmental laws, but no action has been taken against offenders.
- 04The new commissioner of Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation plans to include bavkhals in the upcoming Development Plan as no-development zones.
- 05Residents are experiencing declining groundwater levels and quality, with some borewells recording Total Dissolved Solids levels far exceeding WHO standards.
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In Vasai, Maharashtra, local residents are increasingly concerned about the disappearance of their traditional water bodies, known as bavkhals, due to rampant land reclamation for development. Ranjeet Vartak, a local tour coordinator, highlights the plight of these ponds, which once served as essential sources of water but are now being filled for housing projects. A recent survey has identified 569 bavkhals in west Vasai, but over 50 have been lost in the last six years. Activists have documented illegal landfilling and filed numerous complaints, yet no penalties have been imposed. The situation has led to significant declines in groundwater levels and quality, with residents relying on borewells that are becoming less reliable. In response, Prithviraj B.P., the new commissioner of Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation, announced plans to include these water bodies in the upcoming Development Plan, aiming to designate them as no-development zones. This initiative is seen as crucial for preserving the region's water supply and local ecosystems.
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The disappearance of bavkhals is leading to increased water scarcity and declining groundwater quality in Vasai, affecting local residents who rely on these water bodies.
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