Agra Grid - Farah Trip Report (8,9 May 09)

Field visit Minutes
(River Health Index Project)

A Visit to FARAH a village on the banks of River Yamuna in Mathura (UP)

Date: 8 and 9 May 2009

Venue: Village Farah, Mathura (UP) about 25 km upstream of Agra (on Delhi –
Agra (NH – 2) highway which is but 2 km from the river

Purpose:

Gain first hand knowledge (including visual image) about one of the identified 14 grid sites (for intensive field work) along the river; initiate a dialogue with local people about their river; build lasting relationship with Baba Man Singh ji (a local saint) for the river and hold on site discussions with the executive members of the field level partner NGO.

Investigators:

Bhim S Rawat
Sudha Mohan
Manoj Misra
Brij Mohan Singh Rathore (Advisor)

Partner NGO
Mohan
Arun
Rajeev Saxena
Mahant Ashwini Kumar Misra


Minutes:-

Reached the ashram of BABA Man Singh ji located 2 km downstream of the Farah village late in the evening of 8 May 2009. After introductions and exchange of pleasantries with Baba ji and those present, a brief discussion about the project objectives and the key role that the Babaji could play in the entire exercise was held. Baba ji readily agreed to provide all possible support in the endeavour. (See pics). Incidently it was the Buddh Purnima and Janmotsav of Yamuna ji the next day, when a large number of local villagers would visit the Ashram and congregate on the banks of the river Yamuna.








Meeting with villagers as they celebrated the Yamuna Janamotsav

Villagers from several nearby villages gathered to celebrate the birthday of River Yamuna on 9 May 2009.

An informal dialogue was initiated with a group of local villagers. They were from a village called Naya Bans located across the river on its left bank.

An impromptu mapping exercise on the sand bank with the villagers informed that the proposed grid would include villages like Ruso garhi and Bhim Nagar on the right bank and Naya Bans and Baldev on the left bank. The river meanders frequently here (see the google image) and hence the flood plain is quite extensive on either bank. Presently the river is shifting west wards. There is an extensive patch of government forest on the right bank and the Govardhan drain meets the river nearby in the downstream region.

The water quality of the river was poor but still people especially kids could be seen taking bath and frolicking in it. Notably there was a sustained flow in the river, which could be a reason for the bathing quality of the river water. The proposed 10 sq km circular grid covers Baldev, Mahaban, Gokul, Mathura on the left bank and Naya Bans, Rousu Garhi, Bhim Nagar on the right side of river Yamuna.

Other changes over time that the villagers seem to recall as regards the river were:

a) The extensive seasonal growing of watermelon in the khaddar has given way to permanent agriculture
b) There is far less water flowing in the river now as compared to conditions about 20-25 years back. The water is also not worth drinking anymore. Although the cattle still drinks the river water. Sometimes the water turns blue from discharge of effluents from industries upstream in Mathura.
c) Since the practice of digging tubewells became commonplace the local johads, ponds etc (there used to be one johad per village) have almost disappeared as have the local wells most of which have either dried or are in a state of disuse (see pic).
d) The ground water near villages has plummeted to extremely deep levels of more than 300 – 400 ft.
e) The ground water over large patches is saline and hence unfit either for personal consumption or for farming purposes. Resultantly people are largely rainfall dependent for their agricultural activities.
f) The rainfall over the years has decreased and hence there is less water in the river now.
g) River sand mining is rampant in the area and annual lease is granted by the concerned authorities for sand mining. Contractors reportedly carry out their mining activities even mid stream in search for better quality sand.

h) Villagers appreciate the fact that sooner or later there would be water crises in the villages. Hence they seem eager for the revival of their traditional sources of water. (Johads, Wells)
i) The area is still relatively untouched by the ill influences of urban settlements.

List of persons contacted in Farah

SN
Name
Village
Contact No.
1
Dharm Veer
Nagla Bhalla

2
Ranjeet singh
Naya Vaas
97611 75702
3
Tika Ram
Nagla Bhalla

4
Shiv Singh
Naya Vaas

5
Dharm Veer
Naya Vaas

6
Vijendar
Naya Vaas

7
Banke Lal
Naya Vaas

8
Amar Singh
Kamoura

9
RN Tripathi
Local teacher
93589 98358


Later a discussion session held with the members of the partner NGO helped firm up the next course of activities under the project. Following was discussed and agreed:

1) The role of partner NGO, its facilitating role in identification of local level Task Team/s (one for each bank representing the cluster of villages lying within the grid on the either bank) and supervising their actions for compilation of requisite baseline information from the villages (in accordance with a ‘guidelines document’ prepared and shared with them for the purpose) with emphasis on river’s state of health and the local people’s understanding and prescriptions for actions (dealing with proximate and non proximate causes for the worsened state of the river) was brought home to them
2) It was agreed that the partner NGO would cover at least two grid sites (one upstream of Agra at Farah and the other downstream of Agra at Bateswar)
3) A formal agreement and an MOU shall be formalized soonest between the PEACE Institute and the partner NGO based in Agra.