Volunteers of a local group found that encroachments and illegal pumping of water from the source in Mussoorie are also deteriorating the condition of Rispana river.
This was revealed by members of the Doon based student activist group, Making a Difference by Being the Difference (MAD) who reached the woods in Mussoorie hills while following the river Rispana Mausi Fall onwards from Barlowganj. The focus of the trek was to follow river Rispana right up till its source.
In the course of the trek, members uncovered various challenges faced by the stream. Contrary to the general perception, MAD found that it is not just Dehradun city which has caused deterioration in the state of Rispana as Mussoorie and its residents and institutions are also responsible for this state of affairs.
MAD members counted as many as five water tanks and many other private property encroachments right up till the river bed as they made their way along the stream. MAD head Abhijay Negi said, “While it is understood that water requirements are legitimate reasons and expectations to somehow find a nearby water source, such conduct by private parties needs to be regulated by civic and Governmental authorities.
As we stumbled upon one encroachment after another and one tank after another right on the river bed, there was little or no sign of any kind of check that the local authorities maybe carrying out in those regions - especially because MAD had been consistently raising the issue of the condition of the Rispana stream with the local administration and in all the data sharing that we did, mention was only made of drawing water from Shikhar Fall but none about what happens to the river above Mausi Fall where much of Mussoorie is sourcing its water either legally or illegally directly from the stream. We also found a reputed private school in Mussoorie directly drawing water from the Rispana using a motor. Members wondered whether it was even legal or permissible to directly draw water from the stream and not from available infrastructure networks provided by the Government, if any.”
It will be recalled here that Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had encouraged MAD members to inform him about the condition of the river near landour and above Mausi Fall. The group now hopes that the authorities will take cognisance of their findings and initiate necessary corrective action.
It should be mentioned here that Rispana is one of the two rivers in Uttarakhand for which a revival initiative has been taken up by the State Government.