FORCE

Did you read the newspaper today?

Jyoti Sharma, President FORCE — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:48:57 +0000

Did you read the newspaper today?

There were 2 articles that caught my attention—one was the shutting down of water supply from UP to Delhi by 10,000 protesters in Ghaziabad to force the government to accept their demand for reservation ( http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Delhi/Agitating-Jats-cut-off-Delhis-water-supply/articleshow/6044709.cms )

The other was a ‘Water Donation’ drive by residents of different localities in NOIDA and Delhi. ( Pg 8, Delhi Times TOI June 14, 2010 ). Residents ‘donated’ atleast one litre of water each which was collected in a mini-tanker and distributed in nearby slums.

The first was a bolt of thunder—to jerk us out of our complacence. A rude assertion of Water as a political Force , a blackmailing device….exposing the extreme vulnerability of a powerful city to an odorless, colorless liquid.

FORCE has been espousing the Gandhian model of ‘ WATER SECURITY’ – where every locality, village, district , city , state & Nation is sustainably self-sufficient in its water requirements. Each must create its own unique formula of demand supply balance that minimizes its dependence on external sources of water. Hopefully today’s protest will galvanize us all into immediate action on this.

The second article was diametrically the opposite of the first. This was a group of well provided for citizens who empathized with the water needs of the not so fortunate. They saw water as a Gift of God to be VOLUNTARILY SHARED with all.

As its scarcity increases, water is becoming like Nuclear Power—in the right hands, it can be life giving; in the wrong, it can cause unparalleled misery. It is up to us now to decide the direction our lives will take.

Take Care …..Jal Rakshaks…….SAVE WATER, SHARE WATER

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When Water Hyacinth Becomes A Visual Delight !

Jyoti Sharma, President FORCE — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:39:16 +0000

Dear Jal Rakhsaks, Advisors & Partners

Yesterday, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, came to the Neela Hauz lake to check on the status of its revival. She walked around, peeped over the flyover’s handrail and said – this looks nice and green. But where’s the water?

The water was under the ‘nice and green’ – the hyacinth that was choking the lake! When she was told this, she took a snap decision – “till the Commonwealth games, don’t touch the area -let the hyacinth be – atleast it makes the area look green. Let DDA make its detailed revival plans and then work on it.”

…..And with that one pragmatic statement – made for the visual pleasure of people who couldn’t care less for us – she condemned the living lake to another year of slow asphyxiation.

Then she looked around, a little puzzled, and asked to be driven around to look for something –“ a lovely curving road that went through the jungle. “

We tried to tell her that this bridge had been made to replace that same road. She refused to believe it – till, we showed her the google map, with that lovely winding road; and then drew on that map the new bridge cutting across the heart of the lake.

I cannot forget the expression on her face, as realization finally hit home. A mishmash of regret, genuine loss, helplessness but stoic acceptance….

Dear Madam CM, can I ask you a question ? Can we really right a wrong that has been committed? Can we ever give back to the Neela Hauz, and others like it, its innocence, and pristine, untouched calmness?

I remember, many moons back, dragging along the then Deputy Commissioner of Vasant Kunj to the Neela Hauz.. I made him stand on a DJB pipe cutting across the lake – in the hope that seeing such an oasis of peace in this concrete desert, might arouse in him, the desire to protect its innocence. I do not know whether he tried, but if he did not, I’m sure that when he sees the lake today, the memory of that moment will come back to haunt him.

The Neela Hauz will live… but as a sad shadow of itself. A symbol of the uneasy truce between man and nature. Does it have to be this way??

Jal Rakshaks, on World Environment Day tomorrow, let’s take a pledge… To create a society that re-learns to live simply, in harmony with all other God’s creations. Where destruction is a function of need – not of an unbridled desire to conquer all.

Jal Rakshak Advisors & Partners, It was one stroke of a pen that sanctioned this Neela Hauz bridge – and condemned the lake to a slow death. With just one stroke, you can destroy… or preserve forever! So, will you take a pledge too – to always listen to the silence of nature before making that stroke??

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The Neela Hauz Will Live Again!

Jyoti Sharma, President FORCE — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:02:42 +0000

The Bridge over Neela Hauz is now nearly complete. I thought it was time to step up the pressure on PWD to remove the soil dumped in the lake. So I called up the Engineer-In-Charge of the project – Mr. Karunanidhi – to ask to meet with him. Before I could say anything he excitedly said, “Madam, I have been trying to call you for the past one week! I want to meet you – I have a surprise for you”

I met him on Friday evening and after talking for some time in his office, he took me down below the bridge to show me – “The Engineering Marvel that this bridge is”

An indeed it was! Spreading like a tree from over the pillars made in the lake. A long high dome – you almost felt like you were standing in an ancient monument. Suddenly Mr. Karunanidhi stopped and said, “Now Madam, the surprise – look…..”

I stood there awestruck, overcome with emotion – I saw big craters where there had been a solid road. I saw water slowly, hesitantly reclaiming its rightful place. The restoration of Neela Hauz Lake had begun!

Little by little, section by section, they have started taking out the earth filling in the lake. Trucks are lined up during the day and continuously transport the earth to a landfill site. Mr. Karunanidhi has a red leather bound book full of columns of numbers – depth readings for the lake at multiple points before the construction work in the lake had started. He measures the base depth of each restored section against those readings to verify that the lake gets back its own space. Very dramatically he said, “Madam, the government spent a lot of money on collecting this data. It is my duty to make sure that these depths are restored.”

The Neela Hauz shall live again!

The Neela Hauz story will probably have a happy ending because of some key elements….. A body of aware, positive minded citizens and children – who wanted to save their lake but also understood the need for this bridge. A ‘Green Lt.Governor’ – politician and administrator who stood by these citizens. Instead of just giving a verbal promise, he made sure that the paperwork was done to give a legal, government sanction to the restoration of this lake. Technocrats who took pride in making a world class bridge with a world class view. An activist who, armed with a Delhi High Court judgment given against a PIL filed by him, made sure that the administration knew that this bunch of non-aggressive citizens also had teeth they could bite with! An NGO that believes in Productive Partnerships, which quietly built bridges to overcome any hurdles to lake restoration on either side. And of course, media that supported the citizen’s untiring, consistent efforts to give life to this lake.

The Neela Hauz story will also be a lesson in ‘Faith’. A Society can thrive and be happy only when each element has faith and compassion for the other. When individuals understand the need of the government to cater to the largest base, when government understands the individual’s fear of becoming just another statistic; when man takes from nature where it must, but respects nature’s wisdom, nurturing and long term vision for planet earth.

AND NOW….. LET’S CREATE SEQUEL AFER SEQUEL of the Neela Hauz story. Let Each Jal rakshak – wherever he is – find out the nearest lake / pond/ baoli / johad and work strategically with faith, partnership and persistence to create a Water Secure Society.

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Invitation to Dedication Ceremony of the JAL SANCHAY ABHIYAAN

Jyoti Sharma, President FORCE — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:43:49 +0000

Dear Jal Rakshaks

It gives me tremendous pleasure to invite you all for the Dedication Ceremony of the JAL SANCHAY ABHIYAAN – a movement to recharge approx 40 million liters approx. to Delhi’s groundwater using ONLY dried and abandoned tube wells.

This is yet another milestone achieved by JAL RAKSHAKs like you. Your leadership, initiative, commitment and attitude of enabling productive partnerships has helped turn discarded tube wells – an investment of Rs. 3-5 lakhs of public money – into PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC ASSETS. Instead of being symbols of a dead past, these tube wells will once again become symbols of a dynamic, resilient society

I hope you will be able to come for the Dedication Ceremony, Your presence will motivate all present to take charge of their lives and work towards a WATER SECURE future.

Thanks and regards

Jyoti Sharma

President, FORCE & Ashoka Fellow

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STOP WATER OVERFLOWS AND ADOPT RAINWATER HARVESTING

Jyoti Sharma, President FORCE — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:46:46 +0000

JAL RAKSHAK’s STOP WATER OVERFLOWS AND ADOPT RAINWATER HARVESTING CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVE

1) To create and build capacities of JAL RAKSHAKs in all 30 pockets (sectors) of Vasant Kunj

2) Under the leadership of the JAL RAKSHAKs, to make each of these pockets

a. Water Tank Overflow free and

b. Rainwater Harvesting enabled.

JAL RAKSHAK PROFILE

For this campaign the JAL RAKSHAKS will be:

1) Current members of the JAL RAKSHAK community

2) RWA members from various pockets of Vasant Kunj

3) Members of Vasant Kunj ‘Inner Wheel Club’ – the women’s special arm of Rotary International.

GEOGRAPHICAL SCOPE

The pilot Campaign will be in all sectors of Vasant Kunj viz total of 30 pockets

1) Sector A/A 2) Sector A/B 3) Sector A/C 4) Sector B-1

5) Sector B-2 6) Sector B-3 7) Sector B-4 Sector B-5&6

9) Sector B-7 10) Sector B-8 11) Sector B-9 12) Sector B-10

13) Sector B-11 14) Sector c-1 15) Sector –C-2 16) Sector C-3

17) Sector C-4 18) Sector c-5 19) Sector –C-6 20) Sector C-8

21) Sector c-9 22) Sector –D-1 23) Sector D-2 24) Sector D-3

25) Sector –D-4 26) Sector D-5 27) Sector D-6&7 28) Sector D-8

29) Sector B-9 (LIG) 30) Sector B-9 A

EXPECTED OUTCOME

A replicable model of a Community Leader led Partnership model of Water Wastage prevention and Adoption of Rainwater Harvesting would have been created. This project can then be extendd all over Delhi.

1) Significant reduction in tank water overflows in all pockets of Vasant Kunj

2) Significant reduction in other forms of water wastage in Vasant Kunj

3) Maximum recharge potential Rainwater harvesting plans will be ready for all pockets

4) A momentum for Water Conservation and adoption of rainwater harvesting would have been created in Vasant Kunj.

5) A team of JAL RAKSHAKS who will become Water Conservation Ambassadors for other localities in Delhi.

6) A ready team of JAL RAKSHAKs to become a postive interface between residents, government and other partners for implementation of Water Conservation activities in their pockets.

7) Sensitisation of children through their active participation about Water Conservation.

BENEFICIARIES

The key beneficiaries of the project will be:

1) Delhi Jal Board – Reduction in wastage of treated supply water and recharge to groundwater of Delhi

2) Residents of Vasant Kunj – More equitable distribution of water supply due to less wastage and better yield from tubewells

3) Environment – Water saving and saving of electricity due to reduced pump running ( for running tubewells and motors)

JAL RAKSHAK CAMPAIGN DETAILS

ACTION POINTS

1) FORCE will identify Community leaders in each of the 30 pockets who are interested in the cause of Water Conservation in each locality

2) Of these, we will appoint 2-4 as JAL RAKSHAKS for each area. Hence a total of 100-120 JAL RAKSHAKs will be appointed in Vasant Kunj

3) The JAL RAKSHAKs could be called for a meeting at the DJB Conference Room where they could interact with the DJB CEO, CE (South), PRO and other concerned officials.

4) In one of the Community Centres of Vasant Kunj, FORCE with support from Delhi Jal Board, Central Groundwater Board and trained plumbers, will conduct Capacity Building sessions for the JAL RAKSHAKS

a. TRAINING ON STOPPING WATER OVERFLOWS:

i. Water, Electricity and Environment wastage that happens because of overflows

ii. Communication methods for talking to repeat offenders

iii. Support that can be taken from DJB for warning / penalizing such offenders

b. STREET PLAY ON WATER OVERFLOWS & WATER CONSERVATION

i. Demonstration of two street plays that we have already staged on the topic of tank overflows and water conservation

ii. Support to JAL RAKSHAKS to train 4-5 children in each pocket to perform the play at High Visibility locations in the pocket

iii. Script for children and follow up plan to motivate elders to become ‘Water Wise’

c. PLUMBER TRAINING ( 1-2 plumbers per locality ) for installing Water-Overflow prevention devices

d. If possible, tie up with a manufacturer/supplier of auto cut-off overflow alarms or overflow valves, for discounted supply/installation of such systems.

e. RAINWATER HARVESTING

i. Need & Potential for groundwater recharge

ii. Method of making rainwater harvesting plan for the locality

5) Each JAL RAKSHAK to carry out the STOP TANK OVERFLOW AND ADOPT RAINWATER HARVESTING plan in his area

6) Impact Analysis of the Pilot JAL RAKSHAK program through:

a. Pre and post campaign comparison of number o households having regular water tank overflows.

b. Reach of the project in terms of number of people sensitized to the cause of water conservation

c. Number of rainwater harvesting plans made

d. Number of rainwater harvesting projects initiated.

e. Number of Jal Rakshaks appointed

7) If possible, the Pilot project could conclude with a VIP function where the Honble Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt Sheila Dikshit could be requested to felicitate the JALR AKSHAKs, Children from all pockets who performed the plays and the officials who helped. This opportunity can also be used to call RWAs from other locations and kick-start at similar drive all over Delhi.

DURATION

5 months – December 15 2009 to April 15, 2010.

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