February, Monday 16th at 2.15 p.m.
Jai Singh Ghera, Vrindavan.
 
(This is because, from 10.15 a.m. there will be a planning session with the urban development expert, Mr. Roshan Bhatnagar (on leave from rebuilding efforts in Iraq). He can brief us regarding the prospects of partnership and the path to getting a community vision plan, funded and implemented. This builds on the progress of the January meeting with the aim to create a vision document).
 
Outcomes of January meeting at Sri Rang ji Temple Guest House:
 
Field visit of group: We visited the Rang ji water tank within theTemple complex and saw that in each of the 108 pujari houses around the perimeter there are hand wells with sweet water at a depth of only 6 M (19’feet). The critical relevance of the tank to the health of the local groundwater level was observed. (Borings these days are often 120 Meters to find sweet water.)
 
Mr. Thakur, the Supreme Court advocate, noted from a judgment of 1910 (Mathura) ‘that Brahma kund is publicly owned’ on reputed sanctity. It was felt that a neutral entity be established for the kund restoration/maintenance. Mr. Ribero felt the plan lacked research.
 
Mr. Ribero is one of the most respected senior town planners in India today. We are fortunate to have had his input; as a freelance consultant, he and colleagues from Delhi are on behalf of IPE, (Infrastructure Professionals Enterprises) producing a vision document for the MVDA (Mathura Vrindavan Development Authority).  He said - A ‘Vision’ document for Vrindavan is not a project, it is a researched and inspired overview of where government and community of Vrindavan wish to go in terms of environment, development, infrastructure, governance, municipal services etc. From this structure, projects such as Brahma Kund or Yamuna reclamation and ghats restoration can be selected.
 
The draft MVDA vision being researched by IPE, may be ready inside two months. We can offer information to Mr. Ribero for inclusion. The draft document can be shared with our alliance. From this, a working relationship with MVDA can develop where all parties endeavor to support a shared vision. That way it gets consensus and working together makes it easier to process a multi million dollar plan, with agencies looking to support such partnerships.
 
All friends are asked to forward any ideas/information via Robyn Beeche, ASAP.
 
Sanjay Saxena (Total Synergy) commented that ‘Architectural heritage should not be a buried treasure. The unbroken line of a living Bhakti cultural environment in Vrindavan is the source, along with water, of Vrindavan’s identity’. As a potential site of worldwide spiritual importance, heritage is a cornerstone of any Vision statement, practically this encompasses:
 
• Engineering Yamuna to return to the excavated (400 yr old) ghat masterpieces
• Restoration of kunds/water bodies and ensuring Vrindavan’s water security
• Data basing, preservation and maintenance of traditional architectural heritage, all other property etc in GIS.
 
Smt. Nalini Thakur, the architectural conservation expert (Delhi School Planning & Architecture) has since pledged to the alliance in providing previously researched plans and documents for Vrindavan, and helping with continuing inputs.
 
As many were absent in the mid winter January meeting, there were few suggestions for finalising the group name and Foundation was favourite, since then others prefer alliance, so we must in February, decide from a shortlist: Vrindavan Alliance / Foundation / Partnership etc. If anyone can better this, please offer an alternative name via email or at the February meeting.
 
Mr. Thakur, will consider the registration process of our group (once named) with Ms. Vrinda Singh to support.
 
Smt. Nidhi Telang (Vrindavan) – announced a ladies kattha programme, with proceeds to Brahma Kund or a group project.