March 28, 2024 21:38 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
'To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture': PM posts after 600 lawyers write to CJI | Comments on our electoral, legal processes completely unacceptable: India on US' remarks over Kejriwal arrest | Delhi High Court rejects PIL seeking removal of Arvind Kejriwal as CM | MHA extends AFSPA in 3 districts of Arunachal Pradesh for 6 months | Encourage fair, transparent and legal process: US comments again on Kejriwal's arrest
ONGC restoring the ancient Kunds of Varanasi

ONGC restoring the ancient Kunds of Varanasi

India Blooms News Service | | 14 Jan 2017, 04:02 pm
New Delhi, Jan 14 (IBNS): The Ghats, the temples and the Kunds of Varanasi are the driving force which attracts millions of tourists to this ancient city every year.

Over the years, these divine structures have survived wars and natural calamities and have been a lifeline for the city of Varanasi.

Today, the Kunds of Varanasi are at a crossroads. Having served the society for centuries, they need our support to re-claim their lost glory.

People of Varanasi want the Kunds to be restored, so do the tourists and devotees visiting Varanasi.

Considering the mandate of the countrymen, Energy Maharatna ONGC has taken the responsibility for cleaning and beatifying the four famous Kunds namely Durga Kund, Lakshmi Kund, Sarangnath Kund and Lat Bhairav Kund.

The ONGC Board approved this flagship CSR project with financial implication of Rs 11.46 Cr.

The project is currently under implementation in partnership with National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd. (NBCC) and Varanasi Nagar Nigam.

After signing of the tripartite agreement, an amount of Rs 3.82 Cr, has already been released and the work is in progress.

Prior to taking up the project, ONGC engaged an independent agency to carry out a feasibility study and to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Based on the recommendation, the project activities were initiated byNBCC.

Challenges were many in the implementation of this project. Starting from identifying the project partner to addressing the demand of the local people. ONGC CSR representatives coordinated with the local authorities, attended meeting with the native residents, negotiated with Trustee, who have the ownership of few of the Kunds to make sure that the project is implemented in the right spirit, read an official statement.

Over the years, residential houses has come up right across the Kunds, blocking the natural drainage. With Nagar Nigam, Varanasi being a partner, engaged in addressing such local issues to facilitating timely execution of the project.

The project activities include general civil works including railings, electrical fittings, landscaping, beautification, construction of barriers to check the ingress of pollutants to the water of the Kunds and further purification of water  through anaerobic bioremediation  method.

There is also a provision for maintenance and upkeep of the Kunds for five years through the implementing agency.

Some of the Kunds have been totally drained off water for the cleaning of debris while in some others  where there is presence of large aqua life, water was not removed instead other scientific methods are being  adopted for water purification without disturbing the aquatic life.

Currently, work is under progress at the Kunds.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Related Images
PM Modi in Bhutan 22 Mar 2024, 06:53 pm
PM Modi in Tamil Nadu 28 Feb 2024, 07:07 pm