MATHURA : Mathura, the birth place of lord Krishna- a historical fact, is city of temples and archival monuments known all over the world with the synonym of Hindu culture. Situated on the bank of river Yamuna, it has an area of 3,76,959 hectares with 1581 hectares of forests and 21586 hectares of user land and 11,496 hectare of uncultivable land. Mathura is also having the distinction of the last district of U.P. on Rajasthan border. Being the holi city it faces an influx of approximately 50,000 pilgrims every day which exceeds ten time during peak period of parikrama some time in September. From the view point of environment the establishment of Asia's biggest Petroleum Refinery at Mathura has epoched serious concern over the years and serious doubts have been casted by various ecologists over the damage to the fauna and flora and over all ecology but to emanation of hydrocarbons and depletion of ozone layer due to them. Also the refinery's environmental pollutants may affect famous Taj Mahal in due course had become the debatable issue for all.

The location of Mathura on the upward slop of river Yamuna deprives the water luxury of the river to the people of Mathura and in summers the river becomes almost dry when water demand increases in Agra and other low lying areas who bank on Yamuna river for drinking purposes. The utilization of the water of Keetham lake by the Mathura Refinery also reduces the level of the water table in Mathura with the result the forests are fast diminishing and the prospects of the afforestation are dim unless adequate arrangement of water availability are not made. 

FENCING: 
Waste land of approximately 1.8 acres in the village Usfar offered by the villagers for eco-development purpose was first levelled by the volunteers followed by heavy rollers driven by tractor. The boundary of the plot was covered by barbed wires supported by stone pillars of 6' height 4" thickness and 9" width, which were grouted 11/2' by ballast cement mixture at a distance of 15' on the boundary of the plot to safe guard the plants from village cattle's and passer by. Three rows of barbed wire were used for permanent fencing.

BORING: 
A 4" boring to ensure proper supply of water for nursing the trees was installed at the centre of the land. 

GULLY MAKING:
Four rows of gullies of 1 1/2' deep at a distance of 4' in a diagonal numbering 15000 were prepared by the volunteers of the society under the guidance of the Advisers and leader of the Camp. Manure (Compost fortified with NPK) was admixed thoroughly and placed in each gully. Thereafter the complete field was flooded for one day with water so as to reduce the heat of manure.

TREE PLANTATION:
A total number of 15000 plants of various varieties viz. Eucalyptus, Straw berry, Babool, Mango, Poppler, Guava, Neembo, Gold Mohar, Papaya, Neem and Keekar were planted over the period of 15 days by 100 volunteers of the Camp, mostly belonging to the village itself.

NURSERY CREATION & GRASS LAND DEVELOPMENT:
On one corner of the plot admeasuring 4000 sq.ft. a small nursery for 30,000 Sapling was created by the participants of the Camp, which included vide variety of local plants having consumption as fuel wood, vegetable, ornamental, medicinal and high yeilding fruits. The Society has made its own arrangement to have a permanent chowkidar to take care of the plants, nursery & water arrangements.

A grass land on a smooth bed of 5000 sq.ft. area was also developed by the participants with green hedge to provide a beautiful natual environment.

REMOVALOF GARMAGE FROM THE VILLAGE ROAD:
In a drive to clean environment, the road side garbage with dirty filth was removed during the Eco-development Camp. Local bodies also extended their full support.

REMOVAL OF WATER BODIES:
The village water supply is being done by Jal Nigam through an overhead tank but two wells are still being used by the women flok which remained uncleaned for several years. During the camp activity the well was subjected to potassium-per-magnate oxidation of water pollutants. Besides, the village is having a pond. A small quantity of water hyacinth started growing in the pond was removed by the volunteers.

VISUAL PUBLICITY:
To focus the attention of the rural masses and to inculcate an interest in environment, a video film on Industrial pollution prepared by the society was televised in the village after a popular Hindi movie which attracted large village crowd and a good sense of humour prevailed. The other day various cultural programmes involving rural fold were also organised to mark the events. Such programmes were also conducted in the past with the  help of local youths to mobilise rural people to opt for ecological methods for the regeneration of the degraded environment utilising the village waste material. The programme was undertaken as sponsored activity of the Department of Environment, Govt. of India, New Delhi as demonstration project for rural people.