november 5, 2011 brip – 2011, iit kanpur consortia of 7 iits iit bombay iit delhi iit guwahati iit...
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November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
IIT Bombay
IIT Delhi
IIT Guwahati
IIT Kanpur
IIT Kharagpur
IIT Madras
IIT Roorkee
Ganga River Basin Environment
Management Plan
Saturday, November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT Kanpur
by
SWaRA
IT BHUBESU JNUDU PUISI Kolkata
WWF-India NEERI CFRI
… … …
Policy Framework
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
PremiseRiver Ganga is lively, holy and unique amongst all river of
India, if not of the world.River Ganga is viewed as worlds natural heritage for following
reasons. Exhibits an important interchange of human values Bears a unique/exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a
civilization which is living Outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-
use which is representative of a culture Directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas
or with beliefs Contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural
beauty and aesthetic importance Represents significant on-going ecological and biological processes in
the evolution and development of ecosystems Contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-site
conservation of biological diversityRiver Ganga must flow uninterruptedly from her source to
destination, and sustain all natural and indigenous living forms and systems.
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Continuous flow ( ) Un-polluted Flow ( )
The Overarching Objective
Longitudinal, lateral and vertical connectivity Adequate space for various river functions Ecological entity
The GRB EMP is the restoration of wholesomeness of rivers in the basin while ensuring appropriate management of water, sediments and energy
(both demand and supply) to accommodate the pressures of increased population, urbanization,
industrialization and agriculture.
Restoring wholesomeness of rivers means ensuring the sanctity of the fundamental aspects of the river system as imbibed in
the “Panch Sutras”:
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Four Broad Based ObjectivesEnvironmental Flows to be maintained in all minor and major
tributaries and main stem of the river Ganga. All anthropogenic activities must ensure maintenance of river
bed and river water quality to suit ecological and socio-cultural functions.
Utilize excess water (available runoff from rainfall and snowmelt over and above environmental flows) judiciously, equitably and effectively for sustainable development.
All human activities/interventions, whether existing, being implemented, and/or proposed in the Ganga Basin to be planned and modified appropriately in a transparent manner i.e. undertake any activity/intervention only after achieving broad consensus from conception through implementation and operation amongst all stakeholders.
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Principles and Criteria
Principles – Broad guidelines and framework of values driving GRB EMP
Criteria – norms to assess the processes and outcomes of the GRB EMP exercise
Some overlap between these two; difficult to separate
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Process of making GRB EMP is as important as the GRB EMP
Apply modern science and new technologies but with traditional wisdom (Gyan Dhara + Jana Gyan)
Precautionary Principles must apply wherever knowledge gaps and uncertainties exist
Participation, not mere consultation, is a key element of the process
Multi-disciplinary inputs needed, but need to be cautious about only “Experts” and “Some Influential Stakeholders” driving the process
Process should ideally start from smaller watersheds and build up in a nested manner to the higher sub-basin level, and then to the basin level
Flexibility to cater to future needs, changing contextsClearly articulate choices and the trade-off involved –
Environmental Flows, Irrigation, Hydro power, Domestic, Commercial and Industrial needs or in other words Environmental, Social, Cultural, Economic, and Financial criteria must be given appropriate weightages
Principles and Criteria
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Need for institutional structure appropriate to this kind of process
Need to treat parts/portions of basin with heavy interventions (highly altered/modified) differently from basins with low intervention intensity (near pristine)
Ensuring highest efficiencies at every stage including transport and end use of water
Avoiding and eliminating pollution through all direct and visible anthropogenic activities (zero tolerance or zero discharge concept); How much is taken out is not the only concern, how much and in what condition is returned is also important
Principles and Criteria
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Consider surface and ground water togetherExisting uses to be protected but care taken that existing
inequities are not perpetuatedCreating broad public acceptance of the plan (state
assemblies and parliament debate and approve)Principle of Prior Informed Consent to be applied, especially
for larger interventions, and where tribal and other vulnerable communities are involved
Creation of structures to monitor and regulate the implementation (nested governance; central and state government to serve as mentor and local communities assigned roles, responsibilities and rights on water considering compromises/needs of downstream/upstream communities
Principles and Criteria
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Model of a River Basin
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT KanpurConsortia of 7 IITs
Subtle Quality of Ganga Water: Accept until proven otherwise rather than not accepting until established scientifically
The qualities of the Ganga water are:
Coolness, sweetness, transparency, high tonic property, wholesomeness, potability, ability to remove evils, ability to
resuscitate from swoon caused by dehydration, digestive property and ability to retain wisdom
November 5, 2011BRiP – 2011, IIT Kanpur
Consortia of 7 IITs
Thank You !
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