Ecological Restoration of Polluted Rivers & Lakes of IndiaRivers & Lakes of India

River in urban areas

Dream to convert into clean river

Sayali JoshiVice President, SESS & CEO, SERI, Punesess.culture@gmail.com; sayali@seriecotech.com

Rivers of India

Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_rivers_of_India accessed on 28 May 2014

Indian Waters: Current Status

Pollution: Major Cause of Economic Losses,Stunted development in many regions

Issues of Waters – Rivers and LakesEncroachmentEncroachmentPollutionLosses / alterations ofHydrologic Cycle due toHydrologic Cycle due tohydromodifications

Local to Global ProblemDecentralized issues

4

Centralized infrastructurewithout due credit toecosystem processes

Current Status of Water bodies: India   

Dissolved Oxygen (DO) less than 1 ppm in most of the urban water bodies

Unhealthy water bodies lead to  perilous epidemics 

1. BOD in the religious bathing area is high evenf l i f h GAP I Th BOD i hi h

Aftermaths of the GAP Phase‐I Schemes for Varanasi

after completion of the GAP I. The BOD is as highas 25 mg/l at the confluence of Ganga andVaruna.

2. Fecal coliform varied from 70000 mpn/100ml to1.5 million/100ml.

3 In unpolluted upstream area of Assi river 2mg/l3. In unpolluted upstream area of Assi river ‐ 2mg/lof BOD and undetectable fecal coliform.

4. Treated sewage coming out from STPs has BOD>50mg/l; suspended solids >100mg/l; fecalcoliform levels remain very high.

5 About 90 per cent of pollution into the holy river5. About 90 per cent of pollution into the holy riveris caused by sewage generation while only about5 to 6 per cent industrial effluents can be blamedfor river pollution.

(Ref.: http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/153800/ accessedon 28/05/2014)

Governments’ Environmental Accountability and Responsibility  of Lotic (Stream) / Lentic (Lake) Restoration Project Management

Social, Cultural Necessity 

51A (g)

People, Groups, NGOs, CBOs, 

Volunteers Green

48A(g)

Volunteers, Green Clubs

G S

Government Departments / Green Surgeons, 

Designers, Planners, Green 

Curator

Departments / Nodal Agency

Science, Engineering & Technology 

Protection, Regulation & Conservation

Ecological RestorationNot infrastructure but eco‐health improvementNot infrastructure but eco health improvement

It’s Not ASSET butIt s Not ASSET butPROCESS

Restoration of Rivers and Lakes

Ecological Health project and not Infrastructure project

Revitalization of self-purification capacity of water body

Conversion of single species or no life river or lake waterConversion of single species or no life river or lake waterbody into multispecies living water body

Maximum use of nature’s own capital and recurring andp gminimization of monetary and manmade inputs likeelectricity, machinery and chemicals

Local action for Global issue of Climate Change

Compliance With Rules & Regulations

National Action Plan for 

ClimateWater Policy, 2012 & 2002 Climate 

Change (NAPCC), 2008R d ti f GHG

2012 & 2002 Water quality for prioritized uses

Reduction of GHGs

National  Water Pollution (Prevention &

Environment Policy, 2006

Conservation of water 

(Prevention & Control) Act, 1974 & its amendment

resources through livelihood

Discharge standards

What is Ecotechnology?

Chemical Sciences and Engineering

Life Sciences and Engineering

Earth Sciences and Engineering

Ecotechnology

River Restoration Lake Restoration River Restoration Lake Restoration

Green Bridge System

• Culmination of 25+ years of research

• 100% Natural Process

• Reinvigorates the natural• Reinvigorates the natural Ecosystem

l i bl• Truly sustainable

• Carbon positive

• Nitrogen positive

• Fecal pathogen control

Green Bridges

The horizontal eco-filtration system – a graftingof ecological system to treat the pollutionflowing through the streams and rivers

Space Footprint 0 sq. mCarbon Footprint Less than 0Ecotoxicity reduced to 0Nutrient Balance 100%

Significant ObservationDespite of continued industrial discharges and shock loads there is no fish killDespite of continued industrial discharges and shock loads there is no fish kill.Fish contract deposit increased from Rs. 2,00,000 (in 2008 – 09) to Rs. 1,25,00,000 (in 2012).

Significant Observation

DO concentration increased from 0 mg/L (untreated stretch) to 11.4 mg/L (treated).

DO transfer in a day – 11500 kg in 1 km stretch of ecotechnological treatment( i l t t R 3 th t i d f h i l ti )(equivalent to Rs. 3 crores – the cost incurred for mechanical aeration)

Rasoolabad Stream Restoration Project: 2011 - 2012

 Before After

 Stream No. 3

Green Structures for revival of river’s self-purification capacity Buddha NEER Project with

support from MoEF, NRCD, CPCBsupport from MoEF, NRCD, CPCB

Lessons from Ecological Restoration Projects in Different Parts of IndiaDifferent Parts of India

Governance issue Ahar River, Udaipur

Medi Kuntha,Hyderabad

Rasoolabad, Allahabad

Buddha Nallah, Ludhiana

S d hi / UCCI Wi G S CPCB & NRCDStewardship / Patron

UCCI Wiprocare Ganga SewaAbhiyan

CPCB & NRCD

Monitoring JSS & UCCI IAAB & SERI GSA & SERI CPCB, PPCB &SERISERI

Stakeholder/s UIT, Irrigation HMDA AMC LMC, irrigation

Institutional coordination

6 7 5 4coordination

Institutional memory

6 8 4 2

S l 1 t 10 ( h 1 i th t & 10 i th b t)Scale – 1 to 10 (where 1 is the worst & 10 is the best)

Science & Technology

SERI SERI SERI SERI

Implementation GRIN SERI GRIN GRIN

Benefits to Farmers &fishermen

Villagers Ganga Project Farmers

Lessons from Ecological Restoration Projects in MaharashtraMaharashtra

Governance issue WaldhuniRiver,  Mumbai

Jayanti Nallah, Kolhapur

CME, Dapodi, Pune

Ambil Odha, Pune

S d hi / UMC MPCB KMC MPCB CME C i C &Stewardship / Patron

UMC, MPCB KMC, MPCB CME, CumminsFoundation

Corporates &RAG

Monitoring MPCB MPCB SERI RAG & SERI

Stakeholder/s Water supply &industries

Downstreampopulation

‐ PMC

Institutional coordination

2 2 8 7coordination

Institutional memory

1 1 8 6

S l 1 t 10 ( h 1 i th t & 10 i th b t)Scale – 1 to 10 (where 1 is the worst & 10 is the best)

Science & Technology

SERI SERI SERI SERI

Implementation ‐ ‐ CRC CRC

Benefits to Urbanpopulation

Villagers River ecosystem River ecosystems

Present Status of Khan River, IndoreKhan River is the mainwater body of the Indorecity. Indore city is situatedin the catchment of twosmall rivers i e Khan andsmall rivers i.e. Khan andSarswati. Khan River isflowing through heart ofIndore city and travelingaround 50 km distancebefore confluences withShipra River at Ujjain.Total sewage:200 MLD(CPCB 

Report(2010)IMC is treating: 90 MLD Industrial effluent: 2.2 MLD

Downstream to Indore from kabitkhedi to Sanwer Khanriver water is being used for growing vegetables andirrigating the crops by the Farmers. It poses high risk offood chain contamination.

Present Status of Nag River, Indore

Sewage generation from the city: 346 MLDSTP capacity: 100 MLDStretch in city : 17 kmTotal flow of Nag River: Dry weather flow of Nag River is about 300 MLD Present status: Highly concentrated sewage of Nagpur is carried by the Nag and into thePresent status: Highly concentrated sewage of Nagpur is carried by the Nag and into the Vainganga. Water stored in the dam reservoir has become polluted and its backwater has reached Ganeshpur, 3km from Bhandara.Nag River is black coloured with foul odor water‐body with floating fecal particles.l k f d bi di i f h l k d l k bi d d ilack of oxygen and biodiversity of phytoplankton and zooplankton, anaerobic degradation makes water unsuitable for any type of use

Future of Water GovernanceC id E l EConsider Ecology as Economy

R bi th f St & L kRebirth  of  Streams & LakesWith Ecotechnology & Ecological Engineering

Shrishti Eco-Research InstituteB-106, Devgiri, Opp. P. L. Deshpande Garden, Near Ganesh Mala, Sinhagad Road, Pune – 411 030 Phone: +91-20 – 24253773 TeleFax: +91-20-

In association with –1. Green Infrastructure, Pune2. Yash Foundation, Ahmedabad3. WAPPSYS, Gurgaon4 ECOSYS Pune– 24253773 TeleFax: +91-20-

66206539 Email: seriecotech@yahoo.co.in

4. ECOSYS, Pune5. TransNVtech, Pune