Challenges in the Implementation of E-flows in Ganga Basin

By

Bhopal Singh, Chief Engineer, UGBO, CWC, Lucknow

Mrs Deepti Verma, AEE, UGBO, CWC, Lucknow

6th IWW- Session: Rejuvenation of the River Ganga – from Planning to Action (SS1)

27th September, 2019

Outline

• Policy and Prevailing provisions on River conservation and Maintenance of Environmental Flows in Rivers in India

• Provision of E-flows in Ganga River

• Challenges and SOPs for Implementation of E-flows in Ganga River

Need For River Conservation in India

➢The river system in India have so far beenexploited for various human uses withoutlooking at requirement of its own ecosystem.

➢These exploitations(sometime excessive)coupled with pollution ingress have led todegradation of many rivers/river stretches inthe country (about 351 river stretches in 275rivers are polluted—CPCB, 2018)

➢Flow discharges of certain magnitude, timing,frequency and duration are needed to sustainholistic flow regime for river dependent eco-systems primarily to ensure the health of theaquatic life in rivers and also to sustainvarious goods and services being otherwiseprovided by the rivers

➢This aspect has been duly recognized inNational Water Policy (2002, 2012).

River Conservation Policy and Provisions in India

❑ The river conservation and protection are covered underEnvironment Protection Act, 1986 (amended in Sep, 2006) whichmandates prior environmental clearance for implementation of anyprojects from Central Govt./State level Environment ImpactAssessment Authority as the case may be.

❑ The environmental management plan is an integral partof planning of any water resources development project.

❑ The river conservation activities are broadly looked afterby National River Conservation Directorate, MoJS.However, this office concentrate mainly on the waterquality aspects of the river.

❑ For Ganga river basin, NMCG (under DOWR,RD&GR) hasbeen entrusted the task of river conservation/protectionvide notification dated October, 2016.

E-flows Policy and Provisions in India

❖ An Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and HydroelectricProjects, constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest andClimate Change (MoEF&CC) examine the study reports andrecommends the required environmental flows in the affected riverreach

❖ Earlier, EAC used to recommend, 20% of average lean season discharge(4 leanest months) in 90% dependable year to be released asenvironment flow. However now, E-flows are required to be assessedscientifically as per requirement of aquatic biota in the affected riverreach in all season and provided.

❖ Cumulative Impact Assessment Studies carried out for some of theimportant basins, are also referred while recommending the requisitee-flows.

❖ Some of the river reaches/sub-basins are declared eco sensitive zonebarring any developmental project

❖ As such the current policy and practices duly emphasize on assessmentand provision of requisite environmental flows in the affected riverreach by any human intervention.

Provision of E-flows in Ganga River

Vide Gazette Notification dated 9th October, 2018, the Government of India

has notified the minimum environmental flows for River Ganga that has to be

maintained at various locations on the river.

(A)E-flow Norms for Projects in Upper Ganga Basin up to Haridwar

SN Season Months

Percentage of Monthly Average Flow

observed during each of preceding 10-

daily period

1 Dry November to March 20

2 Lean October, April and May 25

3 High Flow June to September 30

(B) E-flow Norms for Projects in Main Ganga Stem from Haridwar to Unnao

SNLocation of

Barrage

Minimum flow releases

Immediately d/s of

Barrages (In Cumecs)

Non-Monsoon

(October to May)

Minimum flow releases immediately

downstream of barrages

(In Cumecs)

Monsoon

(June to September)

1Bhimgoda

(Haridwar)36 57

2 Bijnor 24 48

3 Narora 24 48

4 Kanpur 24 48

SN Name of the Project Owner Agency

1. Maneri Bhali Stage-I UJVNL

2. Maneri Bhali Stage –II UJVNL

3. Tehri Dam THDC

4. Koteshwar Dam THDC

5. Vishnuprayag HEP JPVL

6. Srinagar GVK

7. Pashulok Barrage/ Chilla HEP UJVNL

8. Bhimgoda Barrage UP. Irrigation

9. Bijnor Barrage UP. Irrigation

10 Narora Barrage UP Irrigation

11 Kanpur Barrage UP Irrigation

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has been entrusted the

responsibility for supervision, monitoring, regulation of flows

and reporting of compliance to NMCG. Monitoring status

report is to be submitted on quarterly basis.

The monitoring of projects for implementation of mandated E-

flows has been commenced w.e.f. 1st January, 2019. Currently

following projects are being monitored.

Implementation of E-flows in Ganga River

MONITORING AND COMPLIANCE PROTOCOL

• A Standard Operating Procedures for monitoring andimplementation of environmental flows in river Gangahas been evolved based discussions during reviewmeetings.

• Efforts have been made to keep the SOPs simple and easyto implement while keeping intact the sprit of GovtOrder.

Monitoring Interval

• The data of inflows, diversions, downstream releases andchanges in storage to be monitored on hourly basis.

• The flow data of each project shall be transmitted to E-flow Web Portal/ CWC on real time basis (preferably onhourly basis)

• Till installation of automatic data acquisition andtransmission, the hourly flow data for the entireprevious day shall be transmitted by project authoritiesto CWC on daily basis by 11am.

No. CWC/UGBO/EF/SOP1

MoJS

DoWR,RD&GR

Central Water Commission

Upper Ganga Basin Organization

IMPLEMENTATION OF MINIMUM ENVIREMENTAL FLOWS IN

RIVER GANGA (Up to UNNAO)

Suggested Standard Operating Procedures

September, 2019

SOPs for Projects in Upper Ganga River Basin up to Haridwar

(i) Dry and lean Period

• Flows during lean and dry periods are mainly contributed by base flows and snow melt and are quite steady.

• As there are not much day to day variations in inflows during this period, e-flow targets may be defined on 10 daily period.

• For the ease of monitoring and compliance, the e-flow targets for given ten daily period may be assessed based on the inflows during previous ten daily period.

Sl No Season Months Mandated E-flows

1 Dry November to March

20 % of average inflows observed during each of preceding 10-daily period

For example, required E-flows during December 11-20 ten daily period shall be 20 % of

average inflows observed during 1-10 December ten daily period.

2 Lean October, April and May

25 %of average inflows observed during each of preceding 10-daily period

For example, required E-flows during March 11-20 ten daily period shall be 25 %of average

inflows observed during 1-10 March ten daily period.

• To account the diurnal variability in the inflows, the e-flow release rate (discharge) during the

day may vary within 20 percent range of target e-flow rate for the day. However, the flow

volume released during day shall not be less than the targeted daily volume of e-flow

release.

SOPs for Projects in Upper Ganga River Basin up to Haridwar

(ii)During June to September ( Monsoon Period)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 3 7 11 15 19 23 27 31 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 29 3 7 11 15 19 23 27 31

Flo

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ecs

Day ( June-Oct)

Flows at Joshimath

2012 2013

2014 2015

2016 2017

Min 10 per. Mov. Avg. (Min)

Lot of variability in

flows during flood

period and setting

targets to E-flows is a

big challenge

0

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2500

1 6 11162126 1 6 1116212631 5 1015202530 4 9 14192429 4 9 14192429

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Day (Jun-Oct)

Flows of Ganga at Karnprayag

2012 2013

2014 2015

2016 2017

2018 Lower

10 per. Mov. Avg. (Lower)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1 6 11162126 1 6 1116212631 5 1015202530 4 9 14192429 4 9 14192429

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Day (Jun-Oct)

Flows of Ganga at Rudraprayag

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

0

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4000

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10000

1 6 11162126 1 6 1116212631 5 1015202530 4 9 14192429 4 9 14192429

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Day(Jun-Oct)

Flows of Ganga at Devprayag

2012 2013

2014 20152016 2017

2018 Min

10 per. Mov. Avg. (Min)

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 5 10 15 20 25 30 4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

Flo

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Day (Jun-Oct)

Flows of Ganga at Rishikesh

2012 2013

2014 2015

2016 2017

Lower 10 per. Mov. Avg. (Lower)

Flows at any location can be split into two parts:

Baseline flows, Baseline flows may be defined as

the lower envelope of flows observed during past

years say last 5 years. These baseline flows

normally follow the seasonal trend, being highest in

the month July or August. This component of flows

are normally stable and predictable.

Flood fluxes which is the component of variable flows

resulted from high rainfall in the catchment. The flood fluxes

last for few days and are stochastic in nature. Their

occurrence is random and is difficult to predict.

Suggested E-flow Norms For Monsoon Season (from June to September)

Looking at the characteristics of flows during monsoon period, the E-flows may constitute of two components, one based on baseline flows and other based on flood fluxes.

(a) E-flow Component based on Baseline Flows

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1 7 13 19 25 31 6 12 18 24 30 6 12 18 24 30 5 11 17 23 29 4 10 16 22 28 4 10 16 22 28

Dis

cha

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in

Cu

me

c

Day

Baseline Flows of Alaknada at Joshimath

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Aug Sep OctMay Jun Jul

10 daily Period 10 Daily Average of

Moving average

(Cumecs)

Baseline E-flows

(Cumecs)

Jun-I (Jun 1-10) 110 33

Jun-II (Jun11-20) 153 46

Jun-III(Jun21-30) 198 60

Jul-I(Jul1-10) 286 86

Jul-II(Jul11-20) 287 86

Jul-III(Jul21-31) 251 75

Aug-I (Aug1-10) 244 73

Aug-II (Aug11-

20)

245 73

Aug-III (Aug21-

31)

193 58

Sep-I(Sep1-10) 130 39

Sep-II (Sep 11-20) 83 25

Sep-III (Sep21-30) 56 17

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1 6 1116212631 5 1015202530 5 1015202530 4 9 14192429 3 8 13182328 3 8 13182328

Flo

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Day

Baseline Flows of Ganga at Rishikesh

2013 2014

2015 2016

2017 Min

10 per. Mov. Avg. (Min)

Ma Jun Jul Au Sep Oct

10 daily Period 10 Daily

Average of

Moving

average

(Cumecs)

Baseline E-flows

(Cumecs)

Jun-I (Jun 1-10) 406 122

Jun-II (Jun11-20) 431 129

Jun-III(Jun21-30) 453 136

Jul-I(Jul1-10) 582 174

Jul-II(Jul11-20) 718 215

Jul-III(Jul21-31) 1220 366

Aug-I (Aug1-10) 1563 469

Aug-II (Aug11-20) 1767 530

Aug-III (Aug21-31) 1294 388

Sep-I(Sep1-10) 721 216

Sep-II (Sep 11-20) 503 151

Sep-III (Sep21-30) 405 122

Suggested E-flow Norms For Monsoon Season (from June to September)

(b) Flood Fluxes E-flows

As flood fluxes are stochastic in nature, e-flows corresponding to floodfluxes may be released any time during the month preferably at thetime of high flood wave(s). The project authorities shall be at libertyto release the E-flows corresponding to flood fluxes at any timeduring the month. However, the quantum of flood fluxes e-flowcomponent should be adequate so as to meet overall target of e-flows ( 30 percent of gross inflows during the month includingbaseline e-flows).

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29

Flo

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Day (Jun-Sep)

Typical E-flows Releases During Monsoon at Joshimath

Gross Inflows Baseline E-flows Flood Fluxes E-flows Gross E-flows

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29

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Day (Jun-Sep)

Typical E-flow Releases at Rishikesh During Monsoon

Gross Flows Baseline E-flows Flood Fluxes E-flows Gross E-flows

Projects in stretch of main stem of River Ganga from Haridwar, Uttarakhand to Unnao, Uttar

Pradesh

Sl NoLocation of

Barrage

Minimum flow releases

Immediately downstream of barrages

(In Cumecs)

Non-Monsoon

(October to May )

Minimum flow releases immediately

downstream of barrages

(In Cumecs)

Monsoon

(June to September)

1Bhimgoda

(Haridwar)36 57

2 Bijnor 24 48

3 Narora 24 48

4 Kanpur 24 48

Issues in the implementation of e-flows in ganga river

• Seamless data flow on real time from each project to web portal/CWC

• Many of the existing projects were not planned and accounted for therecent e-flow norms and adhering to these norms may impact theircommercial interest and meeting their water demands.

• Initiating requisite measures like revising PPA, improving water useefficiency etc by project authorities

Current Focus Areas by CWC

➢Development of Data Framework for Assessment of E-flows. Preparationof Habitat Atlas for all major rivers in the country

➢ Standardise the methodology(ies) for assessment of E-flows fordifferent hydro-climatic regions in the country including model/softwarerequirement

➢Framework for integrated basin planning and management for optimaland sustainable allocation/utilization of limited water resources of abasin duly safeguarding the river ecology

➢Evolve a mechanism for assessing quantitatively the socio-economicbenefits/impacts of E-flows/ river eco services

➢Strategy for implementing E-flows

India Water Week, September 2019

Ganga Rejuvenation

Strategic Planning, Management and Implementation

at Basin-wide scale

Factors influencing cooperation – successes and challenges

Jeremy Bird

River Basin Management – some considerations

Rationale to cooperate:

Regional peace, security and development

➢ Shared benefits – shared interest

➢ Shared knowledge – data, analysis and response

➢ Influencing development options

➢ Structured approach to dispute resolution

Relationships that can influence /constrain RBOs

➢ Dominance of a single sector – irrigation, hydropower, navigation, flood mgmt.,..

➢ Broader political and administrative context – e.g. bilateral dialogues

➢ Broader economic / development dialogue – e.g. regional economic bodies

➢ Stakeholder lobbying and engagement

Four categories of benefits through which cooperating states can produce win-win situations (Sadoff and Grey):

▪ benefits to the river: improve the ecological sustainability of the watershed;

▪ benefits from the river: water-related economic benefits by developing irrigation, generating hydropower, improving flood control or enhancing navigation;

▪ benefits due to reduced costs because of the river: reduction in political conflict and associated costs of conflict, when countries shift the policy focus from dispute to cooperation and development;

▪ benefits beyond the river: improved regional infrastructure, markets and trade ultimately resulting from benefits derived because of the river

Source: Sadoff and Grey, 2002. Beyond the River: The Benefits of Cooperation on International Rivers

Be efit shari g – within and beyond the Basin

• Columbia River - USA and Canada

• USA pays Canada for flood management benefits from dams in Canada

• Hydropower benefits in Canada and USA apportioned equally

• Senegal River – OMVS

• Diama and Manantali Dams – jointly owned projects benefit four countries

• Cost distribution based on expected benefits (irrigation, flood, hydropower..)

• Yangtze River Economic Belt – national initiative at basin scale

• Central government policy – transformation of economic developments

• Green subsidies - water quality improvements and ecosystem restoration

• Mekong River - MRC

• Establishment driven by interests of regional peace and joint development

• “ta da ds set fo ate ualit , i i u flo egi e, a igatio , … • Formal agreement sets out principles and processes for engagement

Shared benefits – shared interests

Shared knowledge – joint data, analysis and response

• Mekong River

• Joint data collection program, knowledge base and analytical tools

• Basin Development Strategy and State of the Basin Report

• Regional flood forecasting and warning service

• Nile Basin - NBI

• Establishment of Eastern Nile Technical Regional Office

• Joint decision-support system developed and Eastern Nile Planning Model

Influencing development options and outcomes

• EU Water Framework Directive – focus o outco es• process to achieve good ecological and chemical status of European waters

• implementation through context-specific River Basin Management Plans

• Murray Darling – achieving flows for the environment

• buy-back of existing water rights

• subsidy for farmers to be more water efficient

• Tennessee Valley Authority

• a corporation clothed with the power of government but possessed of the flexibility and initiative of a private enterprise , P eside t ‘oose elt

• Mekong River – mainstream dams

• rejection of major mainstream hydropower schemes (1970s) replaced by focus on smaller projects (1994 onwards) – concerns on impacts remain

• agreed design guidance on fish passage, sediment management, water quality,..

Structured approach to dispute resolution

• Nile Basin – Khartoum Declaration of Principles, 2015

c. France24

• Mekong River

• Formal dispute resolution mechanisms starting with inter-governmental dialogue and leading to arbitration

• Reality is more informal bilateral dialogues focusing on compromise

• Ex-post response to upstream dam construction among heads of governments

• Joint technical study of reservoir filling - GERD

• Adopted principles of cooperation; development, regional integration / stability; avoiding significant harm; fair and appropriate use; rules for reservoir filling; building trust, exchange of information and data; dam security; sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity; peaceful settlement of disputes.

Relationships that influence /constrain RBOs

© Steff, Bangkok Post, 2010

Public perception – e.g.

is ep ese tatio of M‘C s role in the 2010 drought

Dominance of one sector

• Murray Darling Basin

• Extensive irrigation development led to a tipping point of environment problems –low river flows, salinity, algal blooms, habitat loss, etc.

• Shift from a Commission to an Authority with stronger powers

• Changjiang Water Resources Commission

• Strong emphasis and capability on flood management and protection of downstream urban areas

• Mekong River

• Rapid private sector development of private sector hydropower concessions on tributaries not foreseen –Agreement has limited influence on cumulative impacts

Broader political and administrative context

• Southern African Development Community

• Opportunities resulting from post-apartheid reconciliation in South Africa

• Framework of political cooperation – led to Protocol on Shared Watercourses

• Mekong River

• Economic dependency of Laos:

• on hydropower exports to Thailand

• on direct investment from PRC

• Influence of Vietnam on Laos - shared political backgrounds

• Disjointed national / sector planning processes due to political influence

• General - bureaucratic inertia

• Risk averse approaches - time consuming processes

• Vested interests

• Restricted sharing of information/data

Broader economic and development dialogue

• Mekong River

• Influence of Greater Mekong Subregional Program (GMS) (e.g. energy trade and connectivity, agricultural program, environmental program)

• Wider basin development cooperation sponsored by China – Lancang Mekong Cooperation (LMC)

• ASEAN economic integration

• Bilateral development assistance programs

• Congo

• Discussions on regional power pool agreement

• Question over economic and political stability

• Central Asia

• Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC)

• Changing bilateral relationships between countries

Stakeholder engagement and influence

• Mississippi

• regular public hearings along the river with public and MRC Members

• Murray Darling Basin Authority

• e te si e o sultatio s o luep i t to restore river health

• recently challenged over extent of consultation with indigenous groups

• Itaipu (Brazil – Paraguay)

• formalized processes related to benefit sharing mechanisms with local communities

• Mekong

• stakeholder consultations on mainstream dam proposals – frustrations over extent of influence

• inter-country Joint Working Group – technical experts

Technical cooperation across borders

• EU Water Framework Directive – the Common Implementation Strategy

• elaborated working arrangements among Member States for implementation of the Water Framework Directive

• established working groups to prepare technical guidance and guidelines

• Mekong Expert Groups

• 4 joint technical groups to discuss sectoral issues prior to consideration by the governance bodies of the Commission

• Basin Planning

• Environmental Management

• Data Modelling and Forecasting

• Strategy and Partnership

Integrated water resources management is a useful guiding framework, but it is important for an RBO to:

• focus on the critical areas and functions where its coordinating and facilitating role brings added value

• add ess big picture o e s that a make a difference, rather than getting diverted by minor issues

• maintain a separation of roles – o e see a d de elope

• ensure effective mechanisms for engagement with stakeholders

Reflections - prioritize rather than generalize

Ganga Cultural Documentation Project

INDIAN NATIonal trust for art and cultural heritage

Project Objectives

❖River Is A Cultural Stream Providing CulturallyBased Eco-system Services

• Twin Issues Of Pollution And Anaemic Flow HaveNegatively Affected Cultural Sites, Activities, NaturalHeritage Along The River Banks

• No Single Document Which Carries A CulturalNarrative Of The River And Hence Need ToDevelop Appreciation Of The River As A CulturalStream

• An Annual Calendar Of Events And Rituals• A Knowledge Of The Sublime Aspects Of The RiverCan Influence Public Attitudes As Well As ProposedInterventions

THE WORK GEOGRAPHYGanga Basin

River Ganga originates from Gangotri Glacier and empties in

Bay of Bengal after covering a distance of 2525 km.

Ptolemy Cosmographia 2nd Centure AD

Gangotri, Fraser, 1820

The qualities of Ganga water are: Coolness,Sweetness, Transparency, High Tonic properties,wholesomeness, portability, ability to remove evils,ability to resuscitate from swoon caused bydehydration, digestive property and ability to retainwisdom.

Dakshineshwar Math

Ganga Dussehra,

Ganga Sagar

Daniells, Hardwar

SRINGAVERAPURA

Chet Singh Fort

Chanakya’s Gufa

Darbhanga Palace Patna

Chandernagore

West of Allahabad

West of Patna

Ancient Bridges

The Rope Bridge in Srinagar, Garhwal, built over the Alaknanda in 1784

Wilson Bridge at

Bhaironghati

Located at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the Gartang Galion is a

bridge cut out of the mountain on a sheer rock face. Located in

District Uttarkashi, the bridge was built by Pathan and Tibetan

traders to carry out trade with Tibet

Devprayag - Alaknanda

Storm on the Ganges – William Hodges, 1790

Barrackpore

From : Victor Mallett

Thank You

Don’t Dig A Well When You are Thirsty

THANK YOU