Download - November 5, 2011 BRiP – 2011, IIT Kanpur Consortia of 7 IITs IIT Bombay IIT Delhi IIT Guwahati IIT Kanpur IIT Kharagpur IIT Madras IIT Roorkee Ganga River

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


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.


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”:


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.


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


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



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



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



Model of a River Basin


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 !

Download - November 5, 2011 BRiP – 2011, IIT Kanpur Consortia of 7 IITs IIT Bombay IIT Delhi IIT Guwahati IIT Kanpur IIT Kharagpur IIT Madras IIT Roorkee Ganga River

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