Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India where forest fires are reported almost every season. As per Indian state of forest report 2017, India saw a 46 percent increase in the number of forest fires in the last 16 years. Forest fires not only affect the flora and fauna of the region but they also pollute the environment and lead to climate change by increasing greenhouse gases.

"In the last one decade, forest fires have negatively impacted the Jammu and Kashmir region and have affected the ecosystem to such an extent that the drinking water crisis has aggravated in many parts of the Himalayan region. It has also affected regeneration, soil fertility, productive capacity of forests, non-timber forest products and other ecosystem services," says Abdul Rashid, the documentary filmmaker.

The film “Green Gold on Fire” by Abdul Rashid provides an overview of the impacts of forest fire on the community life and the environment. The film was one among the selected documentary films that were screened during the eighth edition of Quotes from the Earth--an Environmental Film Festival 2018 held at New Delhi from December 6-8. The film festival was organised by Toxics Link and India International Centre with support from the Swedish Society For Nature Conservation.

About the filmmaker

Abdul Rashid is an engineer and documentary filmmaker working with Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC), the University of Kashmir since 2005. He is an award-winning filmmaker and an environmental activist. His documentary on Dal Lake “The Bitter Truth” was also selected for the eighth edition of ‘Quotes from the Earth’ – an Environmental Film Festival 2018.

Amur falcons are among the strongest fliers in the avian world. Since the last 25 years, they have been migrating to the Northeast especially Nagaland from Siberia en route to their final destination—Somalia, Kenya and South Africa. 

In 2013, the researchers estimated that between 1,20,000 and 1,40,000 Amur falcons were being trapped and killed for human consumption in the Nagaland and the Wokha districts every year.

It is thanks to the tireless efforts of wildlife conservationists, NGOs and the government that the village hunters gave up hunting and the community resorted to bird conservation. 

The film, “The Naga Pride” by Sumanth Kuduvalli is a community conservation documentary around the annual migratory birds Amur falcons and the hunting tribes of Nagaland. It showcases the transformation of these hunters to protectors and deals with the effect of climate change on wildlife in general and Amur falcons in particular.

The film was one among the selected documentary films that were screened during the eighth edition of Quotes from the Earth--an Environmental Film Festival 2018 held at New Delhi from December 6-8. The film festival was organised by Toxics Link and India International Centre with support from the Swedish Society For Nature Conservation.

About the filmmaker

In 2012, Sumanth Kuduvalli started his journey as a wildlife filmmaker. Apart from filmmaking, he volunteers in many wildlife conservation activities.

Industries to pay water conservation fee for extraction of groundwater 

The Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA) has issued new guidelines for groundwater extraction to conserve groundwater. As per the new notification, a water conservation fee (WCF) would be levied on industries for extracting groundwater from June 2019. The notification would be applicable to mining, dewatering units, packaged drinking water units, individual households with a delivery pipe of greater than one inch in diameter. The agricultural sector, however, would be exempted from the fee. Also, industries will need to apply for a no-objection certificate (NOC) online through a web-based application system of CGWA. 

NGT allows the reopening of Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin

In a major relief to the Vedanta-run Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set aside the Tamil Nadu government's order of permanently shutting down the plant and allowed its reopening. Also, the tribunal has directed the state pollution control board to pass fresh renewal orders to the plant and the authorisation to handle hazardous substances. Vedanta has also been asked to deposit Rs 2.5 crore as a token for its inappropriate handling of 3.5 lakh metric tons of copper slag on the patta land. The state chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, however, has said that the tribunal's order would be challenged in the Supreme Court. 

Take urgent steps to check pollution in Godavari river: HC to Maharashtra 

In the wake of alleged pollution in Godavari river caused by Kumbh Mela held in Nashik in 2015 and other religious events, the Bombay high court has ordered the Maharashtra government to take appropriate measures to curb pollution in the river and other water bodies across the state. The court has also formed a monitoring committee that will continue as a permanent body and is also supposed to implement the recommendations of the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) in controlling river pollution. 

Government plans to promote inland waterways during Kumbh Mela, 2019

During the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh from January 15, 2019, the Centre has planned to promote the use of inland waterways for ferrying people and cargo. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been tasked with facilitating safe movements to the pilgrims coming for the festival. Also, IWAI has set up four floating terminals, one each at Kilaghat, Sarasvati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat for the festival. In addition, two vessels namely CL Kasturba and SL Kamla have also been deployed along with setting up of five temporary jetties for embarkment and disembarkment of passengers. 

Authorities blame each other for Sabarmati river pollution

The officials of Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) have blamed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) for the rising pollution in the Sabarmati river. As per the officials, a major contributor to the pollution is domestic sewage and despite serving notices to the AMC, nothing has been done to reduce pollution in the river. However, as per the AMC, it is the industrial units that are causing pollution in the river and the GPCB should be taking action against these units. 

This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 11 - 18, 2018. Also, read news this week.

Out of 41 study points, the Ganga clean only at the Haridwar barrage location: CPCB

In compliance with the Supreme Court order, the Central Pollution Control Board has released the “Biological Water Quality Assessment of the River Ganga” report. As per the report, out of the 41 locations monitored for pollution, the Ganga river water was found clean only at the Haridwar barrage location during both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. Further, 37 out of 41 locations through which the river flows were found to be in the “moderate to severe pollution” category in the pre-monsoon period in 2018. Also, the study pointed that the two major tributaries of the river—Pandu and Varuna—in Uttar Pradesh are responsible for increased pollution levels of the Ganga as they were found to be “severely polluted” before the confluence point. 

Himalayan glaciers are retreating at alarming rate, thanks to irresponsible tourism: Parliamentary panel 

Taking note of the media reports on the retreat of Himalayan glaciers at an alarming rate, the Parliamentary panel has suggested that the Centre make adequate financial allocation and infrastructure available to measure the extent of glacial retreat and the ways to mitigate its effects. As per the panel, reckless and irresponsible tourism in the Himalayan ecosystem is one of the major reasons for environmental degradation. Therefore, the panel has recommended the Centre to constitute a committee of experts to formulate the guidelines on the Himalayan ecotourism. 

Water available at railway's water vending machines to cost higher

The railway board has agreed to raise the cost of buying a glass of water from the vending machines installed at railway stations. At present, refilling 300 ml of water costs Re 1. With the hike, however, the cost will increase to Rs 2 and buying a glass of water will cost Rs 3. Earlier, the vending machines only sold 500 ml of water using paper containers but the hike is expected to allow the machines to sell 300 ml of water with ease. 

Difficult to link Kerala floods 2018 to anthropogenic climate change: Study

A study carried out by the Water and Climate Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar argues that attributing the 2018 event in Kerala to climate change can be difficult. The study factored in the long term (1951-2017) changes and found that during the 66-year period, Kerala witnessed a significant decline in monsoon rainfall while the temperature rose. This made the researchers hypothesise that the 2018 event may not be linked to long-term climate change but to an extreme event that was driven by a short-term natural variability of climate.

Activists protesting hunger deaths demand proper implementation of National Food Security Act

In the past one year, 45 people died of hunger that led to food rights activists taking to roads on December 17, 2018. The activists demanded proper implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as most of these people died because they were denied their rightful food under the Act for the failure of biometric identification, Aadhaar. The activists also demanded a discussion in Parliament on the state of hunger in the country and strict notification against denying of benefits of any welfare programme in the absence of biometric authentication.  

This is a roundup of important news published between December 19 - 26, 2018. Also read policy matters this week.

Himachal, Kerala, TN front-runners in NITI Aayog index on development goals

NITI Aayog has come out with a baseline index for the performance of all states based on various UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and found that Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are among the front-runners. While Kerala topped for its superior performance in providing good health, reducing hunger, achieving gender equality and providing quality education, Himachal Pradesh achieved success in providing clean water and sanitation, in reducing inequalities and preserving the mountain ecosystem. Tamil Nadu did well in reducing poverty and providing affordable and clean energy to people.

NITI Aayog unveils comprehensive national strategy for 2022-23

NITI Aayog has come up with a comprehensive national strategy for New India, which defines clear objectives across 41 crucial areas for 2022-23. The report came out with several recommendations for combating water pollution in the country. It has recommended the reduction of wastewater discharge from industrial units into rivers and other water bodies to zero and stringent civil penalties in case of noncompliance to strengthen enforcement of environment-related acts. The new strategy calls for installation of sewage treatment plants of adequate capacity at a suitable location in order to make rivers pollution free and for redesigning the National Water Mission for efficient water resource management. 

Farm loan waivers announced in five states 

Within a few hours of taking the oath, the new chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have announced farm loan waivers, followed by the Odisha and Jharkhand governments joining the list of states doling out sops for farmers. While the MP and Rajasthan governments waived off farm loans of up to Rs two lakh, the Chhattisgarh chief minister completely waived the short-term agriculture loans to the tune of over Rs 6,100 crore of over 16.65 lakh farmers. The Odisha government announced the Rs 10,000-crore scheme for the overall development of farmers in the state and the Jharkhand CM declared the Rs 2,250-crore scheme to help 22.76 lakh medium and marginal farmers of the state double their income by 2022. 

Yamuna rejuvenation: Committee stresses the need to create a sense of ownership among public

The monitoring committee, set up by the National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice A.K. Goel has stressed the need to raise awareness about the importance of the Yamuna river and its floodplain to create a sense of ownership among the people. The committee has also suggested forming a nodal agency that will build awareness by spearheading permissible events and activities for creating public awareness on Yamuna preservation. The committee has highlighted the need to encourage programmes for preventing dung from dairies going into the river.

WII gives way for hydel projects in Arunachal's tiger zone

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has virtually cleared the way for the proposed Etalin and Lower Demwe hydel power projects in Arunachal Pradesh. The two mega projects are proposed in Dibang Valley and Lohit districts, one of India’s most biodiverse landscapes. When asked by the government authorities to conduct an environmental impact assessment study of the projects, WII carried out a study to find how the project’s impact on wildlife can be minimised in one case, while in another instance, WII held a meeting to find a way forward for allowing construction of the dam. As per the environment ministry, however, the WII research for private clients will not be part of the decision-making process.

This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 19 - 26, 2018. Also, read news this week.

Put aside Rs 500 crore for lake clean-up: NGT to Karnataka government

Taking note of the authorities' neglect of pollution in Bellandur and Varthur lakes, the National Green Tribunal has ordered the Karnataka government to put aside Rs 500 crore towards the cleaning up of these lakes. The tribunal has also directed Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to pay Rs 50 crore as environment compensation to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The tribunal has also sought an action plan for the lake clean-up in one month and has asked for a performance guarantee of Rs 100 crore, which shall be paid in case of failure to implement the plan within the timeline. 

Centre approves Shahpurkandi dam project on Ravi river

Keeping in view the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan, the union cabinet has given its go-ahead to the Shahpurkandi dam project on Ravi river in Punjab. The project which was planned 17 years ago, will help India arrest the water flowing through the Madhopur headworks downstream to Pakistan. The project has been planned to get completed in June 2022 and envisages to create an additional irrigation potential of 5,000 hectares in Punjab and 32,173 hectares in Jammu & Kashmir. The project will also generate 206 MW of hydropower in Punjab. 

Green nod to Char Dham highway comes under SC scanner

The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's response to the expansion of the national highway network in sensitive mountains of Uttarakhand. The ambitious plan to connect the Char Dham pilgrimage spots—Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath—in Uttarakhand through a 900-kilometre road network had received the green clearance from the National Green Tribunal. The proposal, however, drew scepticism from environmental activists who fear that more development in the fragile hills of the state will affect the ecological balance of the region and can also lead to another disaster like the flood in Kedarnath in 2013. 

Stage I forest clearance no more a prerequisite for converting forest land

In a letter to the Maharashtra government regarding forest diversion for several coal mining projects of Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL), the environment ministry has made forest rights act irrelevant in the initial stage. As per the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980, forest clearance is carried out in two stages—Stage I, the in-principle approval, and Stage II, the final approval. However, according to experts, exemption from Stage I clearance will not only dilute the importance of the Forest Rights Act in the name of ease of doing business but will also disregard the rights of tribal communities.  

Panel recommends leasing of wasteland to the corporate sector for re-greening

In its report, the expert committee appointed by the environment ministry for suggesting ways to increase the green cover outside forests has recommended to lease wasteland to the corporate sector for re-greening. The committee has also recommended evolving business models for tree cultivation, issuance of green bonds and development of appropriate public-private partnership (PPP) models involving the private sector and forest corporations. The recommendations are made towards the completion of the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution targets which aims to bring 33 percent of the geographical area under forest and tree cover by 2030. 

This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 4-10, 2018. Also, read news this week.

Most nations lack the political will to fight climate change: COP24

According to a recent report, Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2019, released by Germanwatch and the NewClimate Institute at the 24th Conference of Parties (COP 24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, only a few countries have started working towards limiting global warming below 2°C or even keeping it at 1.5°C. India has ranked 11th in the index due to the country's low levels of per capita GHG emissions and an ambitious mitigation target for 2030. The index highlighted that the gap between the current emission levels and actual efforts to fight climate change is widening every day.  

Pune eateries saving water through the 'half filled water glass' initiative

In a bid to save water and avoid its wastage, the Pune Restaurant and Hoteliers Association (PRAHA) has asked hotels and restaurants to adopt the “half-filled water glass” initiative. The PRAHA will also distribute theme cards on water conservation to hotels and restaurants to make the customers understand the rationale behind the initiative. As Pune hotels wake up to the need of saving water, the motels and farmhouses in Delhi has come under the Supreme Court radar for wasting food and water at wedding functions. The apex court also questioned the authorities for preferring commercial interest to public interest. 

Yamuna is fighting to stay alive: Panel

According to the monitoring committee, less than two percent stretch of the Yamuna river accounts for 76 percent of pollution in the river. This stretch is from Wazirabad to Okhla in Delhi and bears the maximum discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastes. The committee further pointed out that the river is fighting hard to stay alive and in order to rejuvenate the river, it is important to maintain a minimum environmental flow in it. The committee has recommended forming a team of scientists from the CPCB, the DPCC and other institutions like IIT Delhi or NEERI to carry out inspections and submit reports for remedial action.

Bullet train project: Gujarat farmers to take their fight to Japan

The farmers, villagers and activists in Gujarat have met the three-member Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) team during their two-day visit and have shown their opposition to the 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR). The farmers alleged that the project is anti-farmer and is in violation of the land acquisition rules. Moreover, the project is going to pass through the reserved forest, mangroves and around 80,000 trees will be felled. It will also affect the water sources and biodiversity of the entire corridor. The farmers have threatened the JICA team to take their fight to Japan if their demands are not met. 

Environmentalists for 'Save Kodagu, Save Cauvery' campaign

As part of the 'Save Kodagu, Save Cauvery' campaign, nearly 500 environmentalists across Karnataka marched to Madikeri against the expansion of the National Highway 275 between Kushalnagar, Madikeri and Sampaje. The projects worth Rs 10,000 crore will pass through the fragile terrain, which is still recovering from the devastating floods in August. According to the activists' claims, the projects serve the vested interest of people while neglecting the plight of the local people and the ecology of Kodagu which is a principle catchment of Cauvery. The protestors have also asked for a greater allocation of flood relief plan for the region instead of these development projects.

This is a roundup of important news published between December 4 - 10, 2018. Also read policy matters this week.

Droughts are one of the most feared natural calamities in India impacting food production, the economy as well as the morale of millions of farmers in a country where agriculture is the livelihood of 60 percent of the population.

This year too, 255 districts of the country have received deficient or scanty rainfall. More than 50 percent of the districts in Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa have been affected. Some states have declared drought while others are still in the process of doing so. 

The agricultural sector is undergoing a grave crisis and hundreds of farmers have marched to Delhi to raise their concerns, the water crisis being an important one!

Studies show that droughts will be more frequent in India!

This is not the first time that the country is witnessing droughts. There were 26 major droughts during the period of 1871–2015, when the All India Summer Monsoon Rainfall (AISMR) was found to be lesser than the mean rainfall for the country.

While many of these droughts have negatively affected agricultural output and caused immense suffering to people, recent studies show that the risk of droughts over India is predicted to increase further, particularly so in the northeastern and western parts of India!

What are droughts and how are they defined?

A drought can be defined as:

“An extended period—a season, a year, or several years—of deficient precipitation compared to the statistical multi-year average for a region that results in water shortage for some activity, group, or environmental sector”.

While this is a general definition, droughts can be classified into the following categories:

• Meteorological droughts occur when there are long gaps in normal rainfall and are measured based on the degree of dryness and the duration of the dry period.
• Agricultural droughts occur when there is insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of a crop at a particular time. Agricultural drought usually follows meteorological drought and occurs before a hydrological drought. Agricultural drought can be measured through indicators such as lack of rainfall, changes in evapotranspiration, soil water deficits, reduced groundwater or reservoir levels etc.
• Hydrological droughts are the result of surface and subsurface water supplies from streams, rivers and lakes becoming scarce due to scanty rainfall. The frequency and severity of hydrological droughts are defined at the watershed or river basin scale and are influenced by factors such as land degradation or land use changes, construction of dams etc.
• Socioeconomic droughts occur when water shortage starts to affect people’s lives, individually and collectively.

This classification of droughts is very useful to measure drought frequency, severity, and duration.

What are the causes of droughts?

Droughts are caused due to lack of rains over extended periods of time. A number of factors such as temperature changes between land and water, changes in air circulation and erratic weather patterns can affect rainfall frequency and intensity leading to droughts 

Human activities such as land use changes, deforestation, urbanisation, pollution can also have a negative impact on rainfall leading to dry conditions and loss of soil moisture.

Poor rainfall and high temperatures coupled with overuse of surface and groundwater resources and poor water management practices can lead to demand for water exceeding the available water supply. These can trigger droughts.

Why is India vulnerable to droughts?

A number of factors make India susceptible to droughts such as:

• Yearly, seasonal and regional variations in rainfall in spite of high average annual rainfall 
• A short span of fewer than 100 days during the south-west monsoon
• Loss of water during heavy rains as surface runoff
• Less rainfall over 33 percent of the cropped area in the country
• Over-exploitation of groundwater resources and poor conservation and storage mechanisms for surface water leading to inadequate water availability in times of scanty rainfall
• Steady decline in per capita water availability for humans and animals even in non-drought years
• Rapid deforestation, urbanisation and climate change that has been leading to erratic rainfall patterns
• Limited irrigation coverage leading to excessive dependence of agriculture on rainfall
• Faulty cropping patterns and over emphasis on water guzzling crops

Areas vulnerable to droughts in India

As high as 68 percent of the cropped area in India is vulnerable to droughtsof which 33 percent is classified as 'chronically drought-prone' comprising desert and semiarid regions that receive less than 750 mm mean annual rainfall.

Thirty-five percent area receives 750 mm to 1125 mm rainfall and is classified as 'drought-prone' that is confined to the arid, semi-arid and sub-humid regions of peninsular and western India and include the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

How is a drought declared in India?

There are considerable variations in the way droughts are declared at the state level in India. Many states still continue to rely on the traditional annewari/ paisewari/ girdawari (rough estimate of standing crops in terms of how many annas, paisa in a rupee, where the rupee is considered as the standard measure of full crops) systems of drought estimation where crop production estimates are obtained by calculating the value of crops as the value of the actual yield after harvest in relation to the value of the crop grown.

Areas with less than 50 percent annewari / paisewari / girdawari are considered to be affected by a drought. The annewari / paisewari / girdawari figures for kharif crops are calculated in December, while those for rabi crops in March. This has, however, led to a lack of uniform classification of droughts.

The Government of India has laid down revised norms for drought declaration in 2015 and according to the Manual for Drought Management published in 2016, the following four categories of indices are looked at to assess the extent of drought:

• Rainfall-related indices
• Remote sensing-based vegetation indices
• Crop situation-related indices
• Hydrological indices

Rainfall is considered to be the most important while others are looked at in combination with rainfall.

Read more here

Other factors that are considered in the evaluation of droughts include:

• Fodder availability, pricing and information on cattle camps
• Drinking water availability for humans and livestock
• Migration of people in search of employment
• Agricultural and non-agricultural wages compared with normal times
• Availability and price of food grains and essential commodities

The intensity of the drought is assessed by looking at the values of at least three of the above indicators and:

• Severe drought is declared if three impact indicators are in the severe category
• Moderate drought is declared if two of the three impact indicators are in the “moderate” or “severe” class
• Drought is classified as normal for all other cases

In the case of “severe” or “moderate” drought, states are asked to conduct a sample survey to make a final determination of drought.

Read more here

Institutional structures to deal with droughts in the country

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the apex body that formulates policies and institutional structures for drought management at the national and state levels. The department has a Drought Management Cell (DMC) that gathers information from various sources, monitors drought conditions, issues advisories, coordinates with central government and state government ministries and other concerned agencies to mitigate the effects of drought. The department updates and reviews the Crisis Management Plan (CMP) that decides the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the central and state governments and their agencies in managing droughts.

A Crisis Management Group (CMG) for drought management is also expected to come up to manage various stages of drought at the central, state and district levels. Another plan is the creation of separate Drought Monitoring Centres (DMCs) at the state level which would report to the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA).

The DMCs can collect, collate and analyse information on drought obtained from National and State level agencies such as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mahalanobis National Crop Forecast Centre (MNCFC), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), National and State Remote Sensing Application Centres (N&SRSAC), Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

Read more about it here

Narrow approach to drought management hinders progress

Drought management, however, continues to be inadequately addressed in the country, not due to lack of policies and institutional framework, but due to lack of proper planning, coordination between different functioning units and implementation at the ground level. Many also blame the very approach of drought management that focuses on quick-fix solutions without taking into consideration the long-term sustainability and livelihood issues of the farmers. Declaration of drought has also been found to be riddled with problems and the new norms have been blamed for being too strict making it difficult for the states to prove "severe" drought and get relief from the Centre.

While scanty rainfall, depleting water tables continue to fuel the agricultural crisis in the country, it is clear that we need to be better prepared to mitigate the impacts of a drought. Concerted action at the policy level by giving agriculture the importance it deserves and urgent adaptation strategies to cope with the situation need to be implemented urgently.

Until a few decades ago, the Ganga flowed with gay abandon and descended with rapidity into the plains. Today the waters have withdrawn from its banks and downstream of the hydropower and irrigation projects that have hindered its flow, the Ganga is totally dry.

The demand to restore and maintain the wholesomeness of the Ganga has grown from all quarters of society over the years. The union government, through its National Mission for Clean Ganga, issued a notification on October 10, 2018 laying down the flow specifications. The ecological flow (e-flow) or the minimum quantity of water that the various stretches of the Ganga must necessarily have all through the year for the ecosystem and biodiversity requirements is specified in it.

What does the e-flow notification say?

As per the notification, the upper stretches of the Ganga—from its origins in the glaciers and until Haridwar—would have to maintain 20 percent of the monthly average flow of the preceding 10 days between November and March, which is the dry season; 25 percent of the average during the lean season of October, April and May; and 30 percent of the monthly average during the monsoon months of June-September.

For the main stem of the Ganga, from Haridwar in Uttarakhand to Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, the notification specifies minimum flow at various barrages—Bhimgoda (Haridwar) must ensure a minimum of 36 cubic metres per second (cumecs) between October-May and 57 cumecs in the monsoon; and the barrages at Bijnor, Narora and Kanpur must maintain a minimum of 24 cumecs in the non-monsoon months of October-May, and 48 cumecs during the monsoon months of June-September.

The new norms would require hydropower projects located along the river to modify their operations so as to ensure they are in compliance. Power projects that don’t meet these norms as yet would be given three years to comply and “mini and micro-projects” would be exempt from these requirements. The Central Water Commission (CWC) would be the designated authority to collect relevant data and submit flow monitoring-cum-compliance reports on a quarterly basis to the National Mission for Clean Ganga, according to the notification.

Minimum flow directive inadequate

This is likely to become a template for notifications on other rivers of the country. But does this mean we will never see the Ganga dry ever as claimed by Nitin Gadkari, union water resources minister? No, say legal, water and environmental experts who deliberated on this at the India Rivers Week 2018 held at the World Wildlife Fund, New Delhi on November 24-26, 2018.

The forum discussed the impacts of hydropower projects, interlinking of rivers, waterways, dredging, river-front development, unsustainable sand mining, encroachments into the river and extraction of groundwater. It was of the view that the government had made little effort to assess the impact of these interventions on the river.

River needs unobstructed and not just continuous flow

“E-flow is a regime of flow in a river that mimics the natural pattern and is about maintaining the river’s hydrological integrity. It is not just a flow of water, but of nutrients and sediments. Because a lot of our rivers are already regulated, the challenge is to put in place a meaningful e-flow,” says Jagdish Krishnaswamy, ATREE, Bangalore.

Prof. Vinod Tare, Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur who was involved in the preparation of the Ganga River Basin Management Plan as a part of the consortium of seven IITs says, “The government hasn’t disclosed the existing ecological flows at various stretches but has gone ahead and set the minimum levels, which are not place-specific.” Earlier, the B.K. Chaturvedi committee had recommended the release of 20 to 30 percent of water from hydropower projects as an interim measure until the IIT consortium suggested the desired e-flows.

IIT consortium study ignored

The IIT consortium, in turn, had recommended the release of about 50 percent of water as e-flows for maintaining the wholesomeness of the river. Tare was disappointed that the recommendations of the IIT consortium were ignored and the government went ahead with the 20-30 percent flow figures without any public discussion. The study by IIT consortium was exhaustive and suggested site-specific limits on e-flow. Agreeing with Tare, Shashi Shekhar, former secretary of the water resources ministry says, “The targets for the minimum flow are way below what’s needed for the ideal health of the river. Water is both a part and product of riverine ecology. If you remove the product, the part gets destroyed.”

Shekhar points to the decline in the baseflow in the Ganga river basin. This is also corroborated by a study by IIT-Kharagpur published recently in Scientific Reports magazine that points to “unprecedented low levels of water in several lower reaches” in the last few summer seasons. The study suggests that this was “possibly related to the groundwater depletion in the Gangetic aquifers, which is also impacting the riverine ecology and food security of the people”.

In the notification, the government has brushed aside the need to halt construction activities along the Ganga. Without this, it is difficult to maintain the Gangatva or the essence of the Ganga,” says Manoj Misra of Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan. “The Centre’s Namami Gange programme is about cleaning up the river focusing on "nirmaldhara" (unpolluted flow) at the cost of the other important related aspect of "aviraldhara" (uninterrupted flow).

The scientific concept of longitudinal connectivity i.e., the need to modify the design of hydroelectric projects and dams to ensure water flowed continuously, as well as of lateral connectivity with the floodplains during monsoon has been ignored. “The free migration of aquatic species has been completely ignored by the notification. Keystone species in the river such as Mahseer or Snow Trout need to be preserved in all seasons,” says Suresh Babu, director, River Basin Programme, World Wildlife Fund.

E-flow implementation process dubious

Questioning the central government’s recent notification on environmental flow, Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) points to a joint report of the Ministries of Environment & Forests and Water Resources of 2015 that presents the scientific methodology on assessment of e-flows in a river. “The present notification does not have a scientific basis and is ad hoc. Further, it is alarming that the notification mandates minimal flows three years from now,” says Thakkar. He raises doubts on the e-flow implementation process as the notification says that the minimal flows have to be ensured by the project developers and the Central Water Commission, totally oblivious of the conflict of interest involved. The notification also leaves the technical modifications needed to comply to the e-flow levels with the developers.

The government has also come up with a draft Ganga Protection Bill that does not unambiguously list the adverse impacts of various interventions like dams, hydropower projects and waterways on the river. Nor does it entail oversight by a Ganga council as suggested by Prof. Agarwal. “Setting aside 20-30 percent flows of a river for e-flow is a contentious decision and looks like an allowance to free up the rest of the waters. The fear is that the planners will begin to build more and more hydroelectric dams in the upper reaches and dams in the middle stretches across the river to extract the remaining 70-80 percent water. This could be a way to fool people and make way for more dams,” says Mallika Bhanot of Ganga Ahvaan, an Uttarakhand-based NGO working for the protection of river Ganga.

“Without the downscaled data available at the district level, discussions about e-flow are meaningless. Such data needs to be pooled together and a generally agreed modelling exercise can give the state of water availability in the Ganga basin and a reasonably accurate idea of e-flow,” says Dhruba Das Gupta, project director at SCOPE, Kolkata.

The government has had a spotty environmental record and has been swinging back and forth on its decisions. Instead of coming up with a significant policy change, what the government has done is to bring out a half-baked e-flow, going back on its promise to step up the "aviralta" and the "nirmalta" of the Ganga. What is required is a credible roadmap map to clean the Ganga and restore its flow.

Uday Mandrekar (40) is a popular boatman on the Chorao island of Goa. He is known for his formidable knowledge on birds in the area so much so that he is often referred to as the bird man of Chorao. He is a private boatman and a tourist guide who can take you deep into the mangroves and waterways of the island.

Chorao island is just five km away from the capital city of Panaji. Along the Mandovi river, it is one of the largest islands in Goa. The island has a unique ecosystem. It has one of the best mangrove forests and houses most of the mangrove species found in Goa.

Uday has dedicated his life towards protecting the flora and fauna of the island. During his bird watching trips, he educates tourists about the harmful effects of garbage on avian and aquatic life. On days when he is free, Mandrekar goes about cleaning the garbage thrown in the mangroves.

The film “Birdman of Chorao” by Shashank Bhosle was one among the selected documentary films that were screened during the eighth edition of Quotes from the Earth—an Environmental Film Festival 2018 held at New Delhi from December 6-8. The film festival was organised by Toxics Link and India International Centre with support from the Swedish Society For Nature Conservation. The film is about Uday Mandrekar's efforts.

About the filmmaker:

Shashank Bhosley is a passionate photographer and an award-winning filmmaker who endeavours to raise awareness on environmental issues through his photographs and films.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India where forest fires are reported almost every season. As per Indian state of forest report 2017, India saw a 46 percent increase in the number of forest fires in the last 16 years. Forest fires not only affect the flora and fauna of the region but they also pollute the environment and lead to climate change by increasing greenhouse gases.

"In the last one decade, forest fires have negatively impacted the Jammu and Kashmir region and have affected the ecosystem to such an extent that the drinking water crisis has aggravated in many parts of the Himalayan region. It has also affected regeneration, soil fertility, productive capacity of forests, non-timber forest products and other ecosystem services," says Abdul Rashid, the documentary filmmaker.

The film “Green Gold on Fire” by Abdul Rashid provides an overview of the impacts of forest fire on the community life and the environment. The film was one among the selected documentary films that were screened during the eighth edition of Quotes from the Earth--an Environmental Film Festival 2018 held at New Delhi from December 6-8. The film festival was organised by Toxics Link and India International Centre with support from the Swedish Society For Nature Conservation.

About the filmmaker

Abdul Rashid is an engineer and documentary filmmaker working with Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC), the University of Kashmir since 2005. He is an award-winning filmmaker and an environmental activist. His documentary on Dal Lake “The Bitter Truth” was also selected for the eighth edition of ‘Quotes from the Earth’ – an Environmental Film Festival 2018.

Amur falcons are among the strongest fliers in the avian world. Since the last 25 years, they have been migrating to the Northeast especially Nagaland from Siberia en route to their final destination—Somalia, Kenya and South Africa. 

In 2013, the researchers estimated that between 1,20,000 and 1,40,000 Amur falcons were being trapped and killed for human consumption in the Nagaland and the Wokha districts every year.

It is thanks to the tireless efforts of wildlife conservationists, NGOs and the government that the village hunters gave up hunting and the community resorted to bird conservation. 

The film, “The Naga Pride” by Sumanth Kuduvalli is a community conservation documentary around the annual migratory birds Amur falcons and the hunting tribes of Nagaland. It showcases the transformation of these hunters to protectors and deals with the effect of climate change on wildlife in general and Amur falcons in particular.

The film was one among the selected documentary films that were screened during the eighth edition of Quotes from the Earth--an Environmental Film Festival 2018 held at New Delhi from December 6-8. The film festival was organised by Toxics Link and India International Centre with support from the Swedish Society For Nature Conservation.

About the filmmaker

In 2012, Sumanth Kuduvalli started his journey as a wildlife filmmaker. Apart from filmmaking, he volunteers in many wildlife conservation activities.

Industries to pay water conservation fee for extraction of groundwater 

The Central Groundwater Authority (CGWA) has issued new guidelines for groundwater extraction to conserve groundwater. As per the new notification, a water conservation fee (WCF) would be levied on industries for extracting groundwater from June 2019. The notification would be applicable to mining, dewatering units, packaged drinking water units, individual households with a delivery pipe of greater than one inch in diameter. The agricultural sector, however, would be exempted from the fee. Also, industries will need to apply for a no-objection certificate (NOC) online through a web-based application system of CGWA. 

NGT allows the reopening of Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin

In a major relief to the Vedanta-run Sterlite Copper plant in Tuticorin, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set aside the Tamil Nadu government's order of permanently shutting down the plant and allowed its reopening. Also, the tribunal has directed the state pollution control board to pass fresh renewal orders to the plant and the authorisation to handle hazardous substances. Vedanta has also been asked to deposit Rs 2.5 crore as a token for its inappropriate handling of 3.5 lakh metric tons of copper slag on the patta land. The state chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, however, has said that the tribunal's order would be challenged in the Supreme Court. 

Take urgent steps to check pollution in Godavari river: HC to Maharashtra 

In the wake of alleged pollution in Godavari river caused by Kumbh Mela held in Nashik in 2015 and other religious events, the Bombay high court has ordered the Maharashtra government to take appropriate measures to curb pollution in the river and other water bodies across the state. The court has also formed a monitoring committee that will continue as a permanent body and is also supposed to implement the recommendations of the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) in controlling river pollution. 

Government plans to promote inland waterways during Kumbh Mela, 2019

During the upcoming Kumbh Mela to be held in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh from January 15, 2019, the Centre has planned to promote the use of inland waterways for ferrying people and cargo. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been tasked with facilitating safe movements to the pilgrims coming for the festival. Also, IWAI has set up four floating terminals, one each at Kilaghat, Sarasvati Ghat, Naini Bridge and Sujawan Ghat for the festival. In addition, two vessels namely CL Kasturba and SL Kamla have also been deployed along with setting up of five temporary jetties for embarkment and disembarkment of passengers. 

Authorities blame each other for Sabarmati river pollution

The officials of Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) have blamed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) for the rising pollution in the Sabarmati river. As per the officials, a major contributor to the pollution is domestic sewage and despite serving notices to the AMC, nothing has been done to reduce pollution in the river. However, as per the AMC, it is the industrial units that are causing pollution in the river and the GPCB should be taking action against these units. 

This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 11 - 18, 2018. Also, read news this week.

Out of 41 study points, the Ganga clean only at the Haridwar barrage location: CPCB

In compliance with the Supreme Court order, the Central Pollution Control Board has released the “Biological Water Quality Assessment of the River Ganga” report. As per the report, out of the 41 locations monitored for pollution, the Ganga river water was found clean only at the Haridwar barrage location during both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. Further, 37 out of 41 locations through which the river flows were found to be in the “moderate to severe pollution” category in the pre-monsoon period in 2018. Also, the study pointed that the two major tributaries of the river—Pandu and Varuna—in Uttar Pradesh are responsible for increased pollution levels of the Ganga as they were found to be “severely polluted” before the confluence point. 

Himalayan glaciers are retreating at alarming rate, thanks to irresponsible tourism: Parliamentary panel 

Taking note of the media reports on the retreat of Himalayan glaciers at an alarming rate, the Parliamentary panel has suggested that the Centre make adequate financial allocation and infrastructure available to measure the extent of glacial retreat and the ways to mitigate its effects. As per the panel, reckless and irresponsible tourism in the Himalayan ecosystem is one of the major reasons for environmental degradation. Therefore, the panel has recommended the Centre to constitute a committee of experts to formulate the guidelines on the Himalayan ecotourism. 

Water available at railway's water vending machines to cost higher

The railway board has agreed to raise the cost of buying a glass of water from the vending machines installed at railway stations. At present, refilling 300 ml of water costs Re 1. With the hike, however, the cost will increase to Rs 2 and buying a glass of water will cost Rs 3. Earlier, the vending machines only sold 500 ml of water using paper containers but the hike is expected to allow the machines to sell 300 ml of water with ease. 

Difficult to link Kerala floods 2018 to anthropogenic climate change: Study

A study carried out by the Water and Climate Lab at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar argues that attributing the 2018 event in Kerala to climate change can be difficult. The study factored in the long term (1951-2017) changes and found that during the 66-year period, Kerala witnessed a significant decline in monsoon rainfall while the temperature rose. This made the researchers hypothesise that the 2018 event may not be linked to long-term climate change but to an extreme event that was driven by a short-term natural variability of climate.

Activists protesting hunger deaths demand proper implementation of National Food Security Act

In the past one year, 45 people died of hunger that led to food rights activists taking to roads on December 17, 2018. The activists demanded proper implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) as most of these people died because they were denied their rightful food under the Act for the failure of biometric identification, Aadhaar. The activists also demanded a discussion in Parliament on the state of hunger in the country and strict notification against denying of benefits of any welfare programme in the absence of biometric authentication.  

This is a roundup of important news published between December 19 - 26, 2018. Also read policy matters this week.

Himachal, Kerala, TN front-runners in NITI Aayog index on development goals

NITI Aayog has come out with a baseline index for the performance of all states based on various UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and found that Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are among the front-runners. While Kerala topped for its superior performance in providing good health, reducing hunger, achieving gender equality and providing quality education, Himachal Pradesh achieved success in providing clean water and sanitation, in reducing inequalities and preserving the mountain ecosystem. Tamil Nadu did well in reducing poverty and providing affordable and clean energy to people.

NITI Aayog unveils comprehensive national strategy for 2022-23

NITI Aayog has come up with a comprehensive national strategy for New India, which defines clear objectives across 41 crucial areas for 2022-23. The report came out with several recommendations for combating water pollution in the country. It has recommended the reduction of wastewater discharge from industrial units into rivers and other water bodies to zero and stringent civil penalties in case of noncompliance to strengthen enforcement of environment-related acts. The new strategy calls for installation of sewage treatment plants of adequate capacity at a suitable location in order to make rivers pollution free and for redesigning the National Water Mission for efficient water resource management. 

Farm loan waivers announced in five states 

Within a few hours of taking the oath, the new chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have announced farm loan waivers, followed by the Odisha and Jharkhand governments joining the list of states doling out sops for farmers. While the MP and Rajasthan governments waived off farm loans of up to Rs two lakh, the Chhattisgarh chief minister completely waived the short-term agriculture loans to the tune of over Rs 6,100 crore of over 16.65 lakh farmers. The Odisha government announced the Rs 10,000-crore scheme for the overall development of farmers in the state and the Jharkhand CM declared the Rs 2,250-crore scheme to help 22.76 lakh medium and marginal farmers of the state double their income by 2022. 

Yamuna rejuvenation: Committee stresses the need to create a sense of ownership among public

The monitoring committee, set up by the National Green Tribunal chairperson Justice A.K. Goel has stressed the need to raise awareness about the importance of the Yamuna river and its floodplain to create a sense of ownership among the people. The committee has also suggested forming a nodal agency that will build awareness by spearheading permissible events and activities for creating public awareness on Yamuna preservation. The committee has highlighted the need to encourage programmes for preventing dung from dairies going into the river.

WII gives way for hydel projects in Arunachal's tiger zone

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has virtually cleared the way for the proposed Etalin and Lower Demwe hydel power projects in Arunachal Pradesh. The two mega projects are proposed in Dibang Valley and Lohit districts, one of India’s most biodiverse landscapes. When asked by the government authorities to conduct an environmental impact assessment study of the projects, WII carried out a study to find how the project’s impact on wildlife can be minimised in one case, while in another instance, WII held a meeting to find a way forward for allowing construction of the dam. As per the environment ministry, however, the WII research for private clients will not be part of the decision-making process.

This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 19 - 26, 2018. Also, read news this week.

States resort to under-reporting of manual scavengers in the final verification stage

The Centre has identified 54,929 people across 170 selected districts as manual scavengers. The state governments, however, have confirmed the involvement of only 25,015 people in the job in the final verification stage. While Bihar, Haryana and Telangana have denied the presence of even a single manual scavenger, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Punjab confirmed only a fraction of people involved in the job. It is only Maharashtra that has verified the presence of all 5,638 people who registered themselves as manual scavengers. The states' justification for the under-reporting is that many people were faking their status as manual scavengers to get the one-time rehabilitation amount of Rs 40,000. 

Almost half of the drinking water samples fail to meet FSSAI quality standards

As per the survey conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2017-18, 496 samples of packaged drinking water out of 1,123 taken from across the country, have failed to meet the quality standards prescribed by the FSSAI. The government has attributed this to lack of clean drinking water which has resulted in high demand of packaged water. Moreover, in most cities, several small unlicensed bottling plants have come up which do not follow any norms. Thus, low investment in setting up a plant, high demand of clean water and high returns have led to unregulated growth of small packaging units.  

Maharashtra adds 931 more villages as drought-affected

The state government has added another 931 villages to the list of drought-affected villages. With this inclusion, the total number of drought-affected revenue circles in the state has gone up to 318. As per the government, the villages which received less than 75 percent of average rainfall and where farmers have reported crop yield of less than 50 percent can be declared drought-affected. Although these villages will not be getting the Centre's aid, they will be eligible for relief measures from the state government. So far, 60 percent of farmers in the state have been hit by drought. 

Heritage tag proposed for Beas river to save it from pollution

The Punjab Wildlife Department has proposed a heritage tag for the Beas river so as to save it from being further polluted. The proposal which has been put before a committee of experts, if approved, will lead to the preparation of an action plan to clean and save the river. As per the proposal, Beas is the only living river in Punjab and it is home to rare aquatic wildlife, including the Indus dolphin, smooth Indian otter, turtle species, 500 bird species, 90 fish species and hundreds of plant species. The wildlife department has also sought the chief minister's nod to declare the Indus river dolphin as the state aquatic animal in order to safeguard it from getting extinct.

Villages in Uttarakhand threaten to boycott polls, thanks to water crisis

Demanding a drinking water scheme, people across 40 villages in Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand have threatened to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if the water crisis in their area is not resolved. The villagers have claimed that they have not been getting drinking water for months and have been getting false promises from the government on initiation of work on a new drinking water scheme in the area. However, as per the officials, work on the revised scheme is under progress and villagers are getting water even now although the flow is reduced due to the dip in the inflow at the source. 

This is a roundup of important news published between December 27, 2018 - January 6, 2019. Also read policy matters this week.

Over 50 experts urge green ministry to make green clearance mandatory for inland waterways

Following the National Green Tribunal's discussion with the environment ministry on whether environmental clearance with respect to inland waterways is required or not, over 50 experts have written an open letter to Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) with respect to making environment clearance mandatory and legally binding for inland waterways. As per expert claims, this is a systematic attempt to exempt waterways from getting the necessary clearances. Waterways projects can disturb the ecological health of the river and therefore, they should be brought into the ambit of environmental clearance.

New groundwater extraction guidelines have shortcomings: NGT to Centre

The National Green Tribunal has ordered the Centre to not go ahead with its latest notification on groundwater extraction as these guidelines released in December 2018 have serious shortcomings. The tribunal has also asked the ministry to constitute an expert panel comprising representatives from IITs, IIMs, Central Pollution Control Board and NITI Aayog, to formulate an appropriate policy for groundwater conservation. As per the NGT, the new guidelines will lead to liberalised extraction of groundwater rather than laying stricter norms.

Delhi Jal Board approves Rs 453 crore to rejuvenate lakes in the capital

The Delhi Jal Board has given its go-ahead to Rs 453 crore funds that will be utilised to recharge and rejuvenate 159 lakes in the capital and create two mega lakes in Rohini and Nilothi village in west Delhi. The Board also has plans to create three more mega lakes, two of which in Dwarka and Najafgarh have been approved while another one in Timarpur is still pending. The plan envisages filling up of the lakes with treated water from small, decentralised sewage treatment plants. Once completed, the project will create a cumulative lake area of over 350 acres having a potential to hold 1,581 million litres of water.   

Panel seeks a foolproof mechanism to improve stinking and choked bio-toilets in trains

Taking note of the problem of stinking and choked bio-toilets in trains, the Railway Convention Committee (RCC) has sought a foolproof mechanism for the effective use and management of the bacteria meant to be used in the bio-toilets. The panel has observed that the bacterium inoculum required for use in the bio-toilets have a short expiry date rendering it ineffective. However, as per the Railways, corrective measures have been taken up and cross-checking of bio-toilets has been intensified. The panel has recommended replacing the old disinfectant with a new deodorising-cum-disinfecting fluid without any delay. 

Parliamentary Standing Committee observes gaps in implementation of schemes for mining-affected people

In its report titled, Implementation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) and Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), the Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Coal and Steel has provided several recommendations for giving priority to those directly affected by mining. The report calls for amending PMKKKY guidelines so that 60 percent of the DMF funds must be spent on people living in directly affected areas. The committee has also stressed the involvement of mining-affected people in scrutinising projects and recommended a social as well as a financial audit of the DMFs. The report has suggested mandatory involvement of MPs in DMF governing body. 

This is a roundup of important policy matters from December 27, 2018 - January 6, 2019. Also, read news this week.

A five-year study conducted in the Sundarbans region has found that the rising water salinity level is threatening the habitat of Gangetic river dolphins. 

The survey was conducted in the lower stretch of river Hooghly, covering a 97-km stretch of the western, central and eastern Sundarbans in India, intermittently between 2013 and 2016 in different seasons. Simultaneously, researchers also measured the salinity level of the water. Based on interaction with local fishing communities, the study area was demarcated for boat-based and land-based surveys. 

Previous studies had recorded the natural distribution of the Gangetic dolphin in the Sundarbans regions but no continuous surveys were done to assess population and habitat changes.

It was found “no sighting record for Gangetic dolphin in waterways wherever the salinity level crosses 10 parts per trillion (ppt)”. The researchers believe that the rise in salinity in the eastern and central region of Sundarbans has affected the habitat of species. The increased salinity level is due to hydrological changes such as reduction in freshwater flow, reduced discharge from barrages, runoff from adjacent agricultural lands and river water abstraction for irrigation.

Rising salinity level seems to be conducive for marine cetaceans like Indo-Pacific humpbacked and Irrawaddy dolphins as these species can thrive in saline waters. 

Other potential threats to the dolphin habitats are excessive fishing, use of vulnerable fishing gears, noise from motorised boats and lack of awareness among local communities. However, there is no data to assess the impact of these factors. Only long-term monitoring can give some answers.

“Gangetic dolphin is obligatory freshwater species and its range has declined owing to salinity and other ecological factors. Although the study has not concluded, we would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities as well as the public about threats to this freshwater habitat as it has a direct implication on Gangetic river dolphin,” said Sangita Mitra, a member of the research team, while speaking to India Science Wire.

Gangetic river dolphins are found in the river systems of Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna and Karnaphuli- Sangu in Nepal, India and Bangladesh. It is the only surviving freshwater dolphin in India.

The study results have been published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa. The research team included Sangita Mitra (National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai) and Mahua Roy Chowdhury, a marine biologist from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal. (India Science Wire)

"An eternal life free of sins" is the promise that comes attached with the magnificent occasion of Kumbh Mela. The 2019 Ardh Kumbh that takes place once in six years is just around the corner. Starting January 15, crores of people from around the world will take a dip in the Triveni Sangam—the confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna. A lot of water will be required as devotees gather to bathe in the sacred river to wash their sins away. The waters for this will come from the Tehri dam in Uttarakhand. Tehri has been filled to the brim for Ardh Kumbh.

When the Uttarakhand government, headed by Trivendra Rawat, came to power in 2017, it made a pact with the Union Ministry of Energy headed by Piyush Goyal that the water in the Tehri reservoir would not be filled above the 825-metre mark. This was because of concerns raised by the local people with the Uttarakhand government regarding its failure to rehabilitate the people living 10 metres above the mark. As per the official statistics, 414 families are deprived of land-based rehabilitation. Every time there is heavy rain in the upper Himalayas, it becomes a cause of worry for the local people as the water-level in the country’s highest dam Tehri inches towards danger mark. The residential houses, fields and road links get flooded during monsoons. People have been demanding their rehabilitation for a decade.

But unexpectedly, the state government has gone back on its word. It had provided a sanction to the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) to fill the water in the dam completely to cater to the Ardh Kumbh. The needs of the people of the mountain belt are being sacrificed for the religious needs of other people.

Villages near Tehri dam exposed to dangers of frequent landslides

Landslides are creating havoc in around 80 villages in the vicinity of the 42 sq-km Tehri dam reservoir due to constant erosion of the area by the reservoir water. Even when it is obvious that a major tragedy is waiting to happen, the government has failed to pay any attention to the grievances of the villagers. Generally, the rising water level in the dam during the rainy season compounds the problem for villagers as several houses develop cracks due to landslides. The THDC, however, has turned a deaf ear to all these issues.

A report was prepared by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) team that surveyed the villages after the water level swelled in the Tehri reservoir. People affected by landslides have neither been compensated nor rehabilitated so far. A collateral damage policy was formulated in January 2013 to rehabilitate the 414 families in the villages that are in the landslip zone. The tussle between the THDC and the state government continues on providing rehabilitation and the affected population has been left in the lurch while the matter lies with the Supreme Court. Not all bridges have been made so far in lieu of the 10 bridges that are submerged in the lake. In summer, when water goes down, it becomes very difficult for people to cross the river because of the absence of pathways.

Furthermore, sandy dust arises from the dried portions of the Tehri reservoir creating havoc in areas like Chinyali Saur that have been business centres. There is no solution to this. We (Matu Jansanghatan), a people’s organisation has written to the government as well as the THDC several times that the contract to extract and trade the sands belonging to the region should be given to the people of the affected villages. Committees can be formed so that problems originating from dust are resolved, local people get employment, illegal mining in Ganga in Haridwar is stopped and the state’s sand related needs are also met. However, the government continues to give preference to the mining mafia.

All talk and no action on the Ganga

The minister for water resources and Ganga rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari recently made a statement claiming that the Ganga will be 80 percent clean by March 2019. Commenting on the Lakhwar-Vyasi dam under construction on river Yamuna, the second largest tributary of Ganga, he said that with the completion of this project, Yamuna will start flowing without any obstruction. The minister seems to be either clueless about the adverse impacts of these projects or is trying to fool people. He was speaking on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of 11 projects for cleaning up the 22-km long Yamuna river in New Delhi. The prime minister too, alleged that the previous government was unable to clean up the Ganga despite spending thousands of crores for it. He also went on to talk about accountability and will power on the issue of cleaning up the Ganga.

Should both the ministers’ statements be seen in the light of the imminent elections in 2019? Because the reality is entirely different. The Ganga is far from restored and maintained even as demands to do so have grown from all quarters of society over the years.

The Ganga constitutes the five Prayags of the Ganges namely the Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. While talking about the Ganga, we have to keep this whole sequence in mind. There are around 58 big dams that are under planning, construction or are operational in the Ganga valley. The flow and purity of the Ganga river are being discussed in the country with a lack of seriousness. The very government that came to power with the slogan of clean Ganga has put a question mark on this issue today.

The Ganga card is being redeemed in full measure around Kumbh. The cleanliness of the river is being advertised on television, newspapers and elsewhere. In the name of the Ganga campaign, Rs 22000 crores has been spent in big seminars and propaganda itself. Yet, there is no discussion on the plight of river Ganga in its very homeland, Uttarakhand, nationally. The government, hiding this truth, continues to further this muddle by encouraging dams.

Do we need more dams?

The chief minister of Uttarakhand keeps meeting the central ministries to lobby around dams. None of the governments after the formation of the state have been able to present a report card of the dams built on the Ganges. Big declarations and big statements often come in favour of the environment and for those displaced but the ground situation is quite the opposite. The way security forces have been used in the public hearing of Pancheshwar dam on Mahakali and also on the Jakhol Sankri hydropower project proposed on the small river Supin shows how people are being terrorised and threatened to get the necessary approval for the dam.

The question is if the dams are meant for development, why are the locals trapped in lawsuits? In each dam, local residents are trapped in false cases. In none of the dam projects, rehabilitation has been done adequately or environmental norms adhered to. The questions raised with the government are left unanswered. Knocking the doors of the courts has seen the government siding with the dam developer. After having constructed the dam, the promises made to local people are completely forgotten.

In none of the dam projects, local people have got the benefit of even one percent power generation. Every affected family was supposed to get 100 units of electricity or money or both for a period of 10 years. This policy is also not being followed. The 12 percent free electricity provided by the dam developer to the state government is also being used for other purposes. As per the guidelines laid down by the central ministry of energy, the state is required to use it for resolving environment and rehabilitation-related issues. It should also be remembered that on the basis of a report released by the Central Electricity Authority in 2016, power minister Piyush Goyal told the country that there is no need for new projects in India for the next 10 years because we have excess electricity. Various power plants have been closed in Madhya Pradesh. The question is, are dams leading to development? If yes, shouldn’t the welfare of the local people be taken into account?

In light of these issues, 26-year-old young saint, Brahmachaari Aatmabodhanand from Maatri Sadan Ashram, Haridwar in Uttarakhand has been on a fast since October 24, 2018. Matu Sanghatan, as well as several members of the National Alliance of People’s Movements, have provided support to it.

What is the way forward?

• Dam projects under construction should be shut with immediate effect and the harm done to the environment and the people should be compensated for.

• The Ganga, which means Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar and Mandakini, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi should be restored and allowed to flow uninterruptedly.

• The government, by setting up a committee, should estimate the woes of all those displaced due to dams in Uttarakhand and the problem solved under strict scrutiny. The committee should include the representatives of the displaced and also recognised social workers from across the country.

• The local people should be given forest lands as per the Forest Rights Act 2006. Other plans should be initiated for their sustainable development.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of India Water Portal.

Devise time-bound plan to address water contamination: Parliamentary committee

Taking note of arsenic and fluoride contamination in groundwater of over 25,000 habitations across the country, the parliamentary committee has asked the Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) to come up with a time-bound plan for supplying clean drinking water to the contaminated areas. This is not the first time that the ministry has been asked to address the issue of water contamination. In its action-taken reply to the committe, the ministry has informed that the states have been advised to provide piped water supply to the water quality-affected habitations. 

Few months after Lakhwar project revival, NGT puts a stay on it

The National Green Tribunal has stayed the 300 MW Lakhwar hydroelectric project proposed at the upper Yamuna basin in Uttarakhand and has directed the Expert Appraisal Committee to appraise the project afresh by April 2015 in terms of EIA notification 2006. Also, the committee has been ordered to impose additional general and specific conditions as may be considered necessary to the project. The NGT's decision to stay the project is based on the plea which highlighted that the environment ministry has granted green nod to the composite Lakhwar-Vyasi project in 1987 and the project got bifurcated subsequently. Further, the plea alleged that no impact assessment of the Lakhwar project was done. 

No more pumping of treated water in Kolar's irrigation tanks: SC

Taking note of claims of water contamination, the Supreme Court has restricted the Karnataka government from pumping secondary treated water into the irrigation tanks in Kolar district. In September 2018, the high court has allowed the state government and its agencies to pump secondary treated water from the sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Bengaluru to the minor irrigation tanks situated in Kolar district for recharging the groundwater table. The plea filed against the order has alleged that the high court has overlooked the report which observed that the treated water was contaminated with heavy metals and nutrients. 

Committee formed to root out invasive plant species from the Western Ghats

The Madras high court has constituted an expert committee which is to be headed by Cherukuri Raghavendra Babu, chairman, Expert Committee on Invasive Species, National Biodiversity Authority, Chennai. The committee has been directed to come up with solutions to weed out invasive plant species from the Western Ghats within two months. The court has noted that the invasive species pose a greater threat to native biodiversity than pollution, harvest and disease. The court has also observed that the invasive plants like Lantana drastically reduce the water table of the region pointing to the distinct possibility of being the cause of drought in the region. 

NGT concerned for disposal of antimony-coated solar panels

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to frame policies for proper disposal of antimony-coated solar panels. Antimony (Sb) is a heavy metal element present in the glass that is used to manufacture solar panels. Its ingestion in even trace amounts can cause irritation of gastrointestinal tract with symptoms like vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and cardiac toxicity. With an ambitious target of generating 100 GW of electricity through solar power plants and rooftop solar units by 2022, India is in a dire need of devising a proper system to dispose or recycle the solar panel waste. 

This is a roundup of important policy matters from January 7 - 13, 2019. Also, read news this week.

Lead image source: Nvvchar via Wikipedia