On July 8th, 2007, People's News Network organized a Convention on Ailing and Dead Rivers in New Delhi. An update.
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Attendees: Dr Vandana Shiva, Dr. B.L. Sharma, Ramesh Sharma, G.N. Kathpaliya, Shekh Hussain, Rajeev dhyani, Ratan Mudgal, Diwan Singh, Anand Misra, Sudha Mohan, Kumar Amitabh, Anita Sampath, Hariyom Tyagi, Dharmpal Tyagi, Shaoor A. khan, Sashi Kant Pandey, Suhas Borker and many activists struggling to save rivers joined the convention.
Opening Note by Dr. Vandana Shiva (Jal Swaraj)
From sixties to nineties trend was for large dams but now large dams are having adverse impact. Tehri dam has failed to meet its expected energy potential. According to World Bank we don't know how to manage water. The World Bank has recently initiated water sector reforms, aimed primarily at privatization of water resources and commercialization of water management. River linking, a 200 billion dollar project has started with Ken-Betwa link. Argument for river linking was to take water from flooded area to drought prone area. But the main contention is to take water from rural area to urban area for industrialization. SEZ luxury of housing is also putting great stress on water resources. Chemical use in agriculture has also increased the usage of water. In Punjab farmers are growing vegetables for export which are water intensive putting more stress on our water resources. It is anticipated that after 20 to 30 yrs their will be no water in Ganga- Yamuna. We can only conserve Our river basins by mobilizing local Support. We should also bring out an anthology Qn rivers region wise with status, campaigns, pictorial representation & pollution statistics.
River Varuna Report by Vyomesh Chitravansh (Hamari Varuna Abhiyan)
The twin rivers Varuna and Asi which give the city its name are polluted beyond compare. Almost 30 sewerage outlets let out its untreated waste into the river.". River Assi has disappeared totally now it remains only in drain form. "Out of the 30 sewerage outlets in the city, only five electricity-run sewerage pumps were set up along the ghats to intercept and divert the sewerage water. Each pump has a bypass opening into the Ganga. When electricity fails, the bypass starts discharging water into the Ganga. Campaign is against encroachment on both sides of river. Upcoming five star hotels & DLF project is also coming on Varuna river. We are reviving Varuna, a diwali festival on river Varuna which is in records till 1907 to build momentum for cause of river Varuna.
Yamuna River Report by Manoj Mishra (Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan)
Yamuna has been the life-line of Delhi. Tragically, over the years this is exactly what has happened and now the state of affairs is such that it is perhaps the most polluted river and, according to experts, "the most threatened riverine system in the whole world". Unfortunately, currently there exists no legal protection available for our rivers as an ecosystem, which includes the river bed and the flood plain. As a result, our rivers have been taken for granted and their river beds and flood plains have been misused in the name of 'development' as if these are waste lands rather than precious parts of an ecosystem with vital and irreplaceable role for re-charge of ground water, floods moderation and as the habitats of varied forms of flora and fauna. The river bed is known to be most prone to damage from an earthquake. The Commonwealth Games construction on its floodplains has only aggravated this situation to great extent.
Ganga Basin Report by Sureshwar Sinha (Pani Morcha)
Ganga basin is at the apex of tectonic or seismic zone. Delhi is part of that apex zone. We are likely to face a major flood combined with earthquake. There are many adverse impacts of dams. Our policy for fifty years has destroyed both Our rivers & ground water. Government has made a mess of water management, now its time people should take control of it. SEZ should be only after Panchayat clearance. We have to fight for our water sovereignty.
Dravyavati River Report by Upendra Shankar (Jaldhara Abhiyan, Jaipur)
River is physically present but in Revenue records of government there is no mention of it. It now remains as Manikshah nala. Till 1921, drinking water used to come from this river. The river flows through 32 villages. Main problems are colonies based on river bed & industries. By forestation on river bed we are trying to revive dying river.
Mithi River Report by Shekh Hussain ( Sadbhavna Sangh, Mumbai)
Mumbai’s l3km long Mithi River is stuffed with effluents and garbage. No one has spared the Mithi river. Not the slums, the encroaching factories, the BMC and definitely not Mumbai's airport. The slums that mushroomed up around the mouth of the river on the Mahim side didn't appear out of a magician's hat. Someone allowed them to come up just a few years ago, like they did up the river, on both sides, as they still do across the rest of the city. Dlf's upcoming project will put further stress on already vulnerable mithi river.
Rajiv Dhyani
This is not only an environmental issue but a cultural issue too. No campaign in India can be successful until & unless it is emotionally attached. We should keep an emotional appeal in our campaign to attract people who don't follow us on technical issues.
Punjab Report by Amar Singh Sidhu
In 1992 the area where there was 10 feet water of SatIuj River today has colonies on it. Issue of climate change is going to affect us further.
Chambal River Report By Siraj Qureshi
According to Mr Siraj problem of floods & water shortage in Chambal can be both controlled by bringing water from Chambal to Tigra, a run of 45 km. Some institutions are running a project to revive Swarn Rekha drain as it is full of pollution, roads & complex encroachments.
Main Outcomes are Programs
1. To bring out an anthology On rivers region wise with status, campaigns, mapping, pictorial representation & pollution statistics.To support the organisations working for the purpose.
2. To institute the committees-Nadi Rakshak, Jal Rakshak.
3. Research on rivers and find out the rivers converted into drains. To make strategy to solve the problems of rivers.
4. Three groups were formed for the endeavour-
(i) Cultural,
(ii) Research And Media and Publication Group.
(iii) To organise a forum under the banner of “ Nadiyon Ki Pukar Abhiyan- Voice of Rivers Campaign”.
5. A course on “ Water and Climate Change” 17-21 March 2008, Beej Vidyapeeth, Dehradoon.
For more information, please contact water.community@gmail.com, kesaraba@gmail.com
Convention organized by Shiraj Kesar. Report Prepared by -Minakshi (PNN), Amit (Navdanya)
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