TOI: Several rivers have vanished or exist only as nullahs: March 25, 2009

‘Several rivers have vanished or exist only as nullahs’

Massive investments in the name of action plans to save rivers have not produced the desired results. Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, speaks to Bharat Dogra about how official thinking needs to change to bring genuine results:

What is the missing link in our efforts to save rivers?

Unfortunately, although lipsympathy is paid to protection of rivers, there is very little appreciation of the value of natural flow of fresh water rivers. Right from the place of its origin to its submergence in the sea (or a bigger river), a naturally flowing fresh water river provides the habitat for hundreds of diverse life forms. Such a river meets the needs of people on its banks and recharges the groundwater all along its flow. The livelihoods of many fisherfolk, boatmen and farmers are supported by the river. The silt deposited by the river improves the fertility of a lot of farmland. Hundreds of religious and cultural events are organised regularly on river banks.

All these benefits are provided by naturally flowing rivers without any costs being incurred, and these benefits are for all times. When the fresh water flow of natural rivers is impeded by obstructive constructions and by pollution, many of these benefits are sacrificed for short-term, narrow gains which benefit only a few, and for a few years.

To what extent is this natural flow of fresh water disrupted?

In the case of the overwhelming majority of dams in India, there is no provision, no legal stipulation that a certain share of the water must be reserved for downstream rivers. So once the irrigation water has been diverted, then, for a long distance, effectively there is no river at all, except at the time of rains or some leaks from the reservoir. Then, much lower down, some tributaries may join or waste polluted water flows back into the river. For long stretches, several rivers have altogether vanished or exist only as dirty, polluted nullahs, acquiring a substantial flow only during a short span of rainy days.

What can be done to improve this fast deteriorating situation?

The concept of the many-sided, intrinsically invaluable role of natural flow of fresh water rivers should be emphasised. It should get due recognition in all official decisions concerning rivers. At present, this recognition simply doesn’t exist at the official level. So there is a rush for projects which exploit, obstruct and pollute rivers without any understanding of the many-sided havoc this causes to countless people, other forms of life, and to the entire environment for all time to come.

Conducive conditions can then be created for saving our rivers with the close involvement and participation of people. Local people should get an effective say in monitoring water particularly in the downstream reach of dammed rivers.

URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4310736.cms