Project Title:
“Develop, Design and Test in a Participatory manner a "River Health Index" (RHI) as a tool for Prioritization, Restoration and Conservation of River Ecosystems”.
Project Executant:
PEACE Institute Charitable Trust,
178-F, Pocket IV
Mayur Vihar I
DELHI – 110091
Telefax: 91-11-22719005
Project Support:
UNDP – GEF
Project Duration:
Two Years (Nov 08 – October 10)
Project Rationale and Methodology:
Why and How of River Health Index (RHI)
It has been experienced that currently rivers are looked upon merely as channels of water passage and as entities that need little care other than purification of water therein. The truth is much greater. Unless the unique ecosystem identity and irreplaceable ecological services and economic/livelihood returns that rivers provide is understood and appreciated based on sound knowledge, information base and applied science the fate and future of rivers would remain at best uncertain.
It has also to be understood that while a river as an aqueous system has broad general characteristics which are common to all rivers, ecologically speaking no two rivers are like. Nor are different sections in the same river alike.
Presently there is no broad based technique or tool available with planners to assess the health in terms of:
- degree of threat to its sustainability in terms of quantity, quality of water and its integrity in terms of flood plains
- ability to meander, to recharge the ground water or provide unique aquatic habitats to distinctive flora and fauna
- to act as an environment friendly means of transport and recreation,
- ecological value of open space (specially in urban stretches) that the river flood plains provide
- Flood records and economic value of rivers and flood plains
- Presence of and planned / likely ‘developmental’ pressures on a river either in its entirety or in its distinguishable sections.
- Susceptibility to changes in the event of climate change
While pollution control boards do provide information on water quality in rivers in terms of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), DO (Dissolved Oxygen) and Faecal Coliform Number, but it has been found to only reinforce stereotypic image of a river as a channel for passage of water.
To mitigate such a situation an objective and scientific Index that assimilates ‘river health’ indicators is proposed to be developed in a systematic manner through an intensive expert consultation, literature review and multi stage field testing.
It is intended to use river Yamuna as a test case from its origin to its confluence with river Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad), to plan, devise, develop and test a ‘river health index’ (RHI) as a tool for Prioritization, Restoration and Conservation of River Ecosystems.
Proposed Composition of RHI
Project shall involve working with partners within and outside of the relevant government agencies and relevant local NGOs / CBOs for devising of the following as part of the proposed RHI
a) Define “Standard” of river health which is sought to be benchmarked for referencing purposes
v “Principles” which are sub set of the Standard and serve as the basis for reasoning and various actions. (Eg., Maintaining water quality standards in the river; maintaining navigability of river channel; etc)
· “Criteria” which define aspect of a process which needs to be in place to meet the requirement of a Principle (Eg., Pollution levels conform to bathing quality standards, etc )
o “Indicators” which are quantitative and qualitative parameters which require assessment in relation to a Criterion (Eg., Effluent Treatment plants are in place; etc)
- “Verifiers” (Control forms/methods, participatory methods of testing / recording / verification, objective and subjective assessments, like “is the fish in the river worthy of consumption”? etc).
Community involvement in assessments shall mainly be operative at the “Indicator” and the “Verifiers” level.
Proposed Project Outputs:
a) River Health Index (RHI) developed as a handy tool to assess the state of rivers in the country
b) RHI report on river Yamuna as a test case
c) Network of experts (within and outside of government agencies), NGOs, CBOs and other interested people willing to take the initiative forward beyond the project’s life, in terms of capacity enhancement, application of RHI to other rivers and utilisation of RHI as a monitoring tool in light of impacts from Climate Change
Project Replicability and Sustainability:
Replicability and sustainability of the project’s outputs is the very essence of the project. RHI (River Health Index) once developed is expected to be applied to as many rivers in the country and by as many groups as possible to come up with a first list of most threatened and hence high priority rivers in the country. In due course it shall be turned into community led and periodic exercise to document and inform progress under national and state level river conservation programs.
“Develop, Design and Test in a Participatory manner a "River Health Index" (RHI) as a tool for Prioritization, Restoration and Conservation of River Ecosystems”.
Project Executant:
PEACE Institute Charitable Trust,
178-F, Pocket IV
Mayur Vihar I
DELHI – 110091
Telefax: 91-11-22719005
Project Support:
UNDP – GEF
Project Duration:
Two Years (Nov 08 – October 10)
Project Rationale and Methodology:
Why and How of River Health Index (RHI)
It has been experienced that currently rivers are looked upon merely as channels of water passage and as entities that need little care other than purification of water therein. The truth is much greater. Unless the unique ecosystem identity and irreplaceable ecological services and economic/livelihood returns that rivers provide is understood and appreciated based on sound knowledge, information base and applied science the fate and future of rivers would remain at best uncertain.
It has also to be understood that while a river as an aqueous system has broad general characteristics which are common to all rivers, ecologically speaking no two rivers are like. Nor are different sections in the same river alike.
Presently there is no broad based technique or tool available with planners to assess the health in terms of:
- degree of threat to its sustainability in terms of quantity, quality of water and its integrity in terms of flood plains
- ability to meander, to recharge the ground water or provide unique aquatic habitats to distinctive flora and fauna
- to act as an environment friendly means of transport and recreation,
- ecological value of open space (specially in urban stretches) that the river flood plains provide
- Flood records and economic value of rivers and flood plains
- Presence of and planned / likely ‘developmental’ pressures on a river either in its entirety or in its distinguishable sections.
- Susceptibility to changes in the event of climate change
While pollution control boards do provide information on water quality in rivers in terms of BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), DO (Dissolved Oxygen) and Faecal Coliform Number, but it has been found to only reinforce stereotypic image of a river as a channel for passage of water.
To mitigate such a situation an objective and scientific Index that assimilates ‘river health’ indicators is proposed to be developed in a systematic manner through an intensive expert consultation, literature review and multi stage field testing.
It is intended to use river Yamuna as a test case from its origin to its confluence with river Ganga at Prayag (Allahabad), to plan, devise, develop and test a ‘river health index’ (RHI) as a tool for Prioritization, Restoration and Conservation of River Ecosystems.
Proposed Composition of RHI
Project shall involve working with partners within and outside of the relevant government agencies and relevant local NGOs / CBOs for devising of the following as part of the proposed RHI
a) Define “Standard” of river health which is sought to be benchmarked for referencing purposes
v “Principles” which are sub set of the Standard and serve as the basis for reasoning and various actions. (Eg., Maintaining water quality standards in the river; maintaining navigability of river channel; etc)
· “Criteria” which define aspect of a process which needs to be in place to meet the requirement of a Principle (Eg., Pollution levels conform to bathing quality standards, etc )
o “Indicators” which are quantitative and qualitative parameters which require assessment in relation to a Criterion (Eg., Effluent Treatment plants are in place; etc)
- “Verifiers” (Control forms/methods, participatory methods of testing / recording / verification, objective and subjective assessments, like “is the fish in the river worthy of consumption”? etc).
Community involvement in assessments shall mainly be operative at the “Indicator” and the “Verifiers” level.
Proposed Project Outputs:
a) River Health Index (RHI) developed as a handy tool to assess the state of rivers in the country
b) RHI report on river Yamuna as a test case
c) Network of experts (within and outside of government agencies), NGOs, CBOs and other interested people willing to take the initiative forward beyond the project’s life, in terms of capacity enhancement, application of RHI to other rivers and utilisation of RHI as a monitoring tool in light of impacts from Climate Change
Project Replicability and Sustainability:
Replicability and sustainability of the project’s outputs is the very essence of the project. RHI (River Health Index) once developed is expected to be applied to as many rivers in the country and by as many groups as possible to come up with a first list of most threatened and hence high priority rivers in the country. In due course it shall be turned into community led and periodic exercise to document and inform progress under national and state level river conservation programs.
Congratulations Mr. Manoj Misra.
ReplyDeleteVery nice opportunity to place your views and help the river aspects to get the benefit of wide experience available in India and abroad.
ReplyDeleteWe request one and all to contribute and help the growth of river related knowledge.
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for taking up the the overlooked aspect of river conservation.
Pankaj Srivastava
This is a positive contribution- It will also help raise awareness- So it's important that this blogg is widely publised.. even among those who appear removed from the river pollution issues. The challenge will be gathering accurate data.
ReplyDeleteravi