India's holy river needs cleansing from people's sins
Few will take very seriously the undertaking given by the government in the Supreme Court that River Ganga will be pure and free of pollution by 2020. Similar commitments were made to the public 25 years ago when, in 1985, the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) to clean this most treasured of the sub-continent’s rivers was launched. Even after spending several thousand crores of rupees on the project, the Ganga is today more polluted than ever before — a truth recently conceded by the knowledgeable Union minister for environment and forests in Parliament. Ironically, this is the state of affairs even though the Central Ganga Authority, rechristened as National Ganga River Basin Authority, came into existence years ago under the chairmanship of the prime minister to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan. The declaration of Ganga as a National River in 2008 seems to have made little difference. The river’s water, in many stretches, is unfit even for bathing and agricultural use, leave alone drinking, though millions of people still drink it, regarding it Holy. Not only has the content of pathogenic bacteria, notably Coliform (rod-shaped bacteria normally found in the colons of humans and animals) risen to menacing levels in the river, but the amount of biochemical oxygen has also dropped drastically, rendering it incapable of supporting any aquatic life. As a result, several stretches of the river are now bereft of fisheries resources. Rather than giving life, the Ganga seems to be taking it!
A true miracle is needed to make Ganga water drinkable in the next ten years. Little wonder that the amicus curiae of the public interest litigation in the apex court was quick to express his misgivings about the government’s ability to fulfil its time-bound pledge to restore Ganga’s pristine glory. Indeed, it cannot be denied that the task of tidying up the 2,525-km long river spanning nine states is far from easy. But it is not insurmountable either. The root cause of the river’s woes is that, even while being sacred for the believers, it serves virtually as a drain for carrying away sewage and other municipal wastes from nearly 30 Class-I cities, 25 Class-II cities and scores of small towns, besides thousands of villages, situated on its banks. Worse still, industrial wastes, agricultural and chemical residues, carcasses of thousands of animals and half-cremated human bodies are routinely disposed of in the river. Moreover, the discards of religious rituals and thousands of idols of gods also find their way into the river regularly. Unless the Ganga’s many devotees themselves address these issues, and adequate public mobilisation to clean the river is not forthcoming, there is little governments can do. “Clean Ganga” cannot be a bureaucratic top-down government administered programme alone. It also has to be a bottom-up people’s programme. A purely technological and technocratic approach, using a billion dollars of World Bank money and expertise from the Indian Institutes of Technology is not going to work on its own. There has to be a coming together of administrative, technological, scientific, socio-religious, cultural and popular interventions — all working in tandem with the singular aim of reclaiming a lost river — for the Ganga to be cleansed of our sins!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Chhath Puja devotees elated at ‘clean’ Yamuna this year (The Pioneer 10 November 2010)
Over a month-long festive season in the Capital is nearing completion with yet another important festival, the Chhath Puja on Friday and Saturday. Though the four-day long fast started on Tuesday, the festival would end with paying obeisance to the setting Sun on Friday evening followed by the one to the rising Sun on Saturday morning. However, lakhs of Poorvanchalis in Delhi will be a happier lot this year given the unprecedented cleansing of river Yamuna, thanks to the flood that purged the river of all dirt deposit with enormous volume of water flow. With nearly 50 lakh Poorvanchalis — people belonging to the States of Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern UP — staying in Delhi, the Surya Shashti (Chhath) festival has become an integral part of the various celebrations in Delhi after Dussehra, Diwali and Holi. The festival has, over the years, also gained political significance as various political parties have been wooing Poorvanchalis that form a major chunk of electorates in the Capital. But while the devotees are prepared for the festival, the administration and civic bodies are yet to begin cleaning of the 29 ghats where they will throng on the last two days to perform the puja. Delhi’s Urban Development Minister AK Walia on Monday inspected various ghats in east Delhi and directed the officials to carry out the necessary works at the earliest. PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said the Government is making logistic arrangements on 29 ghats throughout the city besides cleaning them up for the festival. He said that proper water and electricity arrangements would be made on the ghats and tents and chairs would be arranged for the devotees. He further said that proper security measures would also be taken that includes the presence of police personnel, divers and boats to avert any untoward incident. “Doctors, mobile dispensaries and ambulances would also be there round the clock for two days,” he addedExpecting a large gathering of people on the ghats, the Delhi Traffic Police have also made arrangements for it. The police will impose restrictions on movement of commercial vehicles on major interstate road passages surrounding the ghats. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyendra Garg said adequate deployment of traffic cops will be there to ensure proper movement of devotees and smooth flow of general traffic. Some of the major ghats include Purvi Ghat, Wazirabad, Ram Ghat, Sur Ghat and Shyam Ghat near Wazirabad (West), Kudasia and Geeta Ghat near Chandgi Ram Akhara on Ring Road, Geeta Colony Pusta, Rainy Well in Shakarpur and IP Estate and ITO Yamuna River on the eastern and western sides.Chhath Puja is observed with paying obeisance to the rising Sun on the 6th day from Diwali. This year it starts from November 10, with a ritual known as Nahaye-Khaye in which the worshippers take a meal of Lauki-Bhaat (Gourd and cooked rice) after a bath to begin with their almost three day fast. The next day —November 11 will be observed as Kharna, where on this day the family deity is worshipped and prasaad of Kheer, jaggery and poorie is distributed which marks the procedural beginning of the Chhath Puja. On October 12, the devotees would continue with their day long fast and offer prayers to the setting Sun known as Pehla Argh in the evening at the banks of rivers, ponds or artificial water bodies made in the premises of the residence like that of high profile people in the Capital. Lakhs of worshippers throng the roads of the city to reach the river banks by singing devotional songs which continues throughout the night even as interested worshippers perform the Kosi Puja.In the next morning the first rays of the Sun God is worshipped called as Subeh Ka Argh that would be on November 13. Finally the fast is broken and the prasaad constituting of Thekua, a traditional Bihari baked cake of maida, flour and gur, laddoos made out of rice and fruits are served and also distributed to all and sundry. The weeklong preparation of Chhath Puja which is done for the welfare of the family, especially son comes to an end with a feast on the spicy vegetables. Meanwhile, scores of people have also started moving from Delhi to their native places in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Monday, November 22, 2010
RHI Agra Meeting Minutes (13-14 Nov 2010)
RHI Agra Meeting Minutes
Prepared by Sri Bhim S Rawat, PEACE Institute
13-14 Nov 2010
Introduction:
The adverse impacts of high inputs like fertilizers and pesticides on agro-ecology as well as on human health can not for long remain hidden. Traditional and natural farming methods are again being widely discussed and appreciated as an alternate to rid the environment of the chemical menace. Several countries have now been promoting natural farming in place of high chemical inputs farming practices. It is now slowly gaining ground that the next green revolution shall be predominantly organic in nature.
Dr. Parikh a prominent citizen and Ravi Singh a staunch believer of natural farming have been practicing traditional farming in Agra, the historic city of India.
Point sources of pollution, in Indian rivers are quite visible and broadly discussed, but non-point sources like contamination (of the persistent variety) of river water by chemicals used in farming taking place in the catchment area and on the river banks still largely remain unnoticed and unaddressed.
Report
A two day trip was organized to Agra of the members of the Nadi Mitra Mandalis (NMMs) to sensitize and educate the farmers living along River Yamuna from Katapathar (Dehradun) to Raghupur (Allahabad) on the adverse impacts of agricultural chemicals which contaminate ground water and adversely impact the health of river, human and cattle alike.
Participants from different grids
In the morning hours of 14 Nov under cloudy sky a team of 26 members entered beautifully developed and maintained Dr. Parikh’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Agra. The green diversity and birds chirping pleased and greeted everybody inside the farm house manifesting the uniqueness of the place. After crossing a lane of variety (Popular, Ashoka, Avanla etc.) of trees, team members halted by a cow shelter where Sri Ashok Yadav the manager of the farm house welcomed all. Farmers were surprised to see the native breed of cows, calves and bulls that had been discarded by the farmers in favour of exotic high yielding varieties long ago.
Addressing the gathering at this place Sri Manoj Misra introduced the members to each other and broadly explained the purpose of the visit. He defined organic farming as a complex coexistence of different kinds of lives that enrich agro biodiversity and helps farmers in many ways. Establishing link between growing incidences of life threatening diseases and increased use of chemicals in agriculture he emphasized the value of natural farming practices.
Sri Ravi Singh who has re-settled himself in India after working as an advisor to a vinery production firm in London informed that he has been growing farm produce organically without much difficulties. Sharing his experiences with participants he said that switching over to natural farming will be all gain for everyone.
Leading the gathering to a lawn in the back yard, Sri Ashok Yadav shared the experiments, learning, advantages, he has earned through organic farming which he has been practicing for the past decade. He also cited his story from being an ordinary farmer to be among few organic producers. He has been motivating others and now planning to create a network of organic farmers and to open a shop in Agra to market organically grown vegetables. He stressed that organic farming becomes easier when we have cattle on our farms. He believed and successfully experimented that cow urine can replace chemicals of all sorts for pest control and as a weedicide. Now his yield of vegetables, crops and fruits is not only higher in comparison to those who use chemicals but cost effective and hygienic too.
Sri Ashok Yadav sharing his experiences with the participants
Participants from different Grids also shared about the farming practices being carried out in their own areas. They discussed and shared their experiences with chemicals and organic farming. After the discussion it turned out that
In Pachnada, Raghupur, Hamirpur marginal farmers are still using green farm practices whereas large land holders use fertilizers indiscriminately.
Organic farming is catching farmers’ attention in Ovah and Gadhaya after the contract farmers left from there, once the productivity of the land had been compromised from use of high inputs.
In Amipur, 50% farming is done traditionally whereas in Panipat people find it tough to avoid urea and fertilizers.
Farmers of Kanalsi having borne the brunt of chemical farming, are now returning back to traditional farming, whereas in hilly areas (Katapthar) still 80% farming is chemicals free.
During discussion farmers also revealed some amazing things that
The spray of 1 liter cow urine mixed in 15 liter water will keep the crops free from all diseases.
Stray wild animals also will not invade such farms.
Cows’ milk and urine are far more beneficial than of buffalos’.
It was estimated that on an average chemical and organic manure for one Beegha land will cost farmers around Rs 1100 and Rs 1200 respectively. Interestingly the cost of chemical farming will go up whereas the cost of organic farming will come down by 25 percent in the following years once organic practices have begun.
Organic farming boosts soil health, provides hygienic crops, takes less water, is cost effective, and employment generating in form of labour for deweeding and cattle maintenance.
In the end all agreed that organic farming is a practice that deserves a serious consideration and promotion.
Prepared by Sri Bhim S Rawat, PEACE Institute
13-14 Nov 2010
Introduction:
The adverse impacts of high inputs like fertilizers and pesticides on agro-ecology as well as on human health can not for long remain hidden. Traditional and natural farming methods are again being widely discussed and appreciated as an alternate to rid the environment of the chemical menace. Several countries have now been promoting natural farming in place of high chemical inputs farming practices. It is now slowly gaining ground that the next green revolution shall be predominantly organic in nature.
Dr. Parikh a prominent citizen and Ravi Singh a staunch believer of natural farming have been practicing traditional farming in Agra, the historic city of India.
Point sources of pollution, in Indian rivers are quite visible and broadly discussed, but non-point sources like contamination (of the persistent variety) of river water by chemicals used in farming taking place in the catchment area and on the river banks still largely remain unnoticed and unaddressed.
Report
A two day trip was organized to Agra of the members of the Nadi Mitra Mandalis (NMMs) to sensitize and educate the farmers living along River Yamuna from Katapathar (Dehradun) to Raghupur (Allahabad) on the adverse impacts of agricultural chemicals which contaminate ground water and adversely impact the health of river, human and cattle alike.
Participants from different grids
In the morning hours of 14 Nov under cloudy sky a team of 26 members entered beautifully developed and maintained Dr. Parikh’s farmhouse on the outskirts of Agra. The green diversity and birds chirping pleased and greeted everybody inside the farm house manifesting the uniqueness of the place. After crossing a lane of variety (Popular, Ashoka, Avanla etc.) of trees, team members halted by a cow shelter where Sri Ashok Yadav the manager of the farm house welcomed all. Farmers were surprised to see the native breed of cows, calves and bulls that had been discarded by the farmers in favour of exotic high yielding varieties long ago.
Addressing the gathering at this place Sri Manoj Misra introduced the members to each other and broadly explained the purpose of the visit. He defined organic farming as a complex coexistence of different kinds of lives that enrich agro biodiversity and helps farmers in many ways. Establishing link between growing incidences of life threatening diseases and increased use of chemicals in agriculture he emphasized the value of natural farming practices.
Sri Ravi Singh who has re-settled himself in India after working as an advisor to a vinery production firm in London informed that he has been growing farm produce organically without much difficulties. Sharing his experiences with participants he said that switching over to natural farming will be all gain for everyone.
Leading the gathering to a lawn in the back yard, Sri Ashok Yadav shared the experiments, learning, advantages, he has earned through organic farming which he has been practicing for the past decade. He also cited his story from being an ordinary farmer to be among few organic producers. He has been motivating others and now planning to create a network of organic farmers and to open a shop in Agra to market organically grown vegetables. He stressed that organic farming becomes easier when we have cattle on our farms. He believed and successfully experimented that cow urine can replace chemicals of all sorts for pest control and as a weedicide. Now his yield of vegetables, crops and fruits is not only higher in comparison to those who use chemicals but cost effective and hygienic too.
Sri Ashok Yadav sharing his experiences with the participants
Participants from different Grids also shared about the farming practices being carried out in their own areas. They discussed and shared their experiences with chemicals and organic farming. After the discussion it turned out that
In Pachnada, Raghupur, Hamirpur marginal farmers are still using green farm practices whereas large land holders use fertilizers indiscriminately.
Organic farming is catching farmers’ attention in Ovah and Gadhaya after the contract farmers left from there, once the productivity of the land had been compromised from use of high inputs.
In Amipur, 50% farming is done traditionally whereas in Panipat people find it tough to avoid urea and fertilizers.
Farmers of Kanalsi having borne the brunt of chemical farming, are now returning back to traditional farming, whereas in hilly areas (Katapthar) still 80% farming is chemicals free.
During discussion farmers also revealed some amazing things that
The spray of 1 liter cow urine mixed in 15 liter water will keep the crops free from all diseases.
Stray wild animals also will not invade such farms.
Cows’ milk and urine are far more beneficial than of buffalos’.
It was estimated that on an average chemical and organic manure for one Beegha land will cost farmers around Rs 1100 and Rs 1200 respectively. Interestingly the cost of chemical farming will go up whereas the cost of organic farming will come down by 25 percent in the following years once organic practices have begun.
Organic farming boosts soil health, provides hygienic crops, takes less water, is cost effective, and employment generating in form of labour for deweeding and cattle maintenance.
In the end all agreed that organic farming is a practice that deserves a serious consideration and promotion.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
China begins damming Brahmaputra river for hydropower project ( The Hindu- November 16, 2010)
Ananth Krishnan
Special Arrangement The hanging bridge on the Siang, as the Brahmaputra is called in Arunachal, is between Jidu and Tuting, about 35 km from the border with China.
Indian government has raised concerns about possible downstream impact of project
China has started damming the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra river, or the Yarlung Tsangpo as it is known in Tibet, to begin construction on a 510 MW hydropower project that has raised concerns in India.
The government for the first time revealed that it has, since November 8, begun damming the Tsangpo's flow to allow work to begin on the hydropower project at Zangmu. This is the first major dam on the Brahmaputra and has been billed by the Chinese government as a landmark hydropower generation project for Tibet's development.
A news report on Monday said the “closure of the Yarlung Zangbo river on November 12 marked the beginning of construction.” Work is expected to continue beyond 2014, when the first set of generators will be put into operation. The total investment in the project is 7.9 billion yuan ($1.2 billion).
The Indian government has raised concerns about the possible downstream impact of this project during talks with China earlier this year. Chinese officials have assured their Indian counterparts that the project would be “run of the river,” having little impact downstream.
China has said that its projects were only for hydropower generation, and were neither storage projects nor designed to divert the water.
Officials at India's Ministry of External Affairs have, however, voiced frustration over China's general lack of willingness to share information regarding the Zangmu project, meaning they had little means to verify claims on the specific construction plans and impact on flows.
According to Ramaswamy R. Iyer, former Water Resources Secretary of the Government of India, for India “the point to examine would be the quantum of possible diversion and the impact it would have on the flows to India.”
Usually, to ensure that the flow downstream remains unaffected during the period of construction of a dam, the water is diverted through streams around the construction site and returned to the river.
“Since the flow of the water cannot be stopped, the water will be diverted so there will be no reduction of flow in this stage,” Mr. Iyer, who is an authority on dams and transboundary water issues, told The Hindu on Monday, speaking from New Delhi.
He stressed that he was speaking in general terms regarding any dam construction, and did not have specific details regarding how China was carrying out this particular project.
There is still some uncertainty on what China intends for the project, and whether or not a storage reservoir, which could affect downstream flows, will be built beyond the minimal “pondage” required to operate the turbines.
Chinese media reports indicated that the Zangmu project is unlikely to be the last on the Brahmaputra. A news report on the widely read portal Tencent said the Zangmu dam was “a landmark project” for Tibet's development, being the first major dam in Tibet, and “a project of priority in the Eleventh Five Year Plan.”
The report said that such projects would “greatly relieve the energy stress in the middle regions of Tibet” and upgrade power capacity from 100 MW to over 500 MW.
‘No treaty'
Mr. Iyer said a larger concern for India was the absence of a water-sharing treaty with China, which does not allow India to either qualify or address Chinese claims regarding specific projects.
“Between India and Pakistan, we have a treaty which specifies what we should do,” he said. “We're not supposed to retain a drop, and [even] during a stated period of construction, inflow is equal to outflow.”
“But with China,” he added, “we have no treaty. So what they will do, we have no idea.”
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