Let the River Flow

Context: As growing contentions for Yamuna pollution, which is “one of the most polluted rivers in the world” has brought light to the issue of waste water management, groundwater recharge and drinking water availability in nearby cities dependent of Yamuna water. Yamuna and water rejuvenation:

• Namami Gange plan: The government has invested substantial funds in various initiatives like the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and the current Namami Gange plan.
• Sewage treatment and strategy: The emphasis of these plans has been on constructing sewage treatment plants (STPs) as a central strategy.
• Citizen-centric approach: While the Namami Gange plan has made improvements by involving people in the clean-up process, it still heavily relies on the STP-centric approach.

Loopholes and bottlenecks:

• Statutory provisions: The absence of statutory provisions to protect floodplains, which play a crucial role in groundwater replenishment.
• Inorganic pollutants: Tackling industrial pollutants is major issue for Yamuna, as no river has the capacity to cleanse inorganic pollutants.
• Policy issues: The larger concern is that there seems to be a lack of significant change in the approach to rejuvenating rivers, including the Yamuna, over the past 40 years.

Way forward:

• A rejuvenation plan: Attention should be given to what happens upstream and care should be taken of the needs of the people who depend on it downstream.
• Needs depending upon amount of water flow: Focus should be on seasonal variations in the amount of water and needs accordingly to save it.
• Alternatives for water sustainability: Comprehensive approach is required that goes beyond pollution control and emphasizes the need for Delhi to explore alternative sources of drinking water to reduce its impact on the Yamuna.

Question: “What are the key strategies and initiatives undertaken by the Indian government for river rejuvenation, considering the challenges and objectives involved in the process?”

Syllabus mapping: Subject: Environment (GS-III) Sub-topic: Environmental Pollution

• Briefly mention the significance of river rejuvenation in India.
• Discuss key government initiatives aimed at river rejuvenation, such as the Namami Gange program and similar projects for other major rivers.
• Mention adoption of an integrated river basin management approach, which takes into account the entire river system and its interconnected components.
• Highlight the importance of on-going efforts and collaborative approaches in achieving successful river rejuvenation in India.