Professional Documents
Culture Documents
July Yojana Final PDF
July Yojana Final PDF
Vol 60
CONTENTS
Interlinking of Rivers and efficient Water Climate Change and Water Resources
Management Sharad K Jain.............................................................................55
R K Sivanappan.........................................................................23
Safe water for good health
Water Scarcity and Public S K Sarkar..................................................................................61
Investment in Irrigation
Water Scarcity: Affecting the Vulnerable
Seema Bathla.............................................................................30
vandana shiva............................................................................67
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A ncient Indians knew the indispensability of water for life on earth. According to ancient
beliefs, the universe comprised of five basic elements: kshiti (earth), apah (water), teja
(light/heat), marut (air) and vyoma (ether/space). As per the Rig Veda, all life evolved from
water (apah). Pure water was called divyajal due to its properties of sheetam (cold to touch),
suchihi (clean), shivam (replete with useful minerals and elements), Istham (transperant) and
vimalam lahu shadgunam (acidic balance should not exceed normal limits). Besides, there
are copious references to medicinal properties of water.
With two thirds of the earths surface covered by water and the human body consisting
of 75 percent of it, it is evidently clear that water is one of the prime elements responsible
for life on earth. Civilisations owe their evolution to water ever since the beginning of
humankind.Water influenced where people lived as our ancestors formed small cities around
water for agricultural reasons.
This precious resource has now become a very crucial factor for our economy. It is a vital component not only for
agriculture, industry, transportation but also for forestry, recreation, and environment. However contrary to the past, modern
society has become apathetic towards this miracle of life. Rivers, seas and oceans are being exploited, mistreated and
contaminated leading to water becoming a scarce commodity in almost every part of the world. Precious man-days or rather
woman-days are lost in searching for water for household purposes in villages. In urban areas too there are frequent fights
over water. Severe scarcity of water during droughts affects agriculture and farmers welfare leading to loss in agricultural
output and quite often suicides by desparate farmers. At the same time excess of water during floods also results in immense
loss of life and property year after year. This dichotomy has become a regular feature of our economy.
Realising the gravity of the situation, experts world over are busy finding newer ways to conserve water. Governments
are busy formulating policies to deal with water related issues. Indian government has been taking a number of steps to
mitigate the problems caused by floods and droughts to both the farmer and the common man. Improved irrigation practices
have been introduced to farmers through awareness campaigns, Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana being one such programme.
Water conservation methods like rainwater harvesting and flood water management are being introduced in a big way all
over the country to address the looming crisis.
On a larger scale, while inter linking of rivers is expected to help by channelizing excess water in some rivers to the
dry river beds in other regions without disturbing the ecology, storage dams across major rivers can absorb excess water
during floods which can be used for irrigation, electricity generation and various other purposes. Projects like Namami
Gange and Yamuna action plan are being looked upon as potential solutions to save drying and dying rivers. Commitment
on part of centre and state governments is the need of the hour.
There is a true proverb in Hindi Jal hai to Kal hai which means if there is water then only our future is safe. However
man has been mercilessly misusing this precious resource given by nature. It is time that the bugle call is sounded to make
everyone realize that water cycle and the life cycle are one. Therefore, from today let all of us start saving each and every
drop of water and conserve this priceless resource. q
I
ndia is experiencing growth in the long run (by posing
a high average annual constraints on availability of water
economic growth of and/or various ecosystem services)
7.28 per cent since and/or economic development (by
2002-03.1 The growth imposing costs (public health) on
is not only supported society in terms of water pollution).
by consumption of fixed capital (man- If pollution abatement is not matched
made capital), but also by natural with equivalent level of production
resources. 2 Apart from goods and and/or consumption activities, it could
services, production and consumption result in large scale water pollution.
processes also generate pollution and The costs associated with water
...countries should invest wastes which are deposited into the pollution are borne by the society,4
environment (air, water and land). in terms of public health costs (costs
in water infrastructure, In addition to direct use as inputs, associated with mortality and morbidity
institutions and policy environment acts as a sink of wastes due to water pollution)5and loss of
and assimilates the pollution load. If livelihoods due to environmental
reforms to achieve pollution load exceeds the assimilation degradation (water pollution and land
human development capacity of the environment (air, water degradation). Apart from public health
and land), it causes environmental concerns, the loss of livelihoods due to
and sustain economic degradation (air and water pollution, environmental degradation is a serious
growth. Further analysis soil (land) degradation). The unpaid concern for developing countries
ecosystem services of the environment like India where a large section
shows that in hot and (e.g., pollution assimilation) as a of the population still depends on
arid tropical countries, factor of production and the depletion primary activities (agriculture, animal
and degradation of some natural husbandry and fisheries) for livelihoods
the investment in large resources (like air, water and soil (Mukherjee and Chakraborty, 2012).
water storages had helped pollution) are not accounted into the In India, growing population and
support economic growth. present System of National Accounts rising demands will further enhance
(SNA); as a result it is difficult to the dependence on environment
Moreover, it seems to understand the actual environmental both as a source of natural resources
reduce malnutrition debt of Indian economy. 3 In other and as a sink for wastes. Apart from
words, the contribution of natural local environmental impacts, climate
and incidence of child resources like water (both depletion change induced vulnerability of 300
mortality and degradation) in GDP is not million coastal population of India,
accounted and hence, it could limit temporal and spatial variability of
the potential to achieve high economic monsoons, retreat of glaciers and so
The author is an Associate Professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), New Delhi. he was
earlier with International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Hyderabad and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India,
New Delhi. He has worked on public finance, environmental economics and water resources management issues in India
for more than a decade. He has published papers in national and international journals and co-edited many books.
China
High income
World
Middle East & North Africa
Low income
(developing only)
(developing only)
(developing only)
*6,,3/86
from 10.63 per cent to 13.13 per cent of GDP (factor cost) during
2002-03 to 2013-14 (RBI, 2014).
3 Environmental debt refers to the accumulation of past
environmental impacts of natural resource depletion and
3UHFXP0DLQV
environmental degradation, owed to future generations.
OECD (undated)
4 By avoiding costs of pollution abatement, polluters transfer
a huge cost to the society in terms of polluted air, water and
degraded forest and soil.
5 For example in India water-borne diseases annually put a burden
of USD 3.1 to 8.3 billion in 1992 prices (Brandon and Hommann
1995). A recent study conducted by the Water and Sanitation
Programme (WSP) of the World Bank estimates that the total
economic impacts of inadequate sanitation in India amounts to 0385,
Rs. 2.44 trillion (USD 53.8 billion) a year - this is equivalent
to 6.4 per cent of Indias GDP in 2006 (WSP undated). q
(E-mail: sachs.mse@gmail.com)
LQ*6,,0DLQVZDVIURPRXU
FROM OUR READERS ... &ODVV1RWHV 7HVW6HULHV
*6,3/86
them while planning our issues.
Please do write in with your feedback on our issues. It will
help us in planning our issues.
Thanks once again
,QFOXGLQJ7RSLFVRI3DSHU,,,
Exclusives' column for the benefit of its readers on the
website of Yojana : www.yojana.gov.in. Announcements 6$6LGGLTXL
about the articles under the Web-Exclusives section are &RYHUV+LVWRU\*HRJ+HULWDJH&XOWXUHDORQJZLWK
carried in the Yojana magazine of the month.
We are carrying the following articles under the Web-Exclusives
KROLVLWLFFRYHUDJHRIHQYLURQPHQWDQG%LRGLYHUVLW\
section of Yojana for July 2016. $OVRIURP3DSHU,,,$JULFXOWXUH3'6,UULJDWLRQ
Addressing the Challenges of Water by M. Ojit Kumar Singh 0DMRUFURSV&URSSLQJSDWWHUQ)RRG3URFHVVLQJ
Water Availability Crisis and Ways to Check the Depletion by
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YE-49/2016
T
he world today faces withdrawals are expected to grow by
imminent threats due about 6 per cent in 2050.
to water scarcity with
In September 2015, the UN adopted
implications for world
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
peace, justice and Development with 17 Sustainable
security. Water scarcity Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 6 is
affects socio-economic growth. The dedicated for ensuring access to water
World Economic Forums Global Risk and sanitation for all.
Report 2016 recognised water crises as
the third risk in a list of top ten risks in In the context of India, challenges
terms of impact. A recent World Bank for achieving this Goal are immense
report confirms that climate change but possible, provided some steps are
will increase water-related shocks on taken at the earliest .
The movement towards top of already demanding trends in
Indias current water crisis
water use.
water abundance will A snapshot of the 2016 water crisis
Estimates indicate that around 4
require action on many billion people or two-thirds of the
in India is given below:
worlds population face severe water l One third of Indias districts
fronts as short and shortage for at least one month every are affected by severe drought,
affecting some 33 crore people in
long term measures. year. Water scarcity can result in low
256 districts in 10 States.
productivity and crop failure, leading
These range from to food shortages, increasing prices and l In March 2016, only 24 per
subsequent hunger. cent water was left in 91 key
creating assets such as reservoirs.
According to the UN, food output
water banks, reducing must grow by 60 per cent to feed a
l Since January 2015, around 1,000
farmers have killed themselves
population of nine billion or more
demand, stretching in 2050. Production of food requires
due to acute drought and debt in
Karnataka.
considerable inputs of energy and
the water drop by its water, raising challenges of conflicting l Some 1,000 villages in eight
districts of Gujarat are suffering
multiple use and the demands. But by 2030, the world will
from acute drinking water crisis.
have to confront a water supply shortage
use of innovation and of 40 per cent. Agriculture already l Water wagons from Miraj in
accounts for approximately 70 per cent Western Maharashtra are serving
technology of global freshwater withdrawals and the dry regions of Latur. As
is perceived as one of the main factors a preventive measure against
behind the increasing global scarcity of riots, people gathering near water
freshwater. Globally, irrigation water sources are banned. No more than
The author is Lead WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), in IPE Global Limited, an international social development consulting organisation,
working on natural resources management, drinking water and sanitation, food security and rural livelihoods for more than a decade.She
has written several papers and reports, co-authored and co-edited books and written several articles for the print and electronic media.
YE-41/2016
I
ndia is endowed with successfully whereas in Cherrapunji
plenty of water and in India where the rainfall is about
land resources. Indias 11,000 mm, availability is a problem for
land area is about 2.5 2-3 months before the commencement
per cent of the world, of monsoon every year.
water resources is 4
per cent of global availability and the Water is the most crucial natural
population is about 17 per cent of the resource and its availability greatly
World. The available area is about 165 influences the health of people and
M.Ha., which is the second highest development of that area. According
in the world. In the 1990s, about 65 to the standard definition; for water
...it is very essential that per cent of the population of India availability from 1000m3 /per capita /
comprised of cultivators (farmers) year to 1700 m3/ capita / year, shortage
the government must and agricultural labour indicating the will be local. Below 1000m 3/per
take action seriously country's dependence on agriculture capita/year, water supply begins to
i.e. land and water. Therefore, the hamper health, economic development
for the inter linking of and human well being. At less than
need for water resources development
rivers in the country for over all social and economic 500m3 / per capita/ year, water supply
becomes a primary constraint to life
to use all the available development was duly recognized from
and countries experience absolute
the very beginning.
water in the rivers scarcity. The 1000m3 /per capita/year,
India has abundant water resources, has been accepted as a general indicator
(195 MHM) without but the water problem is very serious of water scarcity by World Bank and
postponing further. As in many states. This year (2016) water other agencies.
problem /scarcity was noticed in about
discussed earlier, the 10 States i.e Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Water Resources
water availability in the Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra pradesh, World wide also, water resources
Madhya pradesh, etc. About 32 crores
country is plenty, but it of the population does not have access to
are abundant. The available water is
sufficient even if the population of the
is unevenly distributed drinking water. As a scientist working world is increased to 25 billion (i.e 3
and hence, the water in this field for more than 60 years, I to 4 times of the present population).
have been indicating for the last 30-40 In India, the total available water is
scarcity problem exists in years that the water problem in India is sufficient for a population of 1650
many parts of the country a man made problem and not the fault million (1500m3 / per capita/ year)
of nature. India gets an annual rainfall
particularly in south and of 1150 mm as compared to the world River basins are the basic
in the west average of 840 mm and about 400 mm hydrological unit for assessment of
in Israel. Israel is managing the water water resources of the country. The
The author is an international water consultant and Founder Director, Water Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agriculture
University and former member, state planning Commission, Govt. of Tamil Nadu.
Table 3- Annual yield of west flowing rivers in Karnataka state only 40 per cent of the waters for
Sl. No. Sub-basin Catchment area Average yield which Karnataka has water disputes
(in sqkm) (MCM) with Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
1 Kalinadi 412 934 fighting in courts. The West flowing
2 Shravathi 3592 8816 rivers in Uttara Kannada and Dakshin
3 Chakra River 336 991 Kannada Districts of Karnataka
state like Nethravathi, Kumardhara,
4 Netravathy 3222 9939
Varahi etc have in all about 2000
5 Varahi 759 2263
TMC annually(Table 3) as against
6 Mahadavi 412 934
Krishna and Cauvery put together of
7 Bedthi 3574 5040 1300 TMC.
8 Independent catchment between 401 906
Sharavathi and Chakra River We can, easily and economically
9 Aghanashini 1330 3028 without disturbing the environment
10 Independent Catchment between 1042 3066 and ecology of the forests and without
Sharavathi and Chakra River displacement of people, divert the West
11 Independent catchment between 3067 9457 flowing water to the East Tamil Nadu
varahi and netravathy across the Ghats through pump storage
12 Independent Catchment between 1320 4474 schemes, utilizing the wasted existing
Netravathy and Barapole thermal power in the night time, during
13 Barapole 560 1274 monsoons for removing shortage of
Total 57489MCM supplies for irrigation, industry and
or drinking water. By this, it is possible
2000 TMC to use the water in Karnataka and share
Source : Water Resources Development Organisation, Government of Karnataka,
the excess water with Tamil Nadu and
Bangalore
Andhra Pradesh.
Seema Bathla
I
ndia has been reeling as well as micro irrigations under the
under a major water Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
crisis. The impact It would, therefore, be important to
of drought has been know whether the public expenditure
identified in more than incurred largely on major-medium
50 per cent of districts, irrigation has contributed to upscale
the worst in Maharashtra, Karnataka, irrigation intensity and accelerate
Jharkhand and Telangana. Though agricultural productivity. If not, then
the extent and magnitude of water the time is ripe to change gears and
scarcity varies across regions, and so its make investments focusing on minor
...the time is ripe to impact on crops, livestock and natural and micro irrigation systems, adopt
change gears and make resources, it has tied the nation together technological and other interventions
to explore possible ways to handle the that yield higher returns and also
investments focusing grappling situation that has affected improve water use efficiency. This
on minor and micro nearly 330 million people. The Central would necessitate a change in the fiscal
government has initiated drought policy instruments related to water
irrigation systems, adopt relief programmes to compensate viz. investments and subsidies on the
technological and other crop losses, sent water trains to the use of canal water and groundwater,
highly water scarce areas and planned among others.
interventions that yield judicious use of groundwater. The
higher returns and states have also received financial This paper quantifies the public
help from the Centre to cope up with resource allocation towards major-
also improve water use the emerging crisis. medium and minor irrigation schemes
efficiency. This would and estimates marginal efficiency
However, the problem of drought of these investments with an aim
necessitate a change is recurrent now and has become a to shed light on possible policy
in the fiscal policy major cause for worry, given the fact interventions to address water scarcity.
that almost 75 per cent of water is The investigations were carried out
instruments related to utilized for irrigation purposes. Rainfall from 1981-82 to 2013-14 across
water viz. investments deficit, together with high temperature major Indian states as both water and
would not only have adverse effect agriculture are state subjects and one
and subsidies on the on agricultural productivity and food may find large inter-state variations
use of canal water and security, but may also impinge upon in spending towards these sectors
livelihood of a sizeable population and their development over time. The
groundwater, among dependent on agriculture in the sources of data are Finance Accounts,
others country. A proposal has already been and Agricultural Statistics at a Glance,
placed to push investments in macro Government of India. Time series data
The author is Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has published
two books (one co-authored) and more than 40 research articles in national and international journals. She was conferred Jawaharlal
Nehru Award for Outstanding Post-Graduate Agricultural Research by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, New Delhi
in 2008.
investment in major-medium irrigation are reportedly affecting the wide spread to measure power consumption, and
works are not yielding the expected adoption of this technology. Subsidy, also canal waters, and then incentivise
returns implies that the respective being an important factor influencing farmers to save their consumption by
state governments must strive towards adoption decision of farmers, if not rewarding them with monetary value
faster completion of ongoing projects disbursed on time and appropriated of, say 75 per cent of the savings at a
and increase investment efficiency. by better off farmers, may affect the price equivalent to what it would cost to
They should also strategize fiscal vast majority of resource poor small supply from fresh investments. Another
policy by reallocating resources from and marginal farmers in accessing option could be that government
major-medium irrigation to minor and this technology (Viswanathan et replaces inefficient pump sets by more
micro irrigation, wherever feasible. al. 2016). The National Mission on energy efficient ones which would
Accelerating investments in micro Micro Irrigation should be given high save power by almost 30 per cent.
irrigation systems, comprising drip priority. Last but not the least, increased water
and sprinkler irrigation has greater conservation and technologies along
potential to improve water use Additional spending on subsidies with promotion of cultivation of less
efficiency, especially in sugarcane on irrigation as well as power, yield water intensive crops and drought
and banana. Undoubtedly, states have less than 100 per cent returns in terms resistant varieties would contribute
undertaken various promotional efforts of increase in agricultural productivity to handle the crisis.
and provision of subsidies on these, but (Bathla et al. 2015). But reallocation
their level of adoption and spatial spread of public expenditure from subsidies The newly formed state -
remains low, at less than 5 per cent of towards investment seems impossible Telangana has embarked upon a major
cropped area. Studies show that micro given Indias political scenario. Also, project Kakatiya under which,
irrigation helps to save water, reduces some agriculturally dominant poorer water harvesting and management
the cost of cultivation and improves states may need to push up productivity is taking place through revival of
crop yield. Net return per inch of water and hence, find subsidies an easy route traditional tanks and lakes. Indias
supplied through drip irrigation was in to entice farmers. One way to avert partnership with Israel to learn and
the range of 60-80 per cent as compared over exploitation of water resources adopt innovative strategies to harness
to conventional irrigation systems. could be rationalisation in the rain water during the recently organised
However, among others, high initial distribution of subsidy to those states India Water Week, 2016 is another
capital cost, suitability of designs to and farmers that actually need it. useful step in this direction. These
different soil conditions, problems in Some other measures, as suggested initiatives, if implemented can go a
receiving subsidy and small holdings by Gulati (2016) are to install meters long way in increasing irrigated area,
________________________________________________________________________
YE-65/2016
I n order to promote the rich cultural heritage of the North Eastern States of India, Ministry of Development of North Eastern
Region(DoNER) and Ministry of Textiles have undertaken a joint initiative to promote the handicrafts and handloom products
of the North Eastern States of India by organizing an exhibition of high quality products from North Eastern Region at CCIC
(Central Cottage Industries Corporation) showroom in Delhi. The products are being sourced from artisans and weavers
including master craft persons and National awardees from all over India. q
T he North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) has set up the Purbashree stall at
Dilli Haat, Delhi. This stall will further boost the development and promotion of North East handicrafts and handlooms
products. It is for the first time that the stall has been set up on a permanent basis which is devoted exclusively to North east.
The stalls showcasing North-east were earlier put up on temporary basis. These stalls will showcase the North Eastern culture
and ethnicity, help in generating the revenue and will also help in the promotion of start-ups. q
T he First Battalion The Assam Regiment celebrated its 75th Raising Day (Platinum Jubilee) with ceremonial fervor
at Shimla, Himanchal Pradesh, on 15th July, 2016. The highlight of the whole occasion was release of 'First Day
Cover' by Colonel of the Assam Regiment & Arunachal Scout, Lt Gen Subrata Saha and flagging in of a Motorcycle
Rally, led by Brig Charandeep Singh, by Lt Gen PM Hariz, General Officer Commanding -in - Chief of the Army
Training Command.
The Battalion was raised on this very day in 1941 and has had an illustrious military history. It is one of the only units
in the history of warfare to have been awarded six Battle Honours, namely, Jessami (Nagaland), Kohima (Nagaland),
Aradura (Nagaland), Mawlaik (Burma), Kyaukmyaung (Burma) and Toungoo (Burma) and one Theatre Award BURMA
within a short span of three years of its raising. The Battalion is also the proud recipient of Chief of the Army Staff Unit
Citation for its role in combating terrorism on Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir. q
YE-48/2016
O
ccupying a special up conflicting images in mind. on
place in every Indians one hand, it is the epitome of holiness
heart, Ganga is the symbolizing purity but on the other
most sacred river in the hand, it is a large, polluted, stagnant
country with a unique body of water filled with dirt and
cultural and spiritual plastic. Heavy pollution loads, over-
significance. Traversing over 2,500 km, abstraction in the lean season for
the colossal Ganga River is celebrated extensive irrigation, competing
and used by millions of people from water demands and diversions and
its origin in the Gangotri glacier in obstructions in the main stream and
Global experience with the Himalayas to the Sunderbans tributaries have wrecked havoc on
delta in Bangladesh. The Ganga basin the health of the river and its ability to
large, but once equally or generates approximately 40 per cent nourish the millions of people who live
even more polluted than the of the countrys GDP and is a valuable and work in the basin (Ruhl, 2015). It
Ganges today, rivers such as environmental and economic resource is at this point when one wonders as to
the Danube, the Thames, the for India. Along its long journey, how one of the worlds mightiest rivers
Rhine, the Nile, and the Elbe the river enriches the vast lands of ended up as a garbage dump!
Gangetic plains and sustains 50 major
show that strong river basin Indian cities and hundreds of smaller Issues affecting the river are
management organisations towns. Several tributaries in the higher myriad and seldom simple. They
range from untreated sewage and
capable of generating basin- reaches have the potential to generate
sufficient hydropower to boost Indias industrial waste dumping to restricted
scale knowledge and scenarios, flows and rampant underground water
energy supplies and in the downstream,
identifying hotspots of pollution withdrawal. All forms of pollutants
the river has the potential to become a
and potential solutions vibrant waterway to carry goods and including discarded offerings and
incorporating urban and rural people across long distances.This is heavily dyed clay idols used in various
the only river basin in India which is religious acts and ceremonies are
waste for closing the nutrient blatantly released into the river.
gaps in agriculture, prioritising resource rich with lots of surplus water
still available. The degraded water quality affects
interventions and investments millions of people who depend on
and advising on awareness But unfortunately, this massive the rivers water across boundaries
and policy are central to river river is currently reeling from decades and countries. To top it, floods and
of negligence and ill-treatment meted droughts are a common phenomenon
cleaning and rejuvenation out to it by an ever growing population. in the basin which kills people and
The mere mention of Ganga brings seriously damages crops, livestock
The author is Scientist Emeritus (WR) International Water Management Institute- New Delhi. He was earlier Asst. Director
General (Integrated Water Management), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. He has more than 170
research and policy publications/ books and several awards to his credit. His key contributions include improving large irrigation
commands, assessment and management of groundwater in the Indo-Gangetic and Yellow river basins, impact of large inter-basin
water transfers on regional resources, assessment and improvement of water productivity and ICT applications in water resources
management. He has published and worked extensively in South Asian and East African countries.
Table 1. Freshwater consumed and wastewater generated by major industrial units in the Ganges basin
Industrial units Total Units Water Wastewater Generation
Consumption (MLD) (MLD)
Chemical 27 210.9 97.8(46.4 per cent)*
Distillery 23 78.8 37.0 (46.9 per cent)
Food, Diary & Beverages 22 11.2 6.5(58.0 per cent)
Pulp & Paper 67 306.3 201.4(65.8 per cent)
Sugar 67 304.8 96.0(31.5 per cent)
Textile, Bleaching & Dyeing 63 14.1 11.4(80.9 per cent)
Tannery 444 28.7 22.1(77.0 per cent)
Others 41 168.3 28.6(17.0 per cent)
Total 764 1123 501 (44.6 per cent)
Source: Central Pollution Control Board (of India), 2013
*Figures in parenthesis are percent of wastewater generated to the total water consumption
Figure 1: Variation in 5-year average total coliform at 70 locations along the Ganga River (source: IIT Consortium, 2013)
Class A: water
Class for use
A: water forasuse
drinking waterwater
as drinking sourcesource
without conventional
without treatment
conventional but afterbut
treatment disinfection.
after disinfection.
Class B: waters for use for organized outdoor bathing.
Class
Class B: waters
C: Class for use
C waters for as
for use organized
drinkingoutdoor bathing.
water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfection
Class C: Class C waters for use as drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfection
YOJANA July 2016 43
v. I n s u f f i c i e n t E n v i ro n m e n t a l What is even more alarming is that segment, most of the aquatic species
Flows: the situation has not improved in are under severe threat because of the
the last decades; on the contrary, impacts of industrial effluents disposed
A healthy river requires that coliform levels are on the rise and into the river (Sarkar e al., 2012).
after meeting all the requirements have substantially increased from Accumulation of heavy metals has
of the diverse stakeholders, adequate 1996 through 2010 at all locations been observed in fish in this stretch
quantities of high quality water must throughout the entire course of the of the river. In Allahabad, a heavily
continue to flow in the river throughout Ganga River (IITC, 2013, Fig. 1). The polluted stretch, a steady decline of
the year. At no point of time and in Ganges Basin has an installed capacity all economic fish species has been
no particular stretch of the river, the to treat up to 44 per cent of the sewage observed during the last six decades.
flow may become insufficient and produced in its Class I cities, but According to Sarkar et al., 2012, the
discontinuous. As all the human only 8 per cent of the Class II towns fish catch/km declined from 1344 to
users and uses are very vocal and (Table 1) (CPCB, 2009) and virtually 0 300 kg between 1950 and 2010.
demanding, it is generally the silent per cent in smaller towns. Vast parts of
but most important environmental the cities and most towns are, however, Tw o s e r i o u s a n d r e v e a l i n g
flow which generally gets sacrificed. not covered by sewage networks or assessments by the Central Pollution
Large scale abstractions of surface these networks are not operational or Control Board conducted during 1982
water directly through diversion canals not ending in treatment plants, and so and 1984 found that most pollution
and distributed groundwater pumpage large quantities of wastewater remain from point sources was coming from
throughout the basin seriously impact untreated. But even where there are 25 Class I cities in Uttar Pradesh,
the river flow regime. The middle constructed sewers and treatment Bihar and West Bengal and these
stretch of around 1,080 km from plants, these often do not operate formed the basis for the first-ever
Haridwar to Varanasi is the most multi-state, national level substantial
degraded due to significant irrigation The poor river health, besides the effort for controlling the pollution of
diversions through extensive canal the river which was launched in the
network and groundwater pumpage
large negative environmental,
form of Ganga Action Plan (GAP)
and high degree of pollution loads cultural and health impacts also in 1985. Main focus of the plan
from different sources. Flow estimates constrains the livelihood options was on interception, diversion and
after the canal diversions at Haridwar, for many of those dependent treatment of sewage generated from
Bijnor and Narora indicate that original these 25 cities. The plan continued for
Ganga River is almost completely lost,
on the river as more than 200
several years without achieving any
with little or no capacity to perform its million people in the basin are improvement in river water quality.
ecosystem services and assimilate the among the Indias poorest. The Subsequently, GAP II was started in
large pollution loads (Mateo-Sagasta, pervasive poverty in the states 1993 and is still under progress in five
2015). states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West
Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Past Efforts to Clean the Ganga Bengal has a strong correlation Through the provisions of GAP-I and
The poor river health, besides the with water poverty (Sharma et GAP-II, interception, diversion and
large negative environmental, cultural al., 2010). treatment of sewage of more than 37
and health impacts also constrains cities was established. The plan also
the livelihood options for many of properly or are not maintained, which identified grossly polluting industries
those dependent on the river as more means that the actual treatment is and made it obligatory to install the
than 200 million people in the basin much lower than the installed capacity effluent treatment plants. As per
are among the Indias poorest. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry,
(CSE, 2014).
pervasive poverty in the states of an estimated amount of Rs. 1612.38
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal Waste and wastewater from crore was spent upto 2011. Though
has a strong correlation with water these efforts made some beginning and
cities, industries and agriculture
poverty (Sharma et al., 2010). Faecal were able to highlight the magnitude
contamination caused by increasing contain pathogens and chemicals that of the problem of pollution in the
amounts of untreated sewage and concentrate in the Ganga waters and Ganges, it had several limitations and
septage directly discharged into the sediments and accumulate along the constraints. As per the findings of IIT
streams is a major concern for the trophic chain posing serious risks Consortium (IITC, 2011), only limited
Ganges. Coliform levels are high all for human health, the environment pollution issues were considered, the
along the river and make the water ownership among the local urban
generally unsuitable for traditional and productive activities (Hernande-
bodies was lacking, there were large
bathing, not to speak of drinking, Sancho et al., 2015). This also impacts implementation delays, no business
barring a few upstream locations. the riverine species. In the middle model or provisions for operation
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23(1
YE-47/2016
M S Menon
I
ndia, which has 16 Consequently, the remaining parts
per cent of the worlds have to be satisfied with the balance
population, has roughly resource. Also, over 80 to 90 per cent
4 per cent of the worlds of the run-off in the Indian rivers
water resources and occurs in the four monsoon months
2.45 per cent of the of June to September resulting in
worlds land area. Even creating regions of harmful abundance
in the distribution of the available of water during the monsoons and
fresh water resources in the country, acute scarcity in summer. With such
there are great variations in space and a wayward and changing nature, we
time i.e., between different parts of have to adapt or compensate for these
...there are no universal the country and in different periods changes to survive. Since a few months
solutions which can in a year. The challenges faced by account for most of the years rainfall
the water sector in the country are and consequent water availability,
provide complete protection many, such as the challenge to feed the ability to hold water in reservoirs
against floods. Hence a growing population; challenge to and spread out its release over the
meet their growing aspirations for a year can mean the difference between
apart from storage dams, better life; challenge to control the devastating floods and droughts.
the country also has to floods and droughts occurring every
Due to its vastness, diverse relief
focus its strategy to have year devastating lives and habitats;
features and geographical locations,
and the challenge to ensure sustainable
efficient management growth process balancing a delicate different regions of the country have
varied climates and rainfall patterns.
of flood plains, flood environmental and ecological system.
It is not therefore, uncommon to find
proofing including disaster Problems of floods and droughts one part of the country under the grip
preparedness and response of severe floods, while another part is
The Indian land mass receives on suffering under the effects of drought.
planning including flood an average of about 4000 billion cubic Many a times, it so happens that even
forecasting and warning metres (BCM) of precipitation and the in the same year in a state, some areas
average annual flow in the rivers is have excessive rains and consequent
and other non structural estimated as 1953 BCM, the balance floods while some other areas suffer
measures such as disaster being lost to immediate evaporation due to poor rainfall and consequent
and soil moisture. Two-thirds of the drought. Thus, the main characteristic
relief, flood insurance etc. water resources is contributed by of Indias water resources is its uneven
to mitigate the miseries the Ganga-Brahmaputhra-Meghna distribution in space and time leading
(GBM) river basin covering one-third
caused by floods of the geographical area of the country.
to endemic and sporadic problems of
water shortages and excesses.
The author has worked with the National Commission on Water Resources of MOWR, as a consultant in Water Resources with the
Planning Commission. He was Member Secretary of the Indian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, under MOWR.
He has been involved with multipurpose water resources development projects in India, Nepal and Bhutan and as a Consultant
deputed from Govt. of India with the Iraq Government. he was also involved with their projects on Tigris river and has been
regularly writing in the national news papers on the various issues facing the water sector.
IAS GURUKUL
the catchment of the river lies in Tibet (China), often the
information about flash floods originating upstream does
not reach areas downstream till the flood itself arrives. The
worst such flood occurred in the year 2000 when the water
level of the Sutlej river rose by 15 metres due to flash flood
resulting from a cloud burst and temporary blockage of the MENTORS ARE TOP OFFICERS & FACULTY
river in Tibet. Though areas upstream of Bhakra dam were
affected by the flood, it was fully absorbed and evened Rajiv Agarwal IAS Amresh Kumar IPS
out when it impinged on the reservoir, thereby preventing K. Prasad IRS SC Garg, ex- VC, IGNOU
downstream devastation in Punjab plains.
Pranay Aggarwal, PRESIDENT,
In the recent past, major projects like the Tehri hydro
project in the Bhagirathi (Ganga), could reduce the flood INDIAN SOCIAL SCIENCE COUNCIL
damages in Rishikesh and Haridwar caused by flash floods
in the Uttarakhand region. The dam absorbed and regulated
the unprecedented flood flows of 2.5 lakh cusecs which hit
the reservoir and released only less than 7 per cent of the
IAS A TO Z PREPARATION COURSE
flood flows into the downstream river channel. Likewise,
Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada river has also been
Prelims, Mains & Interview
able to reduce the flood ravages downstream by regulating
the flood flows.
Includes:
In this connection, the Indian River Linking (IRL) General Studies (Pre-cum-Mains)
project which envisages construction of storage dams and REASONABLE
a network of canal systems across the country to divert the CSAT Compulsory Papers FEES
flood waters of the Brahmaputhra and other major rivers to Rs. 95,000/-
water deficit areas for equitable distribution and optimum OPTIONAL Essay Interview
utilisation of water, is an important available option to
reduce the miseries of floods and droughts visiting the
country frequently.
Conclusion
Highlights:
To conclude, it is feasible in most cases to provide SMALL BATCHES of max 20 students
a certain degree of protection against floods in terms of
reduced frequency and flood damages by having storage
dams across major rivers which would be able to absorb the
INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION to each student
peak floods and regulate the flows downstream into river
channels. The proposed IRL project would be an available
EXCELLENT Faculty & Mentors
option to address the problems caused by devastating floods.
However, there are no universal solutions which can provide
REASONABLE Fees
complete protection against floods. Hence, apart from
storage dams, the country also has to focus its strategy to
COMPLETE Study Material
have efficient management of flood plains, flood proofing
including disaster preparedness and response planning
REGULAR Tests
REGULAR Batch WEEKEND Batch
including flood forecasting and warning and other non
structural measures such as disaster relief, flood insurance
etc. to mitigate the miseries caused by floods.
Reading Optionals
1. Dr.K.L.Rao : Indias Water Wealth- Orient longman limited,
1975. SOCIOLOGY GEOGRAPHY ANTHROPOLOGY
By P. Aggarwal By A. Mohapatra By S. Bhushan
2. Ministry of Water Resources: Report of the Rashtreeya Barh
Ayog, 1980.
3. Ministry of Water Resources: Reports of Task Forces on Flood
Management, 1997.
4. Ministry of Water Resources: Report of the National Call
5.
Commission for Integrated Water Resources Development
plan, 1999.
Ministry of Water Resources: National Water Policy, 2012.
9999693744
YE-64/2016
DELHI: 2nd Floor, Apsara Arcade, Near Metro Gate 6, 1/8 B, Pusa Road,
Karol Bagh. Contact : - 8468022022, 9650617807, 9717162595
YE-53/2016
Sharad K Jain
C
limate of a region climate change. Three types of orbital
represents the long- variations are identified. Tilt of Earths
term (more than thirty axis with respect to plane of orbit
years) average of varies between 22.1 to 24.5 in about
weather. It is a resultant 41,000 years. The tilt does not impact
of an extremely total solar radiation received, but the
complex system consisting of different space and time distribution changes.
meteorological variables which vary Next, axial precession is the gradual
with time. Climate may be defined shift in orientation of Earths axis of
as average weather or more as the rotation relative to fixed stars, in a
Flood and drought statistical description in terms of mean cycle of 26,000 years. When this axis
management schemes have and variability of relevant weather is aligned to point towards Sun during
variables over a period of time. perihelion, one polar hemisphere will
to be planned keeping in have a greater difference between
view the increase in severity Climate change (CC) refers to seasons while the other will have
a statistically significant change in milder seasons. Finally, eccentricity of
of floods and droughts. either the mean state of the climate Earths orbit around the Sun controls
It would be prudent to or its statistical properties (such as shape of Earths orbit around sun and
incorporate possible effects standard deviations, the occurrence the radiation received.
of extremes, etc.), persisting for an
of climate changes in the extended period particularly decades Internal forcing mechanisms of
design and management of or longer. Climate change is not only CC operate within the climate system.
a major global environmental problem, Great volcanic eruptions release huge
water resources systems. amounts of gases, ash and aerosols
but also an issue of great worry to a
The high magnitude floods country like India. and impact climate by reducing
are also likely to bring solar radiation reaching Earth. GHG
Causes of Climate Change emissions due to combustion of fossil
more sediment which may fuels to generate electricity, heating,
fill reservoir space. The CC can take place due to forcings and transport account for 70 per cent
that may be external to Earth or internal. of total emissions and are the main
design and management of Two external forcings are important. cause of global warming. Movement of
both structural and non- Earths orbit and tilt of its rotational tectonic plates has a direct connection
structural water-resource axis are changing slowly, caused by between uplift, atmospheric circulation,
gravitational forces of other planets and and hydrologic cycle.
systems should allow for the orbit of solar system about the centre
possible effects of climate of Galaxy. Milankovitch cycles Greenhouse Effect: Short-wave
is the collective name for cycles in radiation from the sun passes through
change Earths movement. Changes in these the Earths atmosphere which contains
cycles cause very slow and long-term different gases. A part of this radiation
The author is NEEPCO Chair Professor at IIT Roorkee. He has co-authored four books, edited 5 books and written number of
technical papers. He is a member of many national and international committees.
S K Sarkar
G
lobally, only 0.4 per inter alia, include biological oxygen
cent of total water on demand (BOD) level, level of total
mother earth is at our coliform and faecal coliform, while
disposal for meeting for ground water, level of trace
our needs, of which, elements,extent of saline-fresh water
roughly 70 per cent is interface, inter alia, determine the level
used for agriculture, 22 per cent for of contamination.Such trace elements
industry and 8 per cent for domestic may include arsenic, heavy metals, etc.
purposes. By 2030, an estimate by A recent report of Central Pollution
2030 water Resources in its report Control Board (CPCB 2013)points
...sanitation, hygiene "chartering our water future" shows out contamination of river water at
that the global fresh water demand identified points when measured, inter
and safe water are the would be about 40 per cent above the alia, in terms of BOD, and coliform
existing reliable and sustainable supply bacterial count, thus indicating the
basic requirements of fresh water. Due to climate change, extent of water quality degradation in
for good health. Our there could also be variability of water different parts of India. In the case of
ground water, inland salinity, coastal
availability across nations over time.
national policies salinity, fluoride, arsenic, iron, nitrates
Indias water sector is showing a are some of the contaminants. States
and state policies in sign of water stress in terms of per such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar,
capita availability and heading towards Assam, amongst others, are affected
these areas should water scarcity in the near future. by such contamination.
complement each other. Severe water crisis would imply, inter
alia, more water borne diseases, low The river water gets contaminated
In addition, there agricultural and industrial productivity, mainly due to inefficient functioning
and drinking water shortage. Today, the of ETPs (Effluent Treatment Plants),
should be institutional water sector in India presents a dismal CETPs (Common Effluent Treatment
scenario when one looks at its quality, Plants), STPs (Sewage Treatment
synergy as well, for which reduces further availability of Plants) resulting in dumping of
administering these safe water. About 70 per cent of the untreated industrial wastes into
the river; discharging of untreated
surface water and ground water are
policies at various contaminated. municipal wastes into rivers; lack of
onsite treatment of contaminants; non
levels The quality of water is measured by point sources of pollution including
the presence of somebeyond threshold pesticide contaminated agricultural run
level parameters in water. in the off, piling up of materials at most river
case of fresh water, these parameters, banks for religious uses, etc.
The author is Distinguished Fellow and Director, Water Resources and Forestry Division in TERI, New Delhi and a former
Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India. He has several publications to his credit in national dailies and national
and international journals and also in the form of mimeograph. He has also authored and edited books on infrastructure issues.
KSG Delivers...
W
ater has become of jobs. Whereas women and girls are
the most scarce and trudging still further. This time lost in
commodified product fetching water can very well translate
of the 21st century. into financial gains, leading to a better
This may sound life for the family. If opportunity costs
bizarre, but true. In were taken into account, it would
fact, water is to the 21st century, what be clear that in most rural areas,
oil was to the 20th century. The stress households are paying far more for
on the multiple water resources is a water supply than the often-normal
result of a multitude of factors. On rates charged in urban areas. Also,
Throughout history and across one hand, the spread of water intensive if this cost of fetching water which
the world, water rights have Green revolution agriculture, the is almost equivalent to 150 million
been shaped both by the limits of rapidly rising population and changing women day each year, is covered into
ecosystemsand by the needs of lifestyles have increased the need for a loss for the national exchequer, it
people. In fact, the root of the Urdu fresh water. On the other hand, intense translates into a whopping 10 billion
word abadi, or human settlement, is competition among users-agriculture, rupees per year.
ab, or water, reflecting the formation industry and domestic sector is
pushing the ground water table deeper, Most women and girl children
of human settlements and civilization
diversion of river waters for intensive in Rajasthan find themselves in
along water sources. The doctrine difficulties for most part of the year.
of riparian rights the natural irrigation and urban industrial use has
left our rivers dry. What remains is They trudge bare foot in the hot sun for
rights of dwellers supported by a hours over wastelands, across thorny
water system, especially a river polluted with dumping of industrial
and urban wastes, making our lifelines fields, or rough terrain in search of
system, to use water-also arose water, often the colour of mud and
from this concept of ab. Water has like the Ganga and Yamuna unfit for
drinking. brackish, but still welcome for the
traditionally been treated as a parched throats back home. On an
natural right arising out of human To get a bucket of drinking water average, a rural woman walks more
nature, historic conditions, basic is a struggle for most women in the than 14000 km a year just to fetch
needs, or notions of justice. Water country. The virtually dry and dead water. Their urban sisters are only
rights as natural rights do not water resources have led to acute slightly better off- they do not walk
originate with the state; they evolve water scarcity, affecting the socio- such distances, but stand in the long
out of a given ecological context economic condition of the society. warding queues for hours on end to
of human existence The drought conditions have pushed collect water from the roadside taps
villagers to move to cities in search on the water lorries.
The author is founder, Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE) and Navdanya, meaning
Nine Seeds, or New Gift in Hindi. She has written books on the Green Revolution, corporate led globalization,and
gender issues. was a founding Board Member of the Women Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). She
has also initiated Diverse Women for Diversity, an international movement of women working for food and agriculture.
she is on the National Board of Organic Standards of India, serves on Prince Charless expert group on Sustainable
Agriculture and she is a member of President Zapateros Scientific Committee in Spain.
Yojana
by the needs of people. In fact, the
root of the Urdu word abadi, or human
settlement, is ab, or water, reflecting
the formation of human settlements
and civilization along water sources.
The doctrine of riparian rights the Forthcoming Issue
natural rights of dwellers supported
by a water system, especially a
August 2016
river system, to use water-also arose Energy