In recent years, the world has witnessed a growing recognition of the critical importance of conserving major rivers, not only for ecological balance but also for the sustenance of human livelihoods and cultural heritage. Across the globe, governments, organizations, and communities are embarking on ambitious river conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding these lifelines of our planet. These initiatives encompass a diverse range of strategies, from habitat restoration and pollution mitigation to policy reforms and community engagement. By addressing the complex challenges facing major rivers, these conservation efforts are not only preserving invaluable ecosystems but also promoting sustainability and resilience in the face of mounting environmental threats.
NATIONAL RIVER CONSERVATION PLAN
- The country’s river cleaning initiative commenced with the introduction of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985.
- Subsequently, the scope of the program expanded to encompass other rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in 1995.
- The execution of pollution abatement measures operates on a cost-sharing basis between the Central and State Governments.
- These initiatives involve various activities such as the collection, transportation, and treatment of municipal sewage, River Front Development (RFD), Low-Cost Sanitation (LCS), Electric Crematoria, and Improved Wood-Based Crematoria, among others.
- Both the Central and State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees are actively involved in addressing the prevention and control of industrial pollution.
- The primary objective of the NRCP is to enhance the water quality of the country’s major rivers by implementing pollution abatement initiatives.
MEASURES TO CONSERVE SMALL RIVER
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), launched in 2019, aims to promote water conservation and water resource management. The JSA Series has specific themes and focuses for each year:
- 2021 Theme: “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls”
- Focus: Covering all blocks of all districts.
- 2022 Theme: “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls”
- Focus: Spring shed management, protection of watershed management, etc.
- 2023 Theme: “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water”
- Special focus on 150 Water Stressed Districts (WSDs) of the country.
Five-fold intervention:
- Rainwater harvesting & water conservation
- Enumerating, geo-tagging & making inventory of all water bodies
- Preparation of scientific plans for water conservation
- Setting up Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts
- Intensive afforestation
- Awareness generation.
Other Water Conservation Initiatives:
- Amrit Sarovar Mission (2022):
- Aim: Developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district as part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- Namami Gange Programme (2014):
- Aim: Integrated rejuvenation of National River Ganga.
- Mapping tributaries and smaller tributaries with their catchment area and wetlands.
- GIS-based inventory of small rivers with additional district-wise information.
- National River Conservation Plan (NRCP):
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme for pollution abatement in identified stretches of rivers (excluding Ganga basin).
- Provides financial and technical assistance to States/UTs on a cost-sharing basis.
- Small River Rejuvenation & Conservation Plan:
- 19 rivers identified and taken up by the Uttar Pradesh government, including River Manorama, River Varuna, River Tedi, etc.
- Mission Water Conservation:
- Aims to develop an actionable framework for gainful utilization of funds.
- Ensures synergies with schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
- Mass Awareness Programs:
- Conducted through various training sessions, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and trade fairs to promote water conservation initiatives, including rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge to groundwater.
- National Water Awards:
- Constituted under the Ministry of Jal Shakti to recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations working in water conservation.
- Weekly Water Heroes Contest:
- Objective: Promote the value of water and support country-wide efforts on water conservation and sustainable development of water resources.
RIVER REJUVENATION
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has unveiled Rs. 19,000–crore Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) focusing on the rejuvenation of 13 major rivers through forestry interventions.
- The initiative is modeled on the successful work conducted as part of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in 2015-16 and recognizes the water crisis arising from the degradation of river ecosystems.
Key Points:
- Rivers Covered: The 13 rivers include Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, Cauvery, and Luni.
- Project Objectives: The project adopts a multi-scale, multi-stakeholder, multidisciplinary, and holistic approach to achieve the objectives of ‘Aviral Dhara’ (uninterrupted flow), ‘Nirmal Dhara’ (clean water), and ecological rejuvenation.
Geographical Coverage:
- The 13 rivers collectively cover a basin area of 18,90,110 square kilometers, representing 57.45% of the country’s geographical area.
- The total length of the 13 rivers, including 202 tributaries, is 42,830 km.
Afforestation Plans:
- Various afforestation methods are proposed, including timber species, medicinal plants, grasses, shrubs, and fuel fodder and fruit trees.
Types of Interventions:
- Holistic riverscape approach for forestry interventions in natural, agricultural, and urban landscapes.
- Conservation interventions include soil and moisture conservation measures, riverine and riparian wildlife management, and wetland management.
- Supporting activities involve policy-level interventions, strategic and adaptive research, capacity development, awareness creation, project management, and participatory monitoring & evaluation.
Expected Benefits:
- Increase in cumulative forest cover by 7,417.36 sq km across 13 riverscapes.
- Sequestration of CO2 estimated at 50.21 million tonnes in 10-year-old plantations and 74.76 million tonnes in 20-year-old plantations.
- Groundwater recharge, reduction in sedimentation, and generation of Rs. 449.01 crore from non-timber and other forest produce.
- Significant employment generation with nearly 344 million man-days of work.
International Commitments:
Aligns with India’s international climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, aiming to create an additional carbon sink, restore degraded lands, and halt biodiversity loss by 2030 under the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goals.
FAQs – Major River Conservation Initiatives in India
Q1: When did the river cleaning initiatives start in India?
A: The river cleaning initiatives began with the launch of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985, which later expanded to include other rivers under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in 1995.
Q2: What activities are included in pollution abatement measures under NRCP?
A: Pollution abatement measures involve various activities such as the collection, transportation, and treatment of municipal sewage, River Front Development (RFD), Low-Cost Sanitation (LCS), Electric Crematoria, Improved Wood-Based Crematoria, among others.
Q3: How is the cost-sharing for pollution abatement works managed?
A: The execution of pollution abatement measures operates on a cost-sharing basis between the Central and State Governments.
Q4: What is the primary objective of NRCP?
A: The primary objective of NRCP is to enhance the water quality of the country’s major rivers by implementing pollution abatement initiatives.
Q5: What is the focus of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) Series?
A: The JSA Series focuses on promoting water conservation and water resource management. Each year has a specific theme and focus.
Q6: Which themes were highlighted in the JSA Series for 2021, 2022, and 2023?
A: The themes were “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls When it Falls” for both 2021 and 2022, and “Source Sustainability for Drinking Water” for 2023.
Q7: What are the key interventions under JSA?
A: Interventions include rainwater harvesting, water conservation, enumerating and geo-tagging water bodies, scientific plans for water conservation, setting up Jal Shakti Kendras, intensive afforestation, and awareness generation.
Q8: Can you provide examples of other water conservation initiatives?
A: Other initiatives include Amrit Sarovar Mission, Namami Gange Programme, National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), Small River Rejuvenation & Conservation Plan, Mission Water Conservation, mass awareness programs, National Water Awards, and the Weekly Water Heroes Contest.
Q9: What rivers are covered under the River Rejuvenation initiative?
A: The 13 rivers covered include Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, Cauvery, and Luni.
Q10: What is the expected geographical coverage of the River Rejuvenation initiative?
A: The 13 rivers collectively cover a basin area of 18,90,110 square kilometers, representing 57.45% of the country’s geographical area.
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