Jeev Kant Jha
Today, Indian Rivers Are the Most Endangered. Normally the term ‘endangered’ brings to mind images of birds and animals. But, shockingly the most endangered species in India are not the flora or fauna but the rivers. Most of the Indian rivers are reduced to mere ‘nallahs’ or ‘sewers’ due to rapid, unplanned, and haphazard developmental activities. Frankly speaking, most rivers are at a high risk of pollution, deforestation, encroachment, and corporate practices. The enormous construction of dams and hydroelectric projects on the banks of the rivers have led to dangerous outcomes for not just the biodiversity-rich rivers, but also the aquatic life and the people who are dependent on these rivers for their living. All our major rivers, be it Ganga or Yamuna or anyone else, are at serious risk of survival. Rivers are lifelines; in India, they are sacred, holy, and worshipped by millions. Yet, it is the people and their actions that, over decades, are polluting these sacred rivers.
Rivers are the arteries of any civilization. All major civilizations in the world commenced from the land of major rivers. Indus Valley extended from the east of River Jhelum to the upper Sutlej. Mesopotamia encompasses the land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. A river carries the essence of a place, its history, and its cultural heritage besides sustaining important systems such as agriculture, pisciculture, transportation, industries, recreation, and many others. India is the land of many rivers. Traditionally, to a large extent, Indian rivers find their place in the literary, art, and cultural works of their dwellers. Many historic and celebrated Indian novels and poetry revolve around its major rivers. More recently, Indian rivers have been a major focus of interest of the research community from the perspective of hydrology, geomorphology, seismology, pollution studies, and so on. One important aspect of Indian rivers is that, in many places in the country, river water is still used for direct consumption. This particular facet calls for the maintenance of high-quality river waters in terms of their both wholesomeness and estheticity (Bhargava 1998). Further, in the global picture, India is identified as a country where water scarcity is expected to grow considerably in the coming decades (Bandyopadhyay and Perveen 2003). Therefore, the conservation of our river system is of utmost significance to address the constant water crisis experienced by this country. Again, rivers in India have the potential to provide a solution to the unending energy crisis in the country. But all are facing the risk of extinction.
Dying mother Ganga-Washing away human sins
India’s river of faith, devotion, and worship, a source of life for some 400 million people – River Ganga is dying with each passing day. Despite decades of government schemes and crores to clean it up, the river is becoming more and more polluted with each passing day. From sewage, decomposing human/animal bodies, flower waste, and plastic waste to industrial effluents – everything flows into the Ganga and most of it is untreated. The pollution level in Ganga is almost 3000 times over the limit specified by the World Health Organisation as ‘safe’. Today the holiest river of India, Ganga has the distinction of being the number 2 river in the world that dumps the maximum amount of plastic into the sea. A recent study done by the researchers at The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch foundation, found that around 115,000 tonnes of plastic make their way into the sea each year through Ganga.
Today, out of the 2,300 towns in the country, 692 are located in the Ganga basin, and of these, 100 are located along the river bank itself. All of these towns along its length contribute to the pollution load.
This sorry state of the river is simply because of indiscriminate human actions that have been allowed to go on uncontrolled for decades. The very belief that Ganga River is “holy” and can wash away sins, has resulted in its abuse and further deterioration of its condition. For religious beliefs, people cremate bodies on the banks of the Ganga, in the belief that it will lead them to heaven. Funeral pyres burn 24×7 in the cremation grounds on the banks of the river and the remains and ashes of the deceased are released into the water every day. From bathing, and tonsuring to performing ritualistic practices and making offerings of flowers and other items, the Ganga gulps it all in.
For instance, it is believed that around 80 lakh tonnes of flower waste is dumped in the river every year. Although flowers are a bio-degradable waste, due to the use of fertilizers and pesticides which are used to cultivate these flowers, when they get mixed with the river water, they end up contaminating it.
The Yamuna is also Dying
The Yamuna River, along whose stretch the Indian capital was founded and grew, has become clogged with filth and pollution and is slowly dying. For thousands of years, the Yamuna River has been considered one of the most sacred bodies of water in Vedic (ancient Hinduism) literature and, along with the Ganges, has played a significant role in modern India’s political history, religious culture, and economy. Increasingly, pollution has endangered the Yamuna, making it difficult for residents to use the river for personal hygiene, and challenging its reputation as a source of spiritual rejuvenation. For decades, sections of the Yamuna have been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage. As a result, the river appears dark and sludgy in several parts, while plastic waste lines its banks.
Nationalist thinker K N Govindacharya is very much concerned about the existence and conservation of these rivers. The environmental ideologue has waged a decisive campaign to save these near-extinct rivers from dying. He thinks, “India’s rivers are undergoing a drastic change. Due to the pressures of a rapidly increasing population and human-centric development model, our perennial rivers are becoming seasonal. Once we had approximately 15,000 big or small rivers, but now many of the smaller rivers (about 45,00) have already vanished. Remainings are in tragically pathetic extinct condition struggling for their survival. So floods as well as drought are becoming increasingly frequent, as rivers turn unruly during the monsoon, and vanish once the rainy season is over. Govindacharya laments, “Even after building so many dams, nationally, there has been no increase in the net irrigation area. The government of India conducted a survey and an estimated 23.71 million hectares was calculated as the net irrigated area in 2010. Since then, there has been no increase in this figure,” He also added that about 35-40 percent of power was lost in the transmission of energy.
The Stark Facts
25% of India is turning into a desert.
In 15 years, we may have only half the water we need for our survival.
The Ganga is one of the most endangered rivers in the world.
The Godavari was dry along much of its length last year.
The Kaveri has lost 40% of its flow. Krishna and Narmada have lost around 60%
In every state, perennial rivers are either becoming seasonal or going dry. In Kerala – the Bharatpuzha, in Karnataka – the Kabini, in Tamil Nadu – the Kaveri, Palar, and Vaigai, in Odisha – the Musal, in Madhya Pradesh – the Kshipra. Many smaller rivers have already vanished. Most major rivers are the subject of interstate water disputes.
How This Affects You
- Estimates say 65% of our water needs are met by rivers.
- 2 out of 3 major Indian cities already deal with daily water shortages. Many urban residents pay ten times the normal amount for a can of water.
- We consume water not just to drink or for domestic purposes. 80% of water is used to grow our food. Each person’s average water requirement is 1.1 million liters a year.
- Flood, drought, and rivers turning seasonal are increasingly leading to crop failure across the country.
- Climate change is expected to cause worse floods and droughts within the next 25-50 years. During the monsoon, rivers will flood. The rest of the year, drought will follow. These trends are already beginning.
(The writer is a renowned Environmentalist dedicated to the cause of saving rivers)
