If the nation is to achieve the desired results in terms of cleanliness associated with its sacred River Ganga, the government of the day must not only identify and attempt to reverse what has gone wrong, but it ought understand and create a framework on how we can collectively achieve new gains. Huge challenges remain un-addressed and rising to them requires a hard look at all of us -- all the stake holders - the Government of India, the state governments, PSUs and the citizens, commoners.
The challenge before the Modi government thus is to achieve 'success' and return Ganga its pristine grandeur is more than mere
physical and infrastructural works. There’s a matter of life and death in this
endeavour.
For instance, many aquatic animals like golden Mahaseer fish is critically
endangered. Ghariyals are threatened species while Sundarbans delta may simply
disappear. The greater challenge is to ensure enhanced participation of
citizens in understanding River Ganga as a part of life. There must an effort
to enforce certain discipline about Dos and Donots. The bigger challenge is to
create a unanimity of opinion on how River Ganga, its basin and its tributaries
need to be protected.
A cursory look at the union Water Resource Ministry’s
works during last 18-19 months under Modi-Uma Bharati duo suggests things are
moving. The Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati is herself an enthusiast about
activities around Ganga.
In her own words, “It is the God’s grace and
my party leadership’s confidence that they think I can deliver on Ganga. I am
most grateful to the Prime Minister for this. Mr Narendra Modi is himself
committed to Ganga cleanliness and tap all its potentials for the people of the
region and the country as a whole. River Ganga is always associated with the
‘atma’ (soul) of our people. Prime Minister himself said these before
contesting elections from Varanasi”.
Thus
the centre now has drawn out a list of lessons from the experience of works in
last three decades and chalked out the New Roadmap. Officials say to start with
the emphasis on two basic elements: “paradigm shift” to focus on sustainable
and innovative models and “holistic intervention” and involvement of all stake
holders.
Now
according to the Water Resources Secretary, Shashi Shekhar, in order to give a major thrust to the
involvement of states and adequate
protection of river water as a wholesome ecological unit, the central
government is likely to come up with a new comprehensive legislation.
"The new law will be a
comprehensive one.....but things are at preliminary stage
and intra-departmental consultation
is on to draft a Bill for this purpose," he says.
According
to mandarins in the ministry, the move to draft a new draft Bill is in tune
with the policy statement made by Uma Bharati soon after she took over the
portfolio in May 2014 and had said, “Ganga protection works could involve
tougher laws”.
Decades back a Brazilian politician had said rather
eloquently that while the Food Ministers have changed frequently they could
hardly produce food and even less food for thought. In circa 2016 – it
would not be erroneous to put the statement in the context of Water Resources
Ministers of India – especially in the context of anti-pollution and
cleanliness drive for River Ganga. Ministers have come and gone but nothing
much happened on ground.
Is Uma Bharati trying to be a different mettle? Is
Narendra Modi government on a new path-breaking track to reverse gears along
Gangetic planes?
The Ganga cleaning venture was initially planned in
1980s. But candid observation about the functioning is that wasteful plans and
extravagant administration and largely indifference of the state governments
and citizenry in general have brought in today’s situation. Here’s a checklist
of agonies and challenges associated with Ganga:
-
We have 3535 Million tonnes sewage
generated everyday and at least 144 rivers discharge in Ganga.
Gangetic Dolphin: Facing Extinction |
There are at least 765 grossly polluting
industries – highly toxic.
- As a sample, Sisamau Nala in Kanpur
discharge 11,920 Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) load daily.
-
More than 50 per cent household along
Ganga banks do not have toilets.
-
Around 28,000 metric tonnes of solid
waste generated daily from 5 basins.
The
list could go on.
The
adverse impact on health, economy and ecology is also beyond measures often
with arsenic threats being attributed as a factor for growing cancer disease.
The
Secretary Water Resources Ministry,
Shashi Shekhar, sums up the paradox well. "The problems about cleanliness
drive around river Ganges is unique and unlike anywhere in the world as the
river originates from glaciers unlike natural springs in western countries and
contain maximum silt and also face maximum public utility pressure. Thus it
will require adequate time and sincere efforts of all stake holders including
the states," he says. But given the public sentiment and craze for
populism is concerned, patience is a dying art in today’s
politico-administration more so with the incumbent regime headed by Prime
Minister Modi. One reason is people’s expectations from the present regime are
too high.
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“People have lost patience and they
want quick results. But this may not be easily achievable in terms of Ganga
cleaning,” says an insider in the ministry.
He further adds - no thoughtful
person doubts that in popular government an informed public is essential to
sound policy. It is in this context, we find Secretary Shekhar’s observations
relevant when he says “Moreover, in India, the task is most often left with the
centre while the truth is we need cooperation of all stake holders including
the concerned state governments, citizens and industry".
Therefore, Involvement of states and their
purposeful and effective participation has become all the more relevant. The last 3-decades work experience
vis-à-vis Ganga projects suggest in India, the task is most often left singularly
with the centre while the truth is there’s need for cooperation of all stake
holders including the concerned state governments, citizens and industry. Keeping this in mind, the government
envisages to undertake several projects are being taken up under the PPP model.
“The NDA government is determined to
put the Namami Ganga projects on fast track. It is in this context, he said two
empowered ministerial committees - one headed by the Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley and the other headed by Infrastructure Minister Nitin Gadkari have been
set up,” sources say.
Over 100 crematoriums will be
renovated/modernize/constructed by November next year. The
Modi government has now ear-marked a total sum of Rs 20,000 crore for the
period 2015-2020 making it a four-fold quantum leap over the expenditure in the
past 30 years. In broad sense the works would include: sewage management, river surface cleaning, biodiversity conservation, water quality monitoring, checking industrial pollution and device means for local population and rural challenges.
Effluents Management
measures are also being taken up by and Real Time Effluent Monitoring Stations
have been installed in 508 out of 764 Grossly Polluting Industries. Over 100
new Real-time monitoring stations with display boards at selected location will
be set up next year to monitor water quality of river Ganga on hourly
basis.
For solid waste
management, hi-tech Truxor machines are being used at Varanasi already while
global tenders are being floated for procuring more such Netherland-based
machines.
There
will be 100 per cent sewage treatment infrastructure for as many as 118 towns.
(ends)
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