Indian Rivers: Threats & Future A Saga of Unfinished Brutality By Kumar Kalanand Mani

1. Indian Rivers: Threats & Future A Saga of Unfinished BrutalityBy Kumar Kalanand Mani

2. What is a River

3. What is a River

4. A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, a lake, a sea or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including stream, creek, brook, rivulet, and rill; there is no general rule that defines what can be called a river. Many names for small rivers are specific to geographic location. Sometimes a river is said to be larger than a creek, but this is not always the case, due to vagueness in the language. • A river is part of the hydrological cycle. Water within a river is generally collected from precipitation through surface runoff, groundwater recharge, springs, and the release of stored water in natural ice and snowpack (i.e., from glaciers). (Wikipedia)

8. Benefits from the River • Water & food for the survival of every types of life and plants / vegetation on the earth, • Maintaining soil fertility, • Recharging the ground water, • Energy (Hydropower) • Riverine Waterway ( transport and floating down the timber lot) • River-walk and water-sports

9. A new era of brutality or genocide started in our country with the proclamation of freedom from British Rule in 1947. Who says that communalism ended with the creation of new political entity known as Pakistan and who says that we have achieved true freedom with democratic governance and values? More than a million innocent Muslims and Hindus were butchered for having peaceful Pakistan and India. The butchering of the innocent has not ended yet for the desire of the demon’s Peace. Similarly the modern demonic scientific development has accelerated butchering of the natural resources, destroying the forest and uprooting the most rooted communities- the Indigenous People of India. The saga of Indian Rivers and its Future is not different from the continuing trend of butchering the life, faith, future and the earth.

10. Threats to the River • DAM:- which kills the natural flow of a river, disconnect & displace the people who are living all long the bank and its surroundings for centuries. Destroy its natural catchment, forest and biodiversity. Depletion of aqua foods and creates flash floods, desertification, decaying of water bodies. Spoiling diplomatic relations. • URBANISATION & INDUSTRIALISATION: Which exploit & pollute the river, exploit the river sand, disturb the natural drainage, encroaching the river-bed for construction activities, • CHEMICAL FARMING: Consume more Water and poison more Water,

11. Threats to the River • TOURISM:- Exploits & pollutes the river water, • PRIVATISATION: Dispossesses the people from ownership and the river culture, • OWNERSHIP: Who own? The government or the people? The riparian countries or states or river originating country / state ? • MODERN CIVILISATION: Stimulates the culture of consumption and pollution, • GLOBAL WARMING: Melting of glaciers, rise in evaporation, less or more unpredictable rain,

12. Perception of Independent India • The Constituent Assembly of India has just passed legislation for the setting-up of an Authority to develop the Damodar Valley. We have before us the model of the Tennessee Valley Scheme which has revolutionised the economy of the USA. Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister, 20 Feb 1948/ Letters to Chief Ministers • The Hirakud Dam is part of the great Mahanadi Scheme of river valley development. .. it is out to change the whole face of the province. Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister, 15 April 1948/ Letters to Chief Ministers

13. The Future of The Rivers • Building thousands of new river projects all over the country will sound the death knell for the rivers. In Himalaya alone 361 river projects are proposed / under construction. • Due to the growing impact of the Global warming the glacier fed rivers will become extinct. This will accelerate the processes of desertification of Gangetic plain. • Small but deceased rivers may become alive due to change in rain pattern in today’s drought hit area. • River will gradually become a dumping canal for hazardous wastes, • Rise of social unrest due to people’s deprivation of their right over River water. Similarly between the riparian states and countries. • Continues struggle for Conservation by the people & Civil Society Org.

14. People’s Commitment to Conserve River

15. Peaceful Society’s Action Towards Protection of Environment • Successful movement against eviction of Adivasi of Cotigaon due to a Wild Life Sanctuary in Goa in 1985-89, • Organised a huge foot-march to Save the Western Ghats in 1987-88 • Formed the Save the Western Ghats Movement, • Undertook aforestation in Goa • Formed ECO Forum to fight against Du-pont plant in Goa. • Formed Koshi, Gandak and Ganga Consortium in Bihar to address flood related problem. • Formed Save IdukiCampagn and Save Chaliyar Campain in Kerala • Formed Indian River-Valley Network (IRN) in 1998 to promote people’s movement and initiatives towards protecting Rivers in India.

16. IRN & River Conservation • Strengthening Koshi, Ganga, Gandak Consortium and Save Chaliyar & IdukiCmapign, • Organised 4 national level thematic River Coferences, in 1999, 2005, 2008 and 2009 • Organised Interstate Dialogue between Civil Society Organisations from Kerala and Tamil Nadu on dispute over sharing of River Water. • Organised series of awareness building activities on River related issues in 14 states.

17. Vision on IRN The sustainable conservation of the naturalness of all rivers, including from the Himalayan and other mountain ranges, and all other water sources, so as to maintain the traditional ways of co-existence of living being on Mother Earth.