Manage the river network better
(Published in the Deccan Herald on 15.10.2019)
Nature has blessed India with a wide network of the river system which had once contributed to the flourish of a rich civilization, economy and culture. The river network which had once maintained the water table regulated temperature, served as waterways, stored aquatic species, helped farming and contributed to pilgrim sector growth has been distorted beyond recognition.
The National Council of Applied Economic Research observed, "The internal waterways of Assam are said to be over 6,000 miles. Heavy silting due to deforestation, destruction of catchment areas, human settlement in flood plains and people’s apathy to environment has adversely affected the low cost water ways in Assam.”
Tea, jute and leather produced in Assam were traditionally transported through water ways to Calcutta. Similarly, food grains, salt, edible oil, construction material and clothes were brought to Assam through rivers only. Some 50 years back, the river Mahanadi had perennial flow which had dried up due to construction of multiple dams, deforestation and silting.
The World Commission on Dams found that on average, large dams have been at best only marginally economically viable. The average cost overrun of dams is 56%. Studies conducted by the National Remote Sensing Agency, the Center for Earth Science and several other organizations found soil erosion in the catchment area of the river leads to deposit of huge mass of silt in the Idukki reservoir on the Periyar river. As the silt has shrunk the storage capacity of the reservoir, it adversely affects the hydro-electric potential and flood control capacity of the reservoir. A CIFRI study, conducted between 2005 to 2007 across 80 kms from Srikakulam to Hamsala (sea face), shows that dams constructed in the upstream and the Prakassam Barrage in Andhra Pradesh have diverted all the water away from the river for irrigation, industrial and urban uses. The upper part of the estuary is dry in summer and the estuary has now reached hypersaline conditions due to the absence of freshwater. This has led to the near disappearance of oligohaline and freshwater species of carps, catfishes, murrels and feather backs, etc.
More than 10.86 million Indians depend on rivers, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, ponds and tanks for livelihood and nutrition. India’s 14 major rivers, 44 medium rivers, innumerable tributaries, oxbow lakes, floodplains, riparian tracts, mangroves and estuaries run around 45,000 km. The riverine in India was once home to the richest fish germplasm in the world. The Central Inland Capture Fisheries Research Institute (CICFRI)’s data shows that fish catch in most riverine fisheries is declining. “Pollution is one of the biggest killers of inland fish. The traditional fisherfolk are worst affected,” reportedly said K Gopakumar, Deputy Director-General (Fishery), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. India is home to the largest number of lifeless rivers in the world. “The river Yamuna is nothing but a tiny sewage drain with zero aquatic life as it leaves Delhi,” says P V Dehadrai, former director-general (fishery), ICAR.
In the 70s, nearly 2000 Keuta families (fishermen) of the ancient Cuttack city were happy and healthy. The two big rivers, the Mahanadi and the Kathajodi which flow on both sides of the city had plenty of fish. Today, the rivers have lost their streams due to over damming, pollution and encroachment of the catchment areas. Two satellite towns Mahanadi Vihar and Bidanasi have been built over the catchment areas of these two rivers. The damage to rivers has impoverished the fishermen community who had no other option but to switch over to menial jobs. This has happened to millions of fishermen across the country.
Impractical and poor river management leads to manmade floods across the country. “Natural drainage has been destroyed, natural ponds have been destroyed, people have built their houses on the flood plains. These are the problems because once you destroy the natural drainage, water doesn’t find a place to go out. It leads to flooding,” reportedly said Anand Sharma, the Founding Director of the India Meteorological Department. Between 2016-17 and 2019-20, the flood has killed over 6,000 people and two lakh livestock. It had damaged 39 lakh houses and destroyed 87.89 lakh hectares of farmland. The data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) reveals between 1953 and 2017, more than one lakh people perished due to floods across the country. A reply to Rajya Sabha's question on the loss and damage caused by floods in India shows the cost of damage to infrastructure and housing has been estimated at Rs 3,65,860 crore. According to an Aon Catastrophe Report, in 2018, the total economic loss due to flood in Kerala itself was estimated at $ 4.25 billion which does not include direct damage and business interruption cost. The September 2019 flood in Pune has so far killed 21 people, swept away 2500 vehicles and destroyed property worth hundreds of crores of rupees.
In June 2019, half of India was reeling under drought. Interestingly, in August 2019, half of India was facing flood havoc. The loss of human life and economic asset due to flood and drought attribute to poor human resources who failed to manage the nature’s gift.
