Suresh Babu suggests an alternative. “Simultaneously, steps should be taken to achieve dilution in the river–mainly by reducing the demand for freshwater by upstream cities like Delhi. Fiscal instruments – like taxing water-guzzling flush toilets – can work. Simultaneously, an attempt needs to be made to revive the water bodies and their catchments to store maximum run-off, which could then be used for local water needs, or could be released into the river for dilution.“
Now, let’s take a look at what’s happened with the cleaning up of the Ganga. According to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the monitoring mechanism for the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) has collapsed, leading to little progress in the river clean-up scheme, The Committee mentioned in its latest report that it “was astonished to note that the monitoring system of such a prestigious and important plan is its weakest link. There was no detailed record of the outcome of the field visits and review meetings with implementing agencies by the National Rivers Conservation Directorate, as also of the follow-up action as has been envisaged in the Plan itself.”
On the funds utilisation under GAP, the Committee has said that while, on the one hand, states have complained of lack of funds as the main reason for delays and failures to achieve targets, on the other, several implementing agencies have failed to spend the money made available to them. “The Committee is of the firm view that no amount of additional resources would rejuvenate the GAP till the system stops tolerating officials who do not perform. This requires amelioration in governance through improved performance and accountability through public participation,” the report added. Worse, in the absence of an effective control mechanism, state governments took full advantage to divert and misuse the funds. Bureaucracy, lack of political will, useless schemes, and government apathy have collectively turned the Ganges and Yamuna – two of the most sacred rivers in India – into cesspools. But successive governments have kept ignoring the issue. After all, cleaning up rivers doesn’t really translate into electoral votes. Therefore, the two rivers continue to flow, and be polluted. And the river action plans get muddied.
the snapshot
Nearly Rs.1,500 crores has been spent to clean up the 22.4-km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi
The initial aim is to lay 50 kms of interceptors, 2-3 metres in dia, to intercept 150 small drains discharging into three main drains of Delhi
There are plans to add another 50 kms of interceptors at a cost of Rs.1,950 crores to intercept sewage from another 150 minor drains
The Problems
The Yamuna Action Plan is not based on any scientific estimate of sewage spawned by Delhi
The plan would require millions of litres of freshwater to dilute the intercepted and treated sewage; the city has no such reserves
In the case of the Ganga Action Plan, the monitoring system was its weakest link; there was no detailed record of any follow-up action
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
Now, let’s take a look at what’s happened with the cleaning up of the Ganga. According to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the monitoring mechanism for the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) has collapsed, leading to little progress in the river clean-up scheme, The Committee mentioned in its latest report that it “was astonished to note that the monitoring system of such a prestigious and important plan is its weakest link. There was no detailed record of the outcome of the field visits and review meetings with implementing agencies by the National Rivers Conservation Directorate, as also of the follow-up action as has been envisaged in the Plan itself.”
On the funds utilisation under GAP, the Committee has said that while, on the one hand, states have complained of lack of funds as the main reason for delays and failures to achieve targets, on the other, several implementing agencies have failed to spend the money made available to them. “The Committee is of the firm view that no amount of additional resources would rejuvenate the GAP till the system stops tolerating officials who do not perform. This requires amelioration in governance through improved performance and accountability through public participation,” the report added. Worse, in the absence of an effective control mechanism, state governments took full advantage to divert and misuse the funds. Bureaucracy, lack of political will, useless schemes, and government apathy have collectively turned the Ganges and Yamuna – two of the most sacred rivers in India – into cesspools. But successive governments have kept ignoring the issue. After all, cleaning up rivers doesn’t really translate into electoral votes. Therefore, the two rivers continue to flow, and be polluted. And the river action plans get muddied.
the snapshot
Nearly Rs.1,500 crores has been spent to clean up the 22.4-km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi
The initial aim is to lay 50 kms of interceptors, 2-3 metres in dia, to intercept 150 small drains discharging into three main drains of Delhi
There are plans to add another 50 kms of interceptors at a cost of Rs.1,950 crores to intercept sewage from another 150 minor drains
The Problems
The Yamuna Action Plan is not based on any scientific estimate of sewage spawned by Delhi
The plan would require millions of litres of freshwater to dilute the intercepted and treated sewage; the city has no such reserves
In the case of the Ganga Action Plan, the monitoring system was its weakest link; there was no detailed record of any follow-up action
For Complete IIPM Article, Click on IIPM Article
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative
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