Proposal GRBMP. pdf - GANGAPEDIA

IIT 

Bombay 

IIT 

Delhi 

G 

M 

GANGGA 

RIIVER 

BASIN 

MANAAGEMMENT 

PLAN 

Ministry 

off 

Environnment 

an nd Foressts 

Goovernment 

of Inddia 

New Dellhi 

Indian In nstitutess 

of Techhnology 

IIT 

Guwah hati 

IITT 

Kanppur 

P 

PROPOSAAL 

SUBMITTED 

TTO 

IIT 

IIT IIT 

Kharragpur 

Madras M RRoorkee

PREFACE 

The river Ganga is of unique importance ascribed to reasons that are geographical, 

historical, socio-cultural and economic, giving it the status of a National River. It 

has been facing serious threat due to discharge of increasing quantities of sewage 

effluents, trade effluents and other pollutants on account of rapid urbanization, 

industrialization and agricultural growth. The challenge is compounded due to 

competing demands for river water for irrigation, domestic purposes, industrial use 

and power. 

There is need to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the 

river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectorial 

coordination for comprehensive planning and management. It is equally important 

to maintain minimum ecological flows in river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water 

quality through environmentally sustainable development. 

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 3 of the 

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government has 

constituted National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) as a planning, financing, 

monitoring and coordinating authority for strengthening the collective efforts of the 

Central and State Government for effective abatement of pollution and conservation 

of the river Ganga. One of the important functions of the NGRBA is to prepare and 

implement a Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP). 

It is proposed to develop the GRBMP based on scientific application of modern tools 

and technologies combined with traditional wisdom. It has been decided that the 

GRBMP be prepared jointly by the seven Indian Institutes Technology’s (IITs) namely 

IITs at Kanpur, Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee. This will 

help leverage the vast knowledge base and experience of IITs in various fields. 

This document is a proposal to prepare Ganga River Basin Management Plan by the 

IITs. This has been prepared based on workshops organized on various thematic 

groups at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur, and several meetings/consultations with various 

groups/people. Contribution of each and every one who participated in the 

preparation of this document is highly appreciated. The seed grant provided by the 

MoEF, and the trust and confidence put on IITs by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Hon’ble 

Minister of State (Independent Charge) is gratefully acknowledged. Guidance, 

support and cooperation received from Shri, Rajiv Gauba, IAS, Joint Secretary and 

his colleagues from MoEF is highly appreciated. 

June 30, 2010 Vinod Tare

CONTENTS 

S No Page No 

1 Prologue 1 

2 Approach and Methodology 2 

3 Data Requirement/Sources/Collection 4 

4 Environmental Quality and Pollution 7 

4.1 Preamble 7 

4.2 Objective 7 

4.3 Scope 7 

4.4 Methodology 8 

4.5 Data Required 20 

4.6 Deliverables 20 

4.7 Work Plan 21 

4.8 The Team 22 

5 Water Resources Management 23 



5.3 Scope 26 


5.5 Data Required 28 



5.8 Data Collection 31 


6 Fluvial Geomorphology 33 


6.2 Major Objectives 34 

6.3 Approach and Methodology 35 

6.3.1 Mapping geomorphic condition and river dynamics of the river 35 

6.3.2 Generation of stream power distribution pattern 36 

6.3.3 Control of river energy and sediment supply on channel morphology 37 

6.3.4 Hydrology – Geomorphology - Ecology relationship for the different 

reaches of the Ganga River 

37 

6.3.5 Determination of Environment Flow and role of hydrology for 

managing geomorphic condition 

6.3.6 Data integration in River style framework 37 

6.4 Data Requirements 38 

6.5 Distribution of Work 38 




6.9 References Cited 41 

7 Ecology and Biodiversity 42 


7.2 Objectives 44 


7.3.1 River Basin Divisions 45 

7.3.2 Data collection and Analysis 45 




7.7 References 51 

37

S No Page No. 

8 Socio-Economic-Cultural 52 





8.5 Distribution of Responsibilities 56 

8.6 Time Schedule and Delivery of Reports 56 


9 Policy, Law and Governance 60 




9.4 Activities 61 



10 Geo-Spatial Database Management 65 


10.2 Objectives 65 

10.3 Scope 67 

10.4 Types of Data 67 





11 Communication 70 


11.2 Roles and Responsibility 70 

11.3 Typical Communication Plan 71 

11.4 Work Packages 72 



12 Deliverables 74 

13 The Team 77

1. 

Convenntional 

wissdom 

sugggests 

that mmajor 

envi ironmental 

problemss 

that have e arisen 

as a result 

of devvelopment 

can only bbe 

tackled through aadoption 

off 

technolog gies for 

pollutioon 

control or remediation 

of ccontaminax 

xted enviroonmental 

media. Ho owever, 

imposing 

controols 

on actiivities 

thatt 

lead to excessive pollution may ofte en be a 

better strategy ffor 

combaating 

envirronmental 

pollution. For exaample, 

two o major 

environnmental 

pproblems 

oof 

the tweentieth 

ce entury, vizz., 

eutrophhication 

of f water 

bodies and deppletion 

of stratosphheric 

ozon ne layer, could be tackled through t 

imposition 

of ccontrols 

oon 

the causative 

agents, i. .e., phospphate 

con ntaining 

detergeents 

and oozone 

depleting 

subsstances 

(ODS) 

respecctively. 

Advances 

in science 

and teechnology 

have plaayed 

a ggreat 

role in identtifying 

andd 

analyzing 

the 

environnmental 

prroblems. 

However, solution to 

such prooblems 

oftten 

lies in use of 

technoologies 

witth 

minimaal 

environmmental 

foo otprint. Thhe 

vision of great leaders, 

philosoophers 

andd 

thinkers is often reeflective 

of such a phhilosophy. 

Mahatma Gandhi 

stated that, “therre 

is enough 

for eveeryone’s 

need 

but noot 

sufficient 

for even 

one’s 

greed” . Planet Earth 

from a distancee 

is just a magic blue 

and whitte 

pearl where 

all 

life exists; 

all peoople 

are thhe 

citizens of the world; 

all peoople 

are deependent 

on o each 

other, rather all forms of llife 

dependdent 

on ea ach other. The followwing 

shlok ka from 

the Brrahmanandd 

Puranamm 

outlines simple instructionns 

for commmon 

peo ople to 

protectt 

water boodies 

not oonly 

for huuman 

uses s but for mmaintenancce 

of aqua atic life, 

and carries 

the saame 

meaning. 

Many such visioonary 

stateements/meessages 

are a often qquoted 

in various forums. f 

However, 

the undderlying 

mmessage 

is rarely imb bibed and implemented. 

We propose p 

to preppare 

the GGanga 

Riveer 

Basin MManagemen 

nt Plan based 

on scientific 

pri inciples 

and appplication 

oof 

modernn 

tools/tecchnologies 

but with traditional 

wisdom (e.g. as 

outlineed 

in abovee 

shloka). Further, thhe 

necessit ty of adoptting 

practices 

that re equire a 

paradiggm 

shift on 

use of laand, 

water and other r natural reesources 

inn 

the Gang ga Basin 

for varrious 

purpposes 

would 

be empphasized 

along a withh 

suggestioons 

for pl lausible 

alternaative 

appproaches 

using innovative 

conceptts 

and state-of- -the-art 

technoologies/meethods. 

P 

ROLOG GUE 

1

2. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 

An integrated river basin management approach that focuses on “Maintenance and 

restoration of wholesomeness of Ganga system and improvement of its ecological 

health with due regard to conflict of interest in water uses in entire river basin” will 

be adopted. This, entails preparation of plan that has adequate provision for soil, 

water and energy in the Ganga Basin to accommodate growing population, 

urbanization, industrialization and agriculture while ensuring that the fundamental 

aspects of the river system, i.e. (i) river must continuously flow , (ii) river 

must have longitudinal and lateral connectivity, (iii) river must have adequate space 

for its various functions, (iv) river must function as an ecological entity, and (v) river 

must be kept free from any kind of wastes ,, ,are protected. Achieving this 

will require development of a framework for coordination whereby all 

administrations and stakeholders can come together to formulate an agreed set of 

policies and strategies to have a balanced and acceptable approach to land, water, 

and natural resource management in the Ganga Basin. 

The Ganga River Basin (GRM) is a multifaceted system and requires multidisciplinary 

and interdisciplinary approach. For integrated management of Ganga 

River Basin several aspects need to be considered. It is proposed that the work 

would broadly be undertaken through following broad themes by various teams. It 

is expected that the teams working on each of the themes will closely interact. 

a) Environmental Quality and Pollution 

b) Water Resources Management 

c) Fluvial Geomorphology 

d) Ecology and Biodiversity 

e) Socio-Economic and Cultural 

f) Policy, Law and Governance 

g) Geo-spatial Data Base Management 

h) Communication 

Objectives, scope, methodology, deliverables, work plan and the team involved for 

various thematic groups are presented in Chapters 4 through 11. In general 

following line of action will be followed. 

a) Start-up meeting, collection of relevant data/reports from various agencies 

including NRCD to assess present state-of-the-art and take lessons from the 

past experience of Ganga Action Plan Phase I and II (GAP I and GAP II), Yamuna 

Action Plan (YAP) and other River Action Plans (RAPs). 

2

) Delineation of basin water bodies and their status: Review of existing 

programmes, plans and measures; Collation of data on water bodies; 

Identification of sources and estimation of pollution loads; Analysis of existing 

hydrological conditions including flow simulation using hydrological models; 

Evaluation of impacts of dams/water resources projects; Assessment of existing 

water quality status; Preparation of basin atlas; Preparation of tables and maps 

(including GIS based maps); Description of basin characteristics, etc. 

c) Modeling supportive and assimilative capacities – situation analysis: Select 

appropriate simulation models; Model supportive and assimilative capacities, 

and develop scenarios; Carryout iterations to firm-up programme of measures. 

d) Establishing environmental objectives/principles of river basin planning 

e) Evolve measures for improvement: Changes in mechanisms (policy, regulations, 

enforcement, etc.); Maintaining desired water quality; Maintaining ecological/ 

environmental flows; Augmentation of river flow; Catchment area treatment 

and floodplain protection; Sustainable river conservation, etc. 

f) Public awareness and stakeholders’ consultation: Mapping of all stakeholders; 

Review of completed/ongoing public awareness and consultation process; 

Undertake public/stakeholders consultations; Develop programme for public 

awareness, consultation and participation. 

g) Institutional strengthening and capacity building: Review of existing policies 

and regulations; Review of existing institutional arrangements and its capacity 

assessment; Develop institutional strengthening and capacity building/training 

plan, etc. 

h) Evaluation and monitoring programme to facilitate mid course correction. 

3

3. DATA REQUIREMENT/SOURCES/COLLECTION 

The timely collection of required data as available with various agencies, ULBs, 

institutes etc. is the key for successful completion of the study within schedule. The 

duration of river basin management plan preparation is 15-18 months, which could 

only be completed by a highly professional, experienced and exclusively dedicated 

team. However the crux of the study depends on planning and execution of a clear 

strategy for collecting necessary data from various sources as the GRBMP would 

essentially be developed mainly based on secondary data. The long-term data 

generated in the past, as will be collected and compiled by the mission team, will be 

randomly verified/ authenticated by conducting field survey and investigation but the 

scope of such data collection would obviously be quite limited. We therefore propose 

herein a clear strategy for collecting and analysing available data on various attributes 

of the river basin. The key element of our data collection strategy includes: 

Identification and establishing the range, depth and coverage of various data in 

advance 

Determining 'essential' and 'desirable' data needs 

Identification of sources of data 

Allocating resources for data collection 

Allocating sufficient time for data collection in overall work plan 

Continuous review and monitoring the progress of data collection 

Soliciting active cooperation of NRCD for facilitating the mission team in collecting 

data on time 

The data and information to be collected shall include but are not limited to: 

Urban/rural water supply/sewage collection/sewage treatment facilities, their 

volumes, organization of services, operation and maintenance, financial conditions 

etc.; 

Socio-economic 

Agriculture etc.); 

conditions (Administrative Division, Population, industries, 

Natural conditions (Topography, geology, hydrogeology, meteorology, hydrology, 

environment, land use etc.); 

Water Quality, Biological, Hydrological, meteorological monitoring system; 

Topographical conditions (Topographical maps, hydrogeological maps, satellite 

images etc); 

Present water use conditions, facilities and problems/issues; 

By sector - Irrigation, domestic water, industrial water etc.; 

4

By water resources- Surface water, Rain, Groundwater, treated/untreated 

 

wastewater; 

Agriculture: Farm production, cropping pattern, use of agro chemicals, irrigation 

system etc.; 

Conditions of water related hazards- Water quality and sediment disasters, 

damages, casualties, etc.; 

Existing water control structures used in the basin and brief description; 

Identification and collection of basic data of hotspots in the river basin from water 

quality considerations; 

Mapping of all relevant stakeholders involved in developing and managing the 

water sector in the basin, including their roles, responsibilities, expectations etc.; 

Existing environment laws of the Country/States/Local Bodies; 

Identification of environmental issues and trends of change. 

The type of data and their source(s) are indicated in Table 3.1, which will be 

further reviewed. 

Physiographic Conditions 

Table 3.1: Secondary Data Collection 

Type of data Sources of Data 

Survey of India Toposheets and maps 

Satellite imagery 

Climate and Meteorology: 

Min-max temperature, relative humidity, 

rainfall, rainy days, evapotranspiration 

in different parts of the basin 

Hydrological Conditions: 

Watershed Atlas 

River flow data 

Ground water data (quantity and 

Quality) 

Soil and Land use 

Soil and landuse maps 

District planning map series 

satellite imagery 

Geology and Geomorphology 

Geological map series of GSI 

District planning map series 

Satellite imagery 

Table 3.1 continued from previous page… … … … 

Survey of India 

NRSC 

Google 

India Meteorological 

Department 

State Agriculture 

Departments 

CGWD / NIC 

Central water commission 

CGWD/ SGWBs 


AISLUS 


Departments 

NRSC 


Geological Survey of India 

AISLUS 

NRSC 

Table 3.1 continued to next page … … ….. 

Type of data Sources of Data 

5

Water Quality 

Surface water quality 

Ground water quality 

Status of Sewerage and Sanitation 

Present sewerage infrastructure in cities 

and towns 

Present sanitation scenario in rural 

areas 

Planned outgoing water supply, 

sewerage and sanitation projects 

Ecological Environment 

Aquatic Ecology 

Agriculture 

Farm production, cropping pattern, use 

of agro chemicals, pesticides 

Irrigation systems 

Socio Economic Conditions 

District Statistical Handbooks 

Census Handbooks 

Grossly Polluted Industries 

Type, locations / concentration of GPIs 

Status of effluent treatment / discharge 

CPCB and SPCBs 

ULBs 

NRCD 

CWC 

CGWD and SGWBs 

ULBs 

State Implementing Agencies 

NRCD 

MoUD 

MoRD 

CPCB and SPCBs 

Fisheries Departments 

CPCB/SPCBs 


Departments 

State Irrigation Departments / 

Water Resources Departments 


AISLUS 

NRSC 

State Governments Press 

CPCB / SPCBs 

Directorate of Industries 

Others State of Environment Reports 

Citizens Reports Published 

by CSE 

6

4. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND POLLUTION 

4.1 Preamble 

There is an ongoing tussle over water resources in the Ganga River Basin amongst 

various stakeholders. On one hand, there is an increasing demand for water for 

irrigation, industrial and domestic uses and also for power generation. On the other 

hand, there is an increasing demand for arresting the decline in groundwater table and 

for maintaining an ‘Environmental Flow (E-Flow)’ in the rivers on the basis of geomorphological, 

socio-economic, socio-cultural, and ecological-biodiversity 

considerations. The above conflict is further compounded by the increasing pollution 

of groundwater and surface water resources in the Ganga River Basin through the 

disposal of ever increasing pollution loads generated through anthropogenic activity. 

Considering the complicated scenario described above, the overall objective of the 

proposed Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) is to devise a long-term 

strategy for sustainable use of the water resources in the basin after giving due 

considerations to the competing demands of the various stakeholders. 

Environmental Quality and Pollution has been identified as one of the major 

Thematic Areas for this comprehensive study. 

4.2 Objective 

The specific objective of the Environmental Quality and Pollution (EQP) component of 

the GRBMP is to devise a strategy such that over the long-term, the quality of the 

water resources available in the Ganga River Basin is maintained at a level 

commensurate with the requirements of the various stakeholders. 

4.3 Scope 

The following is the scope of the present study: 

a) Quantification of the current domestic and industrial pollution loads generated at 

various locations in the Ganga River Basin through a district-wise survey of the entire 

basin. 

b) Assessment of future district-wise pollution loads in the Ganga River Basin 

from domestic and industrial sources considering increasing levels of 

population, urbanization and development activities. A variety of statistical 

and predictive modeling techniques will be used for these purposes. 

c) Collation of river water quality data for all major rivers of the Ganga river 

7

asin as obtained from various agencies. Reconciliation and statistical 

analysis of the above data. 

d) Risk assessment studies conducted based on river water quality data 

collected above and expected river water quality in future. A variety of 

models will be used for this purpose. 

e) Modeling the river water quality of all major rivers in the Ganga River Basin 

using the current pollution loads. Reconciliation of the modeling results with 

existing river water quality data through model calibration, leading to model 

parameter estimation. 

f) Modeling the expected river water quality in future using projected pollution 

loads. Multiple scenario generation using a variety of intervention strategies 

that may be adopted. 

g) Evaluation, selection and standardization of intervention strategies to be 

adopted at various locations in the Ganga River Basin with special emphasis 

on pollution ‘hot-spots’ like large urban centers and industrial clusters. 

h) Specification of a long term water quality surveillance strategy in the Ganga 

river basin through (i) development of an online water quality monitoring and 

management system, and (ii) developing the long-term monitoring protocol 

for emerging pollutants like metals, pesticides, endocrine disrupters, 

antibiotics, etc. 

i) Integration of all the above components into an ‘Action Plan’, which will 

essentially consist of a series of projects/activities to be taken up in a 

specified chronological order, such that after the completion of the action 

plan, the objectives of the ESE component of the GRBMP as stated earlier are 

satisfied. 

4.4 Methodology 

The overall responsibility for the deliverables of the ESE component of GRBMP is with 

the ESE theme coordinator, who will also represent the ESE group in the project 

coordination committee. The tasks have been divided into six work packages (WP1.1 – 

WP1.6) and a sub-theme coordinator(s) has been given the responsibility for each work 

package. The sub-theme coordinator(s) of each work package will lead the team 

researchers working on that package. The theme coordinator will interact with the 

sub-theme coordinators to ensure that the work progresses according to plans. 

The work packages are as given below, 

8

WP 1.1: District-wise inventorization of current and projected domestic and 

industrial pollution load in Ganga basin and collection of river water 

quality data. 

WP 1.2: Current and future risk assessment associated with river water quality in 

Ganga basin 

WP 1.3: Modeling current and future river water quality: future scenarios 

generation 

WP 1.4: Evaluation, selection and standardization of intervention technologies for 

domestic and industrial pollution sources 

WP 1.5: Assessment of future water quality monitoring and surveillance needs: 

sediment quality, metals, priority pollutants, pesticides, antibiotics, etc. 

WP 1.6: Action plan for improvement and surveillance of water quality in Ganga 

river basin 

The inter-linkages between the work packages are shown in Figure 4.1. 

9

Current Pollution 

Load Inventory 

Projected Pollution 

Load Inventory 

Model Calibration 

Projected Flow Data 

(from WRM Group) 

Future Water Quality 

Surveillance and 

Monitoring Issues 

Current Flow Data 

(From WRM Group) 

Model Output 

Water Quality 

Model 

Current Water 

Quality 

Water Quality Model Future Water Quality 

WP1.1 

WP1.2 

WP1.3 

Intervention 

Strategies 

Action Plan 

WP1.4 

WP1.5 

WP1.6 

Figure 4.1: Inter-Linkages between Work Packages 

Future Risk 

10 

Current Risk

The detailed description of the methodology to be adopted for the completion of each 

work package is given as follows. 

WP 1.1: District-Wise Inventorization of Current and Projected Domestic and 

Industrial Pollution Load in Ganga Basin and Collection of River Water 

Quality Data. 

In-charge: Prof. A. K. Mittal, IIT Delhi 

As shown in Figure 4.2, Pollutants are generated in the Ganga River basin in a variety 

of ways. The inventorization of the domestic and industrial pollution loads and water 

quality data in Ganga river basin will mainly focus on data regarding various common 

pollution parameters like organic carbon (BOD/COD), nutrients and microbial 

concentrations, etc., data for which is available. Inventorization of data concerning 

other pollutants, e.g., metals, priority pollutants, pesticides, antibiotics, etc. (i.e., 

emerging molecules) will be taken up in WP1.5. 

The methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.1 are described 

below, 

Step 1: Identification of pollution parameters and standardization of templates, 

survey protocols, etc. for the determination of pollution loads. 

Step 2: Collection and compilation of the water quality data of Ganga River Basin 

available from various national and state agencies and institutions. 

Step 3: Identification of pollution hot spots, key pollutants and possible sources of 

pollution. 

Step 4: Estimation of the non-point water pollution. Theoretical approach using 

applicable international and national case studies along with real time 

satellite imaginaries shall be one of the alternatives. Land use pattern, 

urbanization, population growth and patterns shall be used to arrive at the 

non-point loads. Schematic representation of the sources of non-point 

pollution is shown in Figure 4.3. 

Step 5: Source inventory shall be carried out for the complete basin. Field work 

could be outsourced if time becomes a constraint. 

Step 6: Data from different stretches/districts shall be complied. It shall be 

analyzed to obtain pre-defined indicators. 

Step 7: Prediction of pollution loads into the future using statistical and predictive 

modeling, taking due consideration of population increase, urbanization 

and increased industrial and other developmental activities. 

11

Step 8: Validation and report writing. A number of national workshops shall be 

carried out so as to have a comprehensive pollution load inventory after 

considering all sources. Various stakeholders shall participate in these 

workshops. 

Figure 4.2: Pathways of Pollutant Generation in Ganga River Basin 

12

Rain Event 

Land use characteristics of Ganga River 

Basin 

Agricultural Forest Urbanized Area 

Slum, 

resettlement 

colonies 

Poor Chemical 

Quality Runoff 

Commercial and 

Residential 

Surface water, 

Ganga, Yamuna 

etc 

Special Spots/Activities: Solid 

Waste Dumping Sites, Bathing 

and Washing Activities, 

Dumping of Un-burnt/ half Burnt 

Dead Bodies, and Animal 

Carcasses and Open Defecation 

Institutional Industrial 

Poor Microbial 

Quality urban 

Runoff 

Ground Water 

(Drinking Water 

Source) 

Temporary flooding or 

Water Logging in Low 

Lying Areas 

Figure 4.3: Schematic Representation of the Sources of Pollution Load Generation in Ganga 

River Basin 

13

WP 1.2: Risk Assessment Associated with Current and Future River Water 

Quality 

In-charge: Prof. A. K. Nema, IIT Delhi 

The risk assessment described in this work package will mainly focus on risks 

associated with various common pollution parameters like organic carbon (BOD/COD), 

nutrients and microbial concentrations, etc. Risks associated with other pollutants, 

e.g., metals, priority pollutants, pesticides, antibiotics, etc. will be assessed in WP1.5. 

The methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.2 are described 

below, 

Step 1: Identification of source Pathway Receptor Relationships at selected 

pollution hot spots as determined in WP 1.1 with reference to the 

selected parameters and key receptors 

Step 2: Assessment of human health risk and vulnerability mapping. 

Step 3: Assessment of risk associated with the possible technological and policy 

level interventions. 

Step 4: Identification of low risk high return interventions, minimum level of 

intervention required to reduce the risk to acceptable level. 

Step 5: Suggestions for strengthening the water quality monitoring network. 

Suggestions on the framework for performance monitoring of possible 

measures under river action plan. 

An 

4.4. 

overview of the Risk Assessment Methodology is presented in Figure 

Identification of the Effects 

(Using Field Reports Based on Monitoring, Survey Etc) 

Identification of the Problem 

(e.g. Analysis of the Specific Information on Key 

Pollutants (Stressors) and Environmental 

Components/Receptors) 

Identification of the Risk 

(Comparison of Effects with the Extent of Exposure) 

Risk Management/ Risk 

(Management of Inputs/Alter practices) 

Monitoring 

(Use of Early Warning and Rapid Assessment Indicators) 

Identification of the Extent of Exposure 

(Using Field Reports Based on Monitoring, Survey Etc) 

Figure 4.4: Overview of the Risk Assessment Methodology 

14

WP 1.3: Modeling Current and Future River Water Quality: Future Scenarios 

Generation 

In-charge: Prof. Himanshu Joshi, IIT Roorkee 

A descriptive water quality model will be employed that predicts the response of the 

receiving water body i.e. Ganga River and its tributaries in this case, to a set of 

identifiable pollutant loadings, by way of simulating the processes within the river 

system. 

Prediction of receiving river water quality thus obtained as a function of loads will be 

further utilized by desired translation of the information towards water quality 

management. 

The river water quality modeling activity will be harmoniously synchronized with the 

Watershed and Hydrological (river flow) modeling activities of WRM group. 

Starting from the simple DO-BOD relationship, subsequent developments in 

understanding and mathematical representation of the processes representing 

transformation and fate of various constituents have enriched the spectrum of river 

water quality model application today. However, in the present project, the model 

application would be limited to consideration of organic constituents, nutrients, 

bacteria and related parameters. 

The methodology is proposed in the following steps: 

Step 1: Identification of stretches for application of water quality models on the 

basis of inputs received from WP 1.1. Attention will primarily be focused on 

those stretches, which display large violations in quality requirements with 

respect to the prevalent and projected water use. 

Step 2: Selection of model. Considering the time frame and the ease of application, 

a model will be selected which is available as a freeware (not proprietary) 

and has a demonstrated capability of universal application. Also, 

considering the field realities in respect of hydrology and topography, the 

model will probably need to be used in different configurations (one or 

more dimensions, steady or unsteady state, etc.). In this light, it will be 

advisable that the selected model is rich in structure and may allow a 

number of configurations. However, the complexity of river system and the 

need of data generation will also play a very important role in the selection. 

Further, smooth integration with the watershed and river hydrological 

models will also be an important criterion in this regard. 

Step 3: Data collection and field/lab experiments. The data available from the 

existing monitoring networks (run by CPCB, SPCB or CWC etc.) may not be 

15

adequate for the purpose of modeling due to factors like inadequate spatial 

and temporal distribution of generated data, non-availability of hydraulic 

parameters alongwith the water quality data, etc. This may result in a 

requirement of additional data generation/collection at the primary level. 

Further, it may also be desirable to conduct specific field/lab 

experimentation for estimation of few parameters like dispersion 

coefficient, Benthic release rates, etc. 

Step 4: Model application. Model application protocol will be followed employing 

steps of Calibration, Validation and Sensitivity/Uncertainty analysis. 

Different sets of data will be used for calibration and validation steps. 

Accuracy of prediction will be evaluated through established statistical 

measures. 

Step 5: Scenario generation for waste load allocation and water quality 

management. On the basis of inputs of projected future point/non-point 

loads, associated risks and intervention options available from WP 1.2 and 

1.4 , future scenarios will be generated keeping in view the waste load 

allocation possibilities to achieve sound water quality management. Above 

steps are elaborated graphically in Figure 4.5. 

Identification of 

WP 1.1 WP 1.3 

Stretches/hotspots 

Selection of Model 

Data Collection and 

Experiments 

Model Applications 

Calibration 

Validation 

Sensitivity Analysis 

WP 1.4 Scenario Generation 

WP 1.5 

Figure 4.5: The River water Quality Modeling Process 

16

WP 1.4: Evaluation, Selection and Standardization of Intervention 

Technologies for Domestic and Industrial Pollution Sources 

In-charge: Prof. Ligy Philip, IIT Madras 

The broad methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.4 are 

described below, 

Step 1: Evaluation of existing major domestic and industrial wastewater treatment 

systems in Ganga River basin: Based on the data available on the influent 

and effluent characteristics of existing treatment plants and various study 

reports, the performances of the treatment plants will be evaluated. If 

necessary, possible remedial measures will be suggested. GAP-1 and GAP- 

2 reports will be studied in depth to learn lesson for the future. 

Step 2: Comparative analysis of various available, emerging and innovative 

wastewater (both domestic and industrial) treatment technologies to achieve 

prescribed effluent standards: Various domestic wastewater treatment 

technologies will be evaluated based on efficiency, operation and 

maintenance cost, ease of operation, sustainability, land and energy 

requirement and life cycle analysis. The best available technology (BAT) for 

treatment of wastewater from various types of industries, in the Ganga Basin 

will be specified. 

Step 3: Standardize the design of various domestic and industrial wastewater 

treatment technologies: Based on the quality and quantity of wastewater to 

be treated and the required effluent quality to meet the 

disposal/reuse/recycling requirements, the land requirement, the capital 

and operation and maintenance costs of various treatment technologies will 

be standardized. 

Step 4: Prescribe suitable waste management options for various urban centers in 

Ganga river basin: Based on the pollution characteristics and pollution load, 

treatment systems will be suggested for various urban centers. The 

feasibility of the prevention of the discharge of partially treated or untreated 

wastewater to rivers in Ganga river basin will be explored. The issue of 

wastewater disinfection before discharge will be considered carefully. The 

feasibility of reuse of treated domestic wastewater and recycling of 

industrial effluent will be explored. Feasibility of adopting decentralized 

and community level wastewater treatment systems will be explored as an 

alternative to centralized systems. The areas requiring sewer networking 

will be identified. The issue of sanitation, especially in areas without sewers 

will be explored. The prevalence of polluting practices, such as disposal of 

garbage, dead human and animal carcasses and other solid wastes in the 

17

ivers, open defecation on river banks, use of pesticides in river bed 

cultivation, etc. will be considered and alternative practices recommended. 

WP 1.5: Assessment of Future Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Needs: 

Sediment Quality, Metals, Priority Pollutants, Pesticides, Antibiotics, etc. 

In-charge: Prof. Sudha Goel, IIT Kharagpur, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, NEERI 

Detailed data about pollution loads and river water quality in the Ganga river basin is 

available only for a few pollutants like organic carbon (BOD/COD), nutrients (N and P) 

and microbial (i.e., coliform) concentrations. Hence any action plan for improvement 

of water quality in the Ganga basin prepared at the present time can only be based on 

the information about the above pollutants. 

Aqueous and sediment phase concentrations of other pollutants of concern, e.g., 

metals, pesticides, antibiotics and other priority pollutants in the Ganga river basin 

have not been monitored extensively. Data about many such pollutants is either not 

available or available for limited time-span and only at few locations. Yet many of 

these pollutants may already have widespread presence and high concentrations in the 

environmental media (i.e., water and soil) of the Ganga river basin and hence may pose 

a significant ecological and human health risk. Other such pollutants may become a 

cause of concern in the future as anthropogenic activity intensifies in the Ganga river 

basin. 

Considering the lack of a comprehensive data base regarding these pollutants, no 

action plan can be recommended vis-à-vis these pollutants at the present time. 

Nonetheless, a comprehensive river water and sediment monitoring and surveillance 

plan must be developed for generating the database and risk data regarding these 

pollutants. This database will provide a basis for future action regarding the 

elimination of risks associated with such pollutants. 



Step 1: Review and summarize all studies in Ganga river basin concerning the 

monitoring of metals, pesticides, antibiotics and other priority pollutants in 

various environmental media (i.e., water and sediment/soil). 

Step 2: Interlink the available monitoring data with possible natural and 

anthropogenic (both point and non-point/distributed) sources for such 

pollution. 

18

Step 3: Organize a workshop with all concerned stakeholders to prepare a list of 

pollutants to be flagged for further investigation as the cause for long-term 

risk to the water quality in the Ganga river basin. 

Step 4: Review and summarize the available fate, transport and human and 

ecological risk information available for the above list of pollutants. 

Step 5: Propose a long-term monitoring framework for presence/absence studies 

and quantification of the concerned pollutants in various environmental 

media all across the Ganga river basin, giving due consideration to 

intervention strategies proposed under the GRBMP. 

WP 1.6: Action Plan for Monitoring, Surveillance and Improvement of Water 

Quality in Ganga River Basin 

In-charge: Prof. Purnendu Bose, IIT Kanpur 

Inputs obtained from the WP1.2, WP1.3, WP1.4 and WP1.5 will be used for formulating 

the ‘Action Plan(s)’ for improvement and maintenance of the long-term water quality 

in the Ganga river basin. 

The broad strategy shall be as follows. Based on inputs on intervention strategies 

suggested in WP1.4, various water quality scenarios in the Ganga river basin will be 

generated through water quality modelling in WP1.3. These scenarios will be further 

examined through WP1.2 for determination of the associated risks. Thus, based on 

the combined inputs from WP1.2, WP1.3 and WP1.4, a few scenarios which ensure 

acceptable long term water quality in the Ganga river basin will be selected. 

It must however be realized that scenarios selected above only consider risks 

associated with a few pollutants, i.e., organic carbon (BOD/COD), nutrients and 

microbial contamination. Risks associated with other pollutants, i.e., those studied in 

WP1.5, will not considered in the above scenario development. The study outlined in 

WP1.5 is nonetheless very important, since it will clearly identify the pollutants which 

may already pose a substantial risk, or may do so in the future. Such pollutants will be 

flagged for extensive monitoring in the Ganga river basin, such that sufficient data for 

the calculation of the associated risks may be generated for future action. 



Step 1: Identification of acceptable scenarios regarding the long-term water 

quality in the Ganga river basin. The ‘Action Plan(s)’ corresponding to 

these scenarios will be developed. 

19

Step 2: Chronological listing of infrastructure projects, e,g., sanitation, sewer 

networks, wastewater treatment, etc. to be undertaken in the Ganga river 

basin in the future corresponding to each ‘Action Plan’. 

Step 3: Clear enunciation of the impact of successful completion of each 

infrastructure project on the water quality in the Ganga river basin for 

every ‘Action Plan’. 

Step 4: Listing of the future water quality surveillance and monitoring needs, 

both with respect to the primary pollutants and pollutants flagged for 

extensive surveillance based on conclusions of WP1.5, followed by the 

preparation of comprehensive and long-term water quality surveillance 

and monitoring plan for the entire Ganga river basin. 

4.5 Data Required 

A visit is planned to all districts in the Ganga River Basin for on-site assessment of 

pollution loads, industrial and other associated development potential, urbanization 

prospects other relevant details. Other than this visit for primary data collection, the 

study will primarily depend on secondary data. Such data shall be collected from a 

variety of sources, some of which are listed as follows. 

Master plans 

Basin identification documents 

Monitoring networks 

Environmental management plans 

Inventory of existing treatment facilities 

Socioeconomic data documents of Development Authorities 

Published/online water quality data and water quality standards 

Hydro meteorological data reports 

Census data reports 

published documents on water regulatory structures 

Available records about industrial water demand and waste generation 

Documents/Handbooks about data related to agriculture 

Data about toxicology from existing reports (including reports from ICMR) 

4.6 Deliverables 

A comprehensive report containing all details of the methodology adopted, studies 

undertaken, results obtained, conclusions drawn and recommendations made will be 

prepared and submitted. However, the main deliverables of the ESE component of the 

project shall be the following, 

Map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) pollution load 

generation from domestic and industrial sources and other related information 

20

(i.e., population, drainage pattern, sanitation levels, etc.) for each district in the 

Ganga River Basin 

Maps and associated GIS representations showing estimated pollution generation 

and other related information in all districts of the Ganga River Basin from 2015- 

2055 at 10 year increments. 

A map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) water quality 

parameters and associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin. 

Maps and associated GIS representations showing water quality parameters and 

associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin in 10 year increments 

from 2015 – 2055, assuming that the recommended action plan is implemented. 

‘Action Plan(s)’, consisting of a series of projects (including infrastructure 

and water quality monitoring and surveillance projects) to be taken up in a 

specified chronological order, such that the water quality objectives of the 

GRBMP are achieved. 

4.7 Work Plan 

Activity 

Work Package 1 






0-3 

Months 

4-6 

Months 

7-9 

Months 

10-12 

Months 

13-15 

Months 

21 

16-18 

Months

4.8 The Team 

S No Name Affiliations Role 

1 Shyam Asolekar IIT Bombay Member 

2 Suparna Mukherji IIT Bombay Member 

3 Sumathi Suresh IIT Bombay Member 

4 A K Nema IIT Delhi Member 

5 Arun Kumar IIT Delhi Member 

6 Atul K Mittal IIT Delhi Member 

7 B J Alappat IIT Delhi Member 

8 Gazala Habib IIT Delhi Member 

9 T R Sreekrishnan IIT Delhi Member 

10 Ajay Kalamdhad IIT Guwahati Member 

11 Purnendu Bose IIT Kanpur Member 

12 Saumyen Guha IIT Kanpur Member 

13 Vinod Tare IIT Kanpur Leader 

14 A K Gupta IIT Kharagpur Member 

15 M M Ghangrekar IIT Kharagpur Member 

16 Sudha Goel IIT Kharagpur Member 

17 Ligy Philip IIT Madras Member 

18 Mukesh Doble IIT Madras Member 

19 Ravi Krishna IIT Madras Member 

20 Shiva Nagendra IIT Madras Member 

21 A A Kazmi IIT Roorkee Member 

22 B Prasad IIT Roorkee Member 

23 C B Majumder IIT Roorkee Member 

24 G J Chakrapani IIT Roorkee Member 

25 Himanshu Joshi IIT Roorkee Member 

26 I D Mall IIT Roorkee Member 

27 I M Mishra IIT Roorkee Member 

28 Indu Mehrotra IIT Roorkee Member 

29 P Mondal IIT Roorkee Member 

30 Pradeep Kumar IIT Roorkee Member 

31 V C Srivastav IIT Roorkee Member 

32 Vivek Kumar IIT Roorkee Member 

33 Prosenjit Ghosh IISc Bangalore Member 

34 Prabhat K Singh IT BHU Member 

35 C V Chalapati Rao NEERI, Nagpur Member 

36 J K Bassin NEERI, Delhi Member 

37 Rakesh Kumar NEERI, Mumbai Member 

38 Anju Singh NITIE, Mumbai Member 

22

5. WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 

5.1 Preamble 

United Nations sponsored the International Hydrologic Decade from 1965 to 1974. 

The primary benefit of this programme was increasing consciousness about regional 

and global scale problems and about human impact on the Hydrologic Cycle. The 

evolution, from classical viewpoint (Figure 5.1) to the ‘contemporary’ viewpoint (Figure 

5.2), of the realisation about interconnectedness of nature and the changes being 

brought by humans, may be depicted as follows. 

(a) Classical viewpoint: 

Atmosphere Earth Surface Man 

Figure 5.1: Classical Viewpoint of Man’s Role in the Hydrologic Cycle 

(b) Contemporary viewpoint: 

Natural Processes 

Atmosphere Earth Surface Man 

Anthropogenic Process 

Figure 5.2: Contemporary Viewpoint of Man’s Role in the Hydrologic Cycle 

A river basin is a natural unit for integrated water resources planning and 

management, and its integrated hydrologic-environmental-socio-political-economic 

model combines an understanding of the dynamics of natural resources system in 

terms of the intrinsic intra-component inter-linkages and its evolution, as a whole, in 

response to a wide spectrum of external anthropogenic stimuli. Some of these 

anthropogenic stimuli are in terms of water use in an environment of competition 

between uses and, indeed, amongst various users. As an added complexity, these are 

also temporally and spatially distributed. 

The interwoven nature of the natural Bio-Physical System, Hydrologic System, Socioeconomic 

System, anthropogenic Branch Cycle System and the designed Decision 

Support Systems & Models is illustrated in Figure 5.3 below: 

23

Man-made Physical 

System 

[Reservoirs, Dams, 

Dykes, Irrigation 

Schemes] 

Observing System 

Physical System of 

Nature 

[Climate and the 

Hydrological Cycle] 

Figure 5.3: Interdependencies between the Natural Bio-Physical System, Hydrologic Cycle, 

Anthropogenic Influences and Decision Systems and Models. 

This is further illustrated in Figure 5.4 given below and depicts the all encompassing 

context of the Bio-Physical Cycle-Hydrologic Cycle-Branch Cycle System. 

Population 

Growth 

Economic 

Development 

Models of Physical 

Systems 

Decision 

Models 

Water Resources Use 

Change of Geosystems 

Socio 

Economic 

System of 

Man 

Cycle of Erosion 

& Sedimentation 

Hydrologic Cycle 

Biochemical 

Cycles 

Figure 5.4: Context of Study of the Bio-Physical Cycle-Hydrologic Cycle-Branch Cycle 

System. 

The illustration identifies increasing human habitations, irrigated agriculture, 

industrialization, urbanisation and deforestation as the main anthropogenic processes 

which interfere directly with the natural water cycle. For example, creation of 

permanent irrigation systems involve storages and diversion of water for agriculture 

which not only reduces the water available for similar end use downstream, it also 

reduces the water available for other uses and alters the original eco-system besides 

24 

Socio 

Economic 

Impact of 

WRM 

+ / - 

Water Resource 

Management 

[WRM] 

[Decisions]

having a direct impact on the water quality regime. Changes in biochemical cycles, 

reflected, for instance, by changes in the regime of biological and chemical indicators 

and their linkages with soil and water quality and, importantly, with diversity in flora 

and fauna, are profound phenomena that, along with changes in greenhouse gases in 

earth’s atmosphere, are shown to impinge on the global and regional climate and, 

thus, on hydrologic and other water related cycles. These climatic and anthropogenic 

processes have evolved in time and space at fluctuating rates. Therefore, the 

magnitude of impact, of changes in these influences, on the water cycle of the river 

basin would reflect such temporal and spatial fluctuations. 

A preferable concept of introducing ecological requirements, as depicted in Figure 3.4, 

must be based, for objectivity, on those ecological quality goals that are congruous 

with societal aspirations at various levels. If these are derived from functional 

ecosystem principles, and if holistic objects of protection are discussed, a big step 

towards sustainable management strategies can be taken along the lines as suggested 

below in Figure 5.5. 

Structure 

Conservation 

Sustainable 

Ecological 

Integrity 

Development 

Economic 

Utility 

Figure 5.5: Synergy between Ecological Conservation and Sustainable Development 

These aforementioned ideas establish a framework for the proposed study of the 

Ganga River Basin. Water is the basic crucible that has the potential to yield a valuable 

insight not just into the diagnosis of the state of health of a river basin but also into its 

future prognosis. Accordingly, therefore, Water Resources Management is identified as 

one of the major Thematic Areas for this comprehensive study. The study includes not 

just the natural water cycle but also the external, spatially distributed, epicycles of 

anthropogenic interventions for control and use of water resources and their impacts, 

both individual as well as integrated, on the bio-chemical cycles that characterize the 

spatially varied terrestrial and aquatic eco-systems of the Ganga River Basin. 

The study will also focus on the cycles of erosion and sedimentation both as causative 

agents that shape the geo-morphologic response of the river basin as well as an 

evolutionary process with its etiological basis firmly interlinked with the hydrodynamic 

aspect of the hydrologic cycle. 

25

5.2 Objective 

The objective of this segment is to identify the work elements of the Water Resources 

Management component of the GRBMP study being undertaken. A comprehensive 

water balance study shall be undertaken to help formulate river basin plan for Ganga 

system. 

5.3 Scope 

The following is the scope of the present study: 

a) Quantification of available water resources (Surface and Subsurface) in the Ganga 

System using hydrological modelling. 

b) Assessment of present and future water needs of the system (say 2051) for 

irrigation, domestic, industries, power generation, salinity, inland navigation, 

fisheries, pollution dispersion, ecological balance, social and religious needs and 

all other relevant needs for a sustainable development of the system. 

c) Assessment of water quality through hydrological modelling for point and nonpoint 

source loads. 

d) Simulation of baseline conditions to validate the hydrological model for quantity 

and quality. 

e) Groundwater flow modelling, stream aquifer interaction and GW pollution 

transport modelling. 

f) Hydrodynamic simulation of all the major tributaries of Ganga to generate 

information required for geomorphological, flood propagation and ecological 

studies. 

g) Scenario generation for assessment of impacts on account of: present 

interventions, ongoing development, and proposed development. 

h) Integration of all the above components and the outputs of other theme groups 

i) Sustainability studies of the development paths 


On the basis of the foregoing discussion, mathematical simulation models, within the 

frame work of a macro-scale water balance for Ganga River Basin, are proposed to be 

used for the study being reported herein. The underlying significance of the basin 

scale water balance for the overall solution to the problem of flow simulation of base 

line conditions is recognised and follows in the wake of the keynote address by Prof. 

J.C.I. Dooge who proclaimed ‘Enough is enough – our task is constantly to seek better 

solutions to the water balance equation’. He further stated ‘… business of hydrology is 

to solve the water balance equation’. 

In the study of Water Resources of Ganga River Basin, there is, therefore, a need to 

develop procedures that enable a differential quantification of impact of anthropogenic 

as well as natural climatic factors on the basin’s hydrologic cycle and, in the process, 

26

e able to distinguish between the effects of human activities and climatic variability 

on hydrologic state variables. These issues assume criticality where there are 

competing users and conflicting demands as well as a natural hydrologic cycle which is 

facing high levels of unsustainable exploitation. 

The keystone concept is the degree to which the study is able to maintain the integrity 

of the overall water balance within the region of study and accordingly, therefore, a 

general framework of the overall composite water balance is proposed as given below 

in Figure 5.6. 

Imports 

Irrigated 

area 

Municipal and Industrial use 

Precipitation 

Rainfall over un-irrigated area 

Runoff from non-irrigated Area [Rui] 

[Ri] 

[Exports De] 

Municipal and 

Industrial use 

[Rw] 

[Reservoir or 

Anicut] 

[Dm] 

River Flow 

[Dmi] 

[Rui-Dmi-Di-De-Dm 

+/- Carryover 

- Evaporation 

[Rmi] 

Figure 5.6: Depiction of the Composite Water Balance for a Basin 

Suitable hydrologic models would be designed to simulate individual contributions 

coming to the overall river flow from each of the paths depicted in Figure 5.6. 

Further, and importantly in the context of the headwater reaches of Ganga River Basin, 

an additional – and in some seasons, substantial – contribution to the overall water 

resources is derived from snow and glacial melt. The presence of snow and glaciers in 

the upper part of the Ganga River form a unique reservoir of fresh water. Glaciers act 

as natural frozen reservoirs and provide flows in a regulated manner. The runoff 

generated from snow and glacial melt in the Ganga basin plays a vital role in making 

this river perennial and ensuring, thereby, a continuous availability of water in the 

river. 

[Rw] 

27 

Minor 

irrigated 

area

Water quality in the various reaches of Ganga is central to many current social, 

environmental and political issues that have occupied the collective conscience of the 

entire nation. Accordingly, a significant effort would be devoted to the study of various 

water quality parameters and indicators and their spatial and temporal variations. The 

study would include modelling of both point as well as non-point sources of waste 

effluents and various other ordinary chemical, bio-chemical and microbiological 

pollutants. 

It is averred that river water is a primary carrier for pollutant transport as well as a 

medium for its dispersion and appropriately, therefore, the proposed Water Resources 

Study would entail development of a framework for a coupled hydrologic cum 

hydrodynamic model. The hydrodynamic model, besides establishing flood wave 

propagation characteristics, would also facilitate the characterization of pollutant 

transport and its reaction kinetics. 

A central issue in the overall Ganga River Basin Management Plan is the problem posed 

by high levels of silt being contributed by the individual sub-catchments. The impact 

on water quality and silt loads in river waters of possible changes in land use and 

cropping patterns as well as of agricultural and water management practices would 

also require a detailed study as part of the overall Water Resources Management 

Theme. 

Some of the models proposed to be used in the study have been identified as follows: 

Hydrological 28rganize – SWAT 

Groundwater flow, stream aquifer interaction and GW pollution transport 

28rganize – MODFLOW, HYDRO GEO SPHERE, MT 3D, GS Flow, PHAST 

Hydrodynamic 28rganize – HECRAS 

River network models – FLO-2D and others 

Surface Water Quality 28rganize by QUAL 2E/K 

Geo-spatial analysis by ARC-GIS 

5.5 Data Required 

This study shall require a comprehensive database to be used for various modelling 

efforts. The following are some of the major data items identified for the study and 

their possible sources. 

a) Drainage system – SRTM/ASTER 

b) Flow data at gauging sites – CWC and State Water Resources Departments 

c) Flow cross sections and rating curves at various stream gauging sites – CWC and 

State Water Resources Departments 

d) Landuse/Landcover and Soil maps of the catchments – Global and National data 

sources 

e) Data on water 28rganize2828n for agricultural and other uses 

28

f) Data on water resources projects including reservoirs and diversion facilities– 

National and State departments 

g) River cross-section data if available 

h) Meteorological data – IMD 

i) Sediment data; volume and characterization – CWC/State Govt. agencies 

j) Ground water fluctuation data – CGWB/State GW Boards 

k) Data on water quality parameters (surface and ground water) – CPCB, CWC, 

CGWB, State Pollution Control Boards, MOEF 


The hydrology of Ganga River Basin, similar to other river basins, is governed largely 

according to the relative strengths and significance of individual components of its 

overall natural hydrologic cycle. This natural cycle, however, also gets suitably 

modified and impaired in accordance with the external branch cycle developments. An 

important underlying facet to these interacting and mutually interdependent 

subsystems is contributed in no small measure by the scale at which the system is 

being observed. Furthermore, these attributes have a temporal as well as a spatial 

flavour. 

Ideally, a comprehensive study would entail a representative description of the various 

resident natural and externally forced anthropogenic processes across all scales and, 

therefore, suggesting a modelling framework that would also facilitate migration 

across the fuzzy and obscure boundaries that separate one scale from the next. It 

would also be fair to say that there indeed are no sharp boundaries that separate these 

processes at different scales but the perceived differences are on account of the 

spatial and temporal scale of integration of these processes. 

Across the extremely heterogeneous and diverse nature of physical, geo- 

morphological, hydro-meteorological, socio-political and economic conditions that 

prevail across the Ganga River Basin, there will be epicycles of natural hydrology at a 

farm plot scale that will be in a dynamic integration with an externally driven water use 

circuit at the same level. This will be resident within a higher level epicycle of natural 

hydrology and external water use system at the farm level and integrated further in a 

similar pair of epicycles at the small watershed scale and going further on to the scale 

of the overall river basin in which all these small scale epicycles would be nestled in. 

It is a reasonable aspiration behind a study, such as the one that is being proposed, to 

be able to understand the impacts on the water regime, in terms of quantity as well as 

quality, of any form of intervention at all, and including, even the lowest scale. 

29

However pragmatism requires setting realistic targets for the study and accordingly, 

the study proposes to limit the study of impacts to those that result from large and 

medium scale projects. At this stage smaller projects such as minor irrigation 

schemes and other interventions at similar scales would not feature individually in the 

study but would be collectively incorporated as a lumped and integrated intervention 

at appropriate scales. 

It is therefore hoped that the study would deliver the following: 

Assessment of present and future (say 2051) water needs of the system for 

irrigation, domestic consumption, industry, power generation, salinity, inland 

navigation, fisheries, pollution dispersion and dilution, ecological balance, social 

and religious needs. 

Virgin, unregulated, water resources availability across the Ganga River Basin for 

this time horizon. 

Scenario generation for assessment of impacts of major and medium scale 

interventions on water quantity as well as quality over a time horizon extending 

upto 2051 on account of: present interventions, ongoing development, and 

proposed development 

Integration of all the above components and the outputs of other theme groups 

Sustainability studies of the suggested alternative development paths 

5.7 Work Plan 

Activity 

Data acquisition and processing 

Set up of Hydrological Model on 

respective basins for quantity and 

quality 

Calibration and validation for the 

hydrological model after incorporating 

the baseline 

Set up of Hydrodynamic Model for 

quantity and quality 

0-3 

Months 

4-6 

Months 

7-9 

Months 

10-12 

Months 

13-15 

Months 

30 

16-18 

Months 

Table continued to next page … … … …

… … … … Table continued from previous page 

Activity 

Calibration and validation for the 

hydrodynamic model after 

incorporating the baseline 

Scenario generation for ongoing, and 

proposed level of water resources 

development 

Analysis of implications of the 

development pathways on the water 

quantity and quality regimes 

Suggesting possible demand 

management options through 

simulation 

Collation and Integration of 

information from all water resources 

groups 

Dissemination of water resources 

information through web 

Documentation 

5.8 Data Collection 

0-3 

Months 

4-6 

Months 

7-9 

Months 

10-12 

Months 

13-15 

Months 

31 

16-18 

Months 

The Water Resources Management Thematic Group discussed the important issue of 

data collection and recognized that the task of collecting representative observed data 

posed grave challenges. The Group recognized that the intervention of MOEF would 

greatly facilitate this onerous task. 

The WRM Thematic Group felt that the task of data collection would be the collective 

responsibility of IITs Delhi, Roorkee, Kharagpur, Kanpur, & IT BHU. 

5.9 The Team 


1 A K Gosain IIT Delhi Leader 

2 A K Keshari IIT Delhi Member 

3 B R Chahar IIT Delhi Member 

4 D R Kaushal IIT Delhi Member 

5 R Khosa IIT Delhi Member 

6 Subashisa Dutta IIT Guwahati Member 

7 Suresh A Kartha IIT Guwahati Member 

8 P Mohapatra IIT Kanpur Member 

9 Rajesh Srivastava IIT Kanpur Member 

10 Anirbhan Dhar IIT Kharagpur Member 

Table continued to next page … … … …

… … … … Table continued from previous page 


11 Dhrubajyoti Sen IIT Kharagpur Member 

12 S N Panda IIT Kharagpur Member 

13 B S Murthy IIT Madras Member 

14 N Balaji IIT Madras Member 

15 Asish Pandey IIT Roorkee Member 

16 C S P Ojha IIT Roorkee Member 

17 Deepak Khare IIT Roorkee Member 

18 K S Hari Prasad IIT Roorkee Member 

19 M Perumal IIT Roorkee Member 

20 M K Jain IIT Roorkee Member 

21 M L Kansal IIT Roorkee Member 

22 N K Goel IIT Roorkee Member 

23 S K Jain IIT Roorkee Member 

24 S K Tripathi IIT Roorkee Member 

25 U C Choube IIT Roorkee Member 

26 P P Mujumdar IISc Bangalore Member 

27 S K Gupta IT BHU Member 

28 V Singh IT BHU Member 

29 Pratap Singh INRM Member 

32

6. FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY 

6.1 Preamble 

Scientific approach to river management has moved from the engineering dominated 

command and control approach to an integrated ecosystem based approach that relies 

on synthesis of hydrological – geomorphological and ecological data. Engineering 

solutions will therefore have to be found keeping the scientific framework of the river 

system as the basic template for human intervention. The ‘command and control’ 

approach is based on single purpose, deterministic approach, which remained focused 

on site or reach specific scales without serious consideration of upstream and 

downstream consequences and related connectivity issues. On the contrary, the 

‘ecosystem based’ approach is a cross-disciplinary, holistic approach applied at 

catchment scale – a probabilistic approach which recognizes uncertainty and 

complexity in the system (Brierley and Fryirs, 2005, 2009). The physical template of a 

river system provides the basic structure to analyse the different aspects in an 

integrated approach. 

Recent research on river systems has also highlighted the importance of 

understanding controls on channel morphology as a basis for river management and 

rehabilitation work (Gilvear, 1999; Brierley and Fryirs, 2000; Brierley et al., 2002; 

Gregory, 2003, Brierley and Fryirs, 2005). River morphology not only varies from 

upstream to downstream in a particular system but also from catchment to catchment 

in a particular region (Knighton, 1998; Richards, 1982; Schumm, 1977). 

Characterisation of the geomorphic conditions of river systems provides the basic and 

first order data set for stream management programme. 

Channel morphology at any point is controlled by the dominance of aggradation or 

degradation processes, which in turn is governed by: (1) energy of flow and (2) 

sediment load (Bull, 1979; Graf, 1987, Church, 1992; Lawler, 1992; Montgomery et al., 

1996; Leece, 1997; Knighton, 1999; Reinfelds et al., 2004; Jain et al., 2006). The 

energy of river flow is expressed as specific stream power, which is defined as the 

power available per unit area of river bed. Variation in stream power defines changes 

in the amount of energy available to do work on the bed of the stream. Thus, the 

energy distribution in a river system is a major control on channel morphological 

variations. Specific stream power () is expressed as (Bagnold, 1966): 

= .Q.s/w 

where -unit weight of water, Q- discharge, s-channel slope and w-channel width. 

33

In an idealised section, progressive downstream reaches are characterized by 

reduction in channel slope and an increase in discharge and valley width (Church, 

1992). Long profiles with marked channel slope variations are further controlled by 

lithology and tectonic forces. These latter considerations dictate the availability and 

calibre of the sediment load in each reach. Distribution of stream power distribution 

pattern and sediment supply at the particular reaches will explain the geomorphic 

condition of the river at the given reach. The understanding will also help to define 

potential of river recovery for different reaches. 

One of the useful concepts to integrate such diverse parameters for river management 

is the River Styles ’ Framework (Brierley and Fryirs, , 2005; Fryirs and Brierley, 2005) 

which involves four stages of investigation. The first stage focuses on identification, 

interpretation and mapping of river styles throughout the river catchment. The second 

stage involves assessing the geomorphic condition of each reach of each River Style in 

the catchment. By placing each of these reaches in their catchment context, along with 

an interpretation of limiting factors, the geomorphic recovery potential of a given 

reach of each River Style is determined. From this, predictions of likely future condition 

are determined in the third stage of investigation. Finally, with this information in 

hand, realistic target conditions for river rehabilitation programs are identified for 

each reach, framed within a catchment-based vision. Working with local/regional river 

managers, a physically-meaningful framework for management strategies for river 

rehabilitation and conservation is then applied. 

6.2 Major Objectives 

The major objective of the fluvial geomorphology component of the project will be to 

define the geomorphic condition of the Ganga river system in different reaches and to 

understand the hydrology-geomorphology-ecology linkage for developing a 

sustainable river management programme. The specific objectives and tasks 

pertaining to fluvial geomorphological investigations will be as follows: 

a) Preparation and compilation of geomorphic map of the Ganga River and 

classification of the reaches in terms of their geomorphic condition 

b) To map the patterns of river dynamics at different reaches and to understand the 

causative factors 

c) Generation of stream power distribution pattern of various reaches of the Ganga 

river and analysis of its variation in the Ganga River 

d) To determine the effects of river energy and sediment supply as controls on 

channel morphology 

e) To assess the hydrological-geomorphological-ecological relationships to develop 

tool for monitoring river health and sustainable river management based on River 

Styles Framework. 

34

f) To define environment flow for different reaches on the basis of geomorphic 

conditions. 

6.3 Approach and Methodology 

One of the first exercises would be to divide the Ganga River basin into distinct hydrogeomorphic 

zones based on topography and primary geomorphic domain. There is 

some basic classification available (e.g. Tandon et al., 2008) which can be refined for 

use for the present study. It is expected that team members from different institutions 

would cover different reaches of the river following a uniform methodology and all 

data will be compiled for synthesis and analysis. 

6.3.1 Mapping geomorphic condition and river dynamics of the river 

Geomorphic mapping will make extensive use of satellite images coupled with ground 

truth verification. It is proposed to use IRS LISS IV images for mapping the entire 

stretch of the Ganga following a common mapping strategy. The present-day 

geomorphic condition would be assessed from the latest set of images whereas the 

dynamics of the channel morphology and floodplain modifications would be assessed 

from comparative analysis of the older images of Landsat, IRS and topographic sheets 

for the last 30-40 years depending upon the availability of data and maps. Changes in 

channel configurations as well as channel positions would be mapped and their 

influence on habitat in each zone would be investigated. Data will be presented in the 

form of a series of maps. 

Channel planform measurements will include the computation of channel sinuosity and 

braiding indices for the reaches around each selected site (Friend and Sinha, 1993). We 

will also measure the changes in these parameters through time and the time intervals 

for this analysis will depend upon the data/maps available. Cross sections of the river 

at each selected site will be obtained from CWC and different cross-sectional form 

parameters will be computed. It will also be useful to get the latest data from the 

‘hydraulic group’ generated through field survey in some representative reaches. 

Hydro-geomorphic analysis will focus on generating some indices to define the 

geomorphic condition of the channel reaches. These indices will combine the 

morphological measurements and hydrological parameters. This analysis will also 

assess the geomorphic impacts of the human interventions on the river system 

particularly in the form of engineering projects. An assessment will also be done of the 

future projects being planned in the upper reaches of the Ganga river if the necessary 

data for the same is provided. 

Study of some of the topologic characteristics of the river networks, like spatial 

variation of sinuosity of active and paleo-channels, spatial distribution of confluence 

zones, etc. will be carried out. The Vector Digital SOI Toposheets (1:50k or 1:25k) will 

35

e required for that purpose. Given the short time frame of this work, if this data could 

not be made available, the analysis will be performed on the drainage network 

extracted from DEM. A shape and size based classification of water bodies extracted 

from RS data will be done and validated by field investigations. The results will be 

delivered in the form of a water body map. 

6.3.2 Generation of stream power distribution pattern 

Specific stream power can be calculated using channel slope, discharge and 

channel geometry data and methodology will be followed after Jain et al. (2006). 

For channel slope, long profiles will be derived for the river course through 

manipulation of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data using ESRI ArcGIS. The DEM 

data will be clipped to the catchment area of the Ganga River and then filled to 

ensure there are no sinks in the data. Subsequently, flow direction and flow 

accumulation grids will be produced in the GRID module of ArcInfo. A long profile 

AML (Arc Macro Language) will be used to produce a database file containing x, y 

coordinates and the corresponding downstream distance (km), height (m) and 

contributing area (m 2) which will be graphed using Microsoft Excel. Using the long 

profiles and DEM data, valley slopes will be measured. 

Peak discharge data should be provided by the Central Water Commission (CWC) for 

flood frequency analysis and for developing catchment area-discharge relationship for 

different return period floods in the Ganga River basin. Discharge-area relationship 

will be used to replace discharge by catchment area in the calculation of stream power. 

Channel width for each reach will be determined from high-resolution satellite data 

and some random sites will be verified in the field. Computed total stream power will 

be divided by channel width data to get the specific stream power for different 

reaches. Downstream distribution of total stream power and specific stream power 

based on the average basic hydrological characteristics for the Ganga River will be 

analysed for understanding the energy distribution along the river. 

Further, discharge variation due to presence of barrages will be analysed through 

seasonal discharge data at downstream of barrages. This discharge data will be used 

to determine effect of barrage based discharge variation on the stream power of the 

river system. It will help to assess the effect of anthropogenic structures on the ability 

of river to carry out geomorphic work. 

6.3.3 Control of river energy and sediment supply on channel morphology 

Geomorphic map of the Ganga basin generated/compiled by different groups will be 

used to define the different reaches on the basis of aggradation or degradation 

dominated reaches. Field visits will be carried out to assess the Manning’s roughness 

36

condition of the different reaches. Further, sediment load data for various gauging 

stations will be collected from the Centre Water Commission (CWC). Grain size data 

will be collected from the same reaches and downstream pattern of sediment calibre 

will be determined. Sediment supply at different reaches and stream power 

distribution pattern in the similar reaches will be compared with the geomorphic map 

of the area. A relationship between driving force (stream power), resisting force 

(sediment calibre & load, and channel roughness) and output geomorphic condition 

(river morphology) for different reaches of the Ganga River will be derived. This 

understanding will be the core aspect to explain, predict and modify the geomorphic 

condition of the river. 

6.3.4 Hydrology – Geomorphology – Ecology relationship for the different reaches of 

the Ganga River 

Data regarding ecological condition of the river will be obtained from the ‘river ecology 

group’. The downstream variation in river ecology will be integrated with the 

hydrology-geomorphology relationship to develop the hydrology-geomorphologyecology 

relationship. The basic idea here is to understand the geomorphic controls on 

biodiversity and a continuous interaction with the biodiversity and ecology group will 

be desirable to achieve this. The ecological condition and biotic associations in a river 

are significantly influenced by geomorphic condition of the river, and therefore, any 

efforts towards river rehabilitation must address these issues to derive a long-term 

benefit. 

6.3.5 Determination of Environment Flow and role of hydrology for managing 

geomorphic condition 

The required stream power values for maintaining a particular geomorphic condition 

will represent the required discharge and slope at reach scale. The required discharge 

will be defined as the Environment Flow value on the basis of geomorphic condition. 

Further, Stage-discharge relationship and cross-section data will be obtained from the 

‘hydraulic group’. The discharge data will be converted into stage data on the basis of 

stage-discharge relationship. The corresponding stage value will be analysed for 

ecological condition and final E-flow values will be determined. 

6.3.6 Data integration in River Style Framework 

Data generated from different morphological investigations of the Ganga River in 

different reaches will be integrated using the River Styles Framework for the 

assessment of the present geomorphic condition of the river and to determine its 

recovery potential and future trajectory. It is expected that some basic data for 

building this framework may be ready by the end of this project and the future data 

requirements for the same will be identified. We should be able to provide the first 

level information on the geomorphic condition of the river in the next 18 months. 

37

6.4 Data Requirements 

S No Data Purpose Remarks 

1 Topographic maps 

(Digital and vector) 

2 Peak Discharge 

Data 

3 Seasonal 

discharge data at 

downstream of 

dams/barrages 

4 Satellite data 

(LISS III for the 

entire basin and 

LISS IV for 

selected windows) 

For mapping, georeferencing and 

validation 

To carry out flood frequency 

analysis and generation of stream 

power distribution pattern 

To analyse effect of engineering 

structures on the geomorphic 

work on the river 

To carry out geomorphic mapping 

of the area 

5 Cartosat -1 data To prepare DEM for selected 

windows 

6 Sediment load 

data 

For stream power-channel 

morphology analysis 

7 River habitat data To determine hydrologygeomorphology-ecology 

relationship 

8 River hydraulic 

(channel X-section 

data) 

6.5 Distribution of Work 

To suggest environment flow for 

the given geomorphic conditions 

To be purchased from Survey 

of India 

To be provided by Central 

Water Commission (CWC) on 

priority basis 

- do - 

To be purchased from NRSC 

Hyderabad (need to 

coordinate with geospatial 

Group) 

- do - 

To be provided by Central 

Water Commission (CWC) on 

priority basis 

To be provided by 

biodiversity/ecology group 

To be generated by field 

measurements (need to 

coordinate with hydraulic 

modeling group) 

We have divided the entire Ganga basin into different stretches based on distinct 

geomorphic domains and the work distribution among the different institutions has 

been planned. Some institutions will contribute in terms of a specific theme. 

38

Stretch of the Ganga 

basin/work component 

Tributaries Institution and person 

responsible 

Remarks, if any 

1. Gangotri-Haridwar Bhagirathi JNU: S Mukherjee 

2. Haridwar-Narora - JNU: S Mukherjee 

3. Narora-Allahabad Ramganga IIT Kanpur Would also coordinate the 

work among different 

groups, 39rganize training 

workshops and review 

meetings 

4. Allahabad-Varanasi Chambal, Ken- AU: Jayant Pati 

Betwa, Tons 

5. Varanasi – Munger Ghaghra, Sone, 

Punpun, 

6. Munger-Farakka- 

Gangasagar 

Gandak 

Kosi, Tista, 

Mahanadi, 

Hugli 

BHU: Kuldeep Prakash 

PU: K. Prasad 

ISI: T. Chakraborty 

7. Yamuna System - DU: V. Jain Will also contribute in 

computing stream power 

for the main Ganga river 

8. Sediment transport 

and inputs for river 

processes 

IITG: B. Kumar 

and major tributaries 

We plan to use LISS III (23.5 m resolution) for the first level mapping of the entire 

basin. All available maps for different parts of the basin would also be compiled. Each 

group will also take up a smaller window for a detailed geomorphic mapping 

highlighting the distinctive features of the region such as river dynamics, flood 

geomorphology, gully development etc. for which high resolution data such as LISS IV 

and Cartosat-1 data will be used. 


The project will provide a process-based understanding of the geomorphic condition 

of the river. It will help to characterize, explain and predict the future changes in the 

geomorphic condition of the river. The understanding will act as the basic template to 

carry out sustainable stream management programmes. Major deliverables will be as 

follows: 

Geomorphic map of the Ganga River 

Stream power distribution pattern of the Ganga river 

Assessment of environmental flow using geomorphic criteria 

Assessment of sediment supply and its effect on river morphology and flow 

characteristics 

Assessment of geomorphic impact of the existing and future engineering projects 

Hydrology-geomorphology-ecology relationship as a generic tool for sustainable 

river management 

39

6.7 Work Plan 

Activities 

Recruitment of staff 

Compilation of available maps 

Finalization of geomorphic maps 

Investigation of River dynamics 

DEM analysis and stream power 

distribution 

Hydrological and sediment load data 

analysis 

Integration of hydrological data with 

geomorphic analysis 

Integration of ecological data 

Assessment of environmental flow 

Development of river style 

Final Report 

6.8 The Team 

0-3 

Months 

4-6 

Months 

7-9 

Months 

10-12 

Months 


1 Bimlesh Kumar IIT Guwahati Member 

2 Rajiv Sinha IIT Kanpur Leader 

3 U C Kothiyari IIT Roorkee Member 

4 Nayan Sharma IIT Roorkee Member 

5 Jayanta Bandyopadhyay IIM Kolkata Member 

6 Parthasarthi Ghosh ISI Kolkata Member 

7 Soumendra Nath Sarkar ISI Kolkata Member 

8 Tapan Chakraborty ISI Kolkata Member 

9 Kuldeep Prakash IT BHU Member 

10 S K Tandon Delhi University Advisor 

11 Shashank Shekhar Delhi University Member 

12 Vikrant Jain Delhi University Member 

13 Saumitra Mukherjee Jawaharlal Nehru University Member 

14 Kriteshwar Prasad Patna University Member 

15 Ramesh Shukla Patna University Member 

16 Jayanta Kumar Pati, University of Allahabad Member 

17 K Rudra WBPCB, West Bengal Member 

40 

13-15 

Months 

16-18 

Months

6.9 References cited 

Bagnold, R. A., 1966. An approach to the sediment transport problem from general physics, USGS Prof. 

Pap. 422I. Pp. 37. 

Brierley G.J. & Fryirs, K. 2000. River Styles in Bega Catchment, NSW, Australia: Implications for river 

rehabilitation. Environmental Management. 25(6), 661-679. 

Brierley, G.J., Fryirs, K., Outhet, D., & Massey, C. 2002. Application of the River Styles framework to river 

management programs in New South Wales, Australia. Applied Geography, 22, 91-122. 

Brierley G.J. & Fryirs, K. 2005. Geomorphology and river Management: Applications of the River Style 

Framework. Blackwell. 

Bull, W.B. 1979. Thresholds of critical power in streams. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 90, 453- 

464. 

Chang, H. H., 1979. Minimum stream power and channel patterns, Journal of Hydrology, 41, 303-27 . 

Church, M. 1992. Channel morphology and typology. In Calow, P. and Petts, G.E. (eds.) The Rivers 

Handbook. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1, 26-143. 

Friend, P. F. and Sinha, R. (1993). “Braiding and Meandering Parameters”, in J. L. Best and C. S. Bristow 

(ed.) ‘Braided Rivers’, Geological Society of London Special Publication, 75, p.105-111. 

Fryirs, K. and Brierley, G.2005.Practical application of the River Styles ® framework as a tool for 

catchment-wide river management: A case study from Bega catchment, New South Wales, 

Australia. 230pp.ISBN 1 74138 153 3. 

Graf, W.L. 1987. Late Holocene sediment storage in canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Geological Society 

of America Bulletin. 99, 261-271. 

Gilvear, D. J., 1999. Fluvial geomorphology and river engineering: future roles utilizing a fluvial 

hydrosystem framework. Geomorphology, 31, 229-245 

Gregory, K. J., 2003, Palaeohydrology, environmental change and river channel management, 

Palaeohydrology, understanding global change, In Gregory, K. J. and Benito, G. (eds.) Wiley 

Chichester, 357-378 

Jain, V., Preston, N., Fryirs, K. and Brierley, G. (2006) Comparative assessment of three approaches for 

deriving stream power plots along long profiles in the upper Hunter River catchment, New South 

Wales, Australia. Geomorphology, 74, 297-317. 

Knighton, D.A. 1998. Fluvial forms and processes: A new perspective. Arnold, London. 

Knighton, D.A. 1999. Downstream variation in stream power. Geomorphology. 29:293-306. 

Lawler, D.M. 1992. Process dominance in bank erosion systems. In Carling, P.A. & Petts, G.E (eds.) 

Lowland Floodplain Rivers: Geomorphological Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. 

Leece, S.A. 1997. Nonlinear downstream changes in stream power on Wisconsin’s Blue River. Annals of 

the Association of American Geographers. 87, 471-486. 

Montgomery D.R., Abbe, T.B., Buffington, J.M., Peterson, N.P., Schmidt, K.M. & Stock, J.D. 1996. 

Distribution of bedrock and alluvial channels in forested mountain drainage basins. Nature. 381, 

587-589. 

Nanson G.C. & Croke, J.C. 1992. A genetic classification of floodplains. Geomorphology. 4, 459-486. 

Reinfelds, I., Cohen, T., Batten, P., Brierley, G., 2004. Assessment of downstream trends in channel 

gradient, total and specific stream power: a GIS approach. Geomorphology 60, 403– 416. 

Richards, K.S. 1982. Rivers: Form and Process in Alluvial Channels. Methuen, London. 358pp. 

Schumm, S.A. 1977. The Fluvial System. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 338pp. 

Tandon, S.K., Sinha, R., Gibling, M.R., Dasgupta, A.S., Ghazanfari, Parvez (2008) Late Quaternary evolution 

of the Ganga Plains: myths and misconceptions, recent developments and future directions. 

Memoir Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 66, 259-299. 

41

7. ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY 

7.1 Preamble 

Great rivers basins posses significant ecological value as within their mosaics of 

aquatic and terrestrial habitats often reside the majority of a region’s biodiversity 

(Bayley, 1995). The benefits derived from rivers are critical for social well being 

(Sparks, 2002). However there exists a conflict between the ecosystem or natural 

services (such as fish and wildlife production, sediment storage, nutrient retention, 

and flood peak attenuation) and the economic services (such as hydropower, 

navigation, and floodplain agriculture) rivers provide. This conflict could be negated to 

a large extent by developing programs to increase economic profits leading to or 

resulting from improved river health (Hesse and Sheets, 1993). To achieve this, 

managing water quality and quantity, maintaining ecosystem sustainability and biotic 

integrity is essential. However the management of large floodplain ecosystems of great 

rivers like Ganga is challenging as it has been extensively modified by interventions 

resulting from various activities over the last century. This management challenge is 

further being aggravated by the lack of information on the extent and condition of the 

Ganga river basin ecosystems at multiple, spatial and temporal scales. A systematic 

approach is therefore required for gathering the existing ecological and biodiversity 

information of Ganga river basin for assessment of past and present conditions. Based 

on this assessment, the data richness and gaps in data could be identified for future 

course of monitoring programs for deciding on ecologically benign developmental 

activities. 

The ecological effects from anthropogenic manipulations of rivers are mostly related 

to: modifications of flow regime and water quality, introduction of barriers, isolation of 

rivers from their alluvial plain, loss of lotic surface area, and introduction of exotic 

species (Gore and Petts 1989). Except the last, the above five riverine stresses result in 

habitat loss. Ecological basis of river basin management emphasizes on involving all 

actors that are connected to the ecosystem in a planning process, which takes as its 

point of departure the functions that the system performs for these stakeholders 

rather than first designing what society wants and then trying to force nature into this 

human straightjacket. Ecosystem-based river management first take heed of what the 

river is, how it functions and what it could be in terms of hydro-morphodynamics, 

42

iodiversity, connectivity and integrity and then enter into a give-and-take 

relationship between the society and its functioning. 

The lentic, lotic and terrestrial ecosystems are fundamentally different from one 

another because of differences in energy input and flow, mineral input and circulation. 

However there exists an inter relationship between the three systems. Since a river 

basin is the main structural and functional component of the circulatory system of the 

continental part of the geographic system, the basin wide approach is treated as one 

of the principal approaches to the formulation and solution of natural, scientific, 

socioeconomic, and other problems of rational use of natural resources. 

In general the ecological concept of GRB management is directed to achieve the 

following aims: 

Protection and restoration of the hydrological regime of GRB, natural (terrestrial 

and aquatic) ecosystems as a main condition for the supporting of the vital activity 

of the region; 

Development of environmental-friendly activity, land use/land cover measures, 

sustainable power, agriculture, transport and communication infrastructures; 

Development of human potential, preservation of spiritual and cultural welfare, 

physical health. 

Continuum of e-flow in the main channel and major tributaries at required water 

quality level. 

Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is the variety of life and its composition, structure 

and function, at a range of scales. Within this broad definition, four interconnected 

levels of diversity are commonly recognized - genetic diversity, species diversity, 

ecosystem diversity and landscape diversity. Biodiversity is essential for stabilization of 

ecosystem, protection of overall environmental quality for understanding intrinsic 

worth of all species on the earth and for sustaining livelihoods (Ehrlich & Wilson, 

1991). Freshwater biodiversity of rivers and their associated wetlands is under threat 

worldwide due to flow modification, habitat degradation, pollution, increased salinity, 

and overexploitation (e.g., Dudgeon 1999, 2000a, b, c). The Ganges river system is 

one of the five major river systems that constitute the reverine fisheries of India 

(Shinde et. al. 2009) and is no exception to this trend. Preliminary data indicate that 

degraded river systems like Ganga still retain some biodiversity that can be the focus 

of rehabilitation efforts. To strengthen these efforts, it is important to identify which 

ecological features enhance biodiversity and which ones make rivers more vulnerable 

to human impacts. 

43

The biodiversity of the Ganga river basin is unique as it is a synthesis of three major 

eco-regions of India situated along climatic gradients; the Himalaya, Gangetic Plains 

and Central Highlands. While the trunk of the river flows through the Plains, its 

tributaries flow down the steep mountains in the Himalaya and gentle hills and plateau 

of Vindhyan ranges in the Central Highlands. While the Vindhyan region south of the 

Plains has always been a part of the Indian subcontinent the Himalaya is extra 

peninsular. These regions have different geological history and hence the biota by 

virtue of evolutionary processes should be unique. The trunk of the river Ganga 

provides the means for exchange of biota and could facilitate exchanges within 

ecoregions too. However, the multiplying needs of the rapidly growing population have 

led to numerous developmental activities in the Ganga basin. These have impacted the 

unique ecosystem drastically along the length of the river. The main problems of the 

Ganga River Basin (GRB) are provoked by irrational use and sharing of water resources. 

This pressure affects both the hydrological and ecological state of the GRB through 

soil erosion, landslides, increased sediment loads, habitat fragmentation, and species 

loss. These diverse problems of ecology and biodiversity with respect to the Ganga 

River Basin would be addressed through the following objectives. 

7.2 Objectives 

To assess the present state of ecology and biodiversity in the basin and the 

impacts of dams/barrages/developmental activities on the ecology and 

 

biodiversity in the basin 

To identify the no go areas/Protected area/community reserves 

To prepare a ‘Biodiversity Database’ – Ecosystem and Species 

To address the issues of exotic, flagship, IUCN, invasive, native species 

To carry-out Analysis of land use and land cover dynamics of GRB at decadal 

frequency since 1972/75 

To carry modeling for Biodiversity Conservation and management through 

Ecological Principles using RS & GIS tools 

To generate the ‘GRB Ecological and Biodiversity, GRB-EB-DBMS’ (Ganga River 

Basin – Environment and Biodiversity-Data Base Management System). 

To Assess and Valuate Ecosystem Functions and Services, and assess the existing 

programs of community participation in biodiversity management. 

To suggest Research and Development projects to achieve the above objectives. 

44


7.3.1 River Basin Divisions 

For carrying out the Ecology and Biodiversity assessment a tentative division of the 

basin as below will be followed. 

Himalayan Mountain Region: 

Yamunotri-Paonta Sahib & Doon Valley: Yamuna and Tons, Asan 

Gangotri-Badrinath to Haridwar Bhagirathi-Alaknanda-Ganga and important 

tributaries 

Ramganga 

Gangetic Plains Region: 

Paonta Sahib to Agra; Agra to Allahabad: Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa, Ken 

Haridwar to Allahabad; Allahabad to Farakka; Farakka to Bay of Bengal: Ganga and 

its tributaries in Gangetic Plains. 

7.3.2 Data collection and Analysis 

The task of ENB assessment will be divided into various packages and would comprise 

of various steps each specific to the packages which are described along with later. 

However for each work package the following steps are common to all for 

accomplishing the goals. 

1. Survey and collection of biodiversity information from secondary sources like 

published papers, reviews, books, monographs, gazettes, technical bulletins, etc. 

2. Compilation and analysis of secondary data and identification of data gaps. 

3. Generation of missing data by collection of primary field data and laboratory data. 

In general the Ecology and Biodiversity would be assessed through inputs obtained 

from data related to the parameters listed in Table 7.1; 

Table 7.1 

Biotic Assemblages Habitat 

Aquatic biodiversity 

Littoral 

Microbes & Phages 

Vegetation cover 

Fish 

Substrate 

Invertebrates-Littoral benthos, Snags 

Woody debris 

Zooplankton, Phytoplankton,Periphyton 

Riparian 

Submersed aquatic vegetation 

Terrestial biodiversity-Microbes, Flora, Fauna 

Vegetation cover 

Invasive/exotic species 

… … … … Table continued to next page 

45

Table continued from previous page … … … 

Water Quality # Sediment # 

Dissolved oxygen 

Enzyme activity 

Dissolved N (NOx, ammonia) 

Toxicity 

Conductivity 

Total and volatile matter 

pH 

Chemistry 

Metals (As, Pb, Se, CU, Fe, Ni) 

Temperature 

Anions & Cations 

Turbidity, suspended matter 

Alkalinity 

Total & Dissolved P, N, & C 

Elemental particle analysis 

Particulate stable isotopes 

Chlorophyll 

#Data would be obtained from Water Quality Group/Environmental Engineering group 

The brief outline of each of the work packages (WP) outlining specific steps in addition 

to the common steps as listed above are presented in following sections. 

WP 7.1: Impacts of Dams/Barrages/Developmental Activities on the Ecology and 

Biodiversity in the Basin 

Specific Methodical Steps 

Identifying the hotspots of critical pollution and anthropogenic stress. 

Data analysis to determine saprobity, trophic state using multivariate analysis at 

reference and critically polluted locations only 

Expected Outcomes 

Structural and functional components of the biodiversity and diversity patterns 

across the width and length of the Ganga river basin. 

Report/Documentation on biological communities useful in ecological surveillance, 

assessment of habitats and anthropogenic impacts. 

WP 7.2: Developing Biodiversity Management Plan for Ganga River Sub-Basin 

The fundamental goal of biodiversity management and conservation plan is to check 

the anthropogenic pressures on the natural resources. It needs a sustainable use and 

management of resources and habitats and community participation in the 

conservation. The biodiversity management and conservation plan for the proposed 

Upper Ganga River Sub basin will be formulated considering the wildlife (fauna and 

flora) profile of the region, customs, cultures and traditional rights of the local people, 

46

conservation significance of the area, State Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Action 

plans (SBCSAP) and Biological Diversity Act (2002). Following protocol has been worked 

out for the preparation of Biodiversity Management & Conservation Plan. 


Identification of the No go areas - Protected area/community reserves/Aquatic & 

Terrestial Sanctuaries) 

Collection of information on exotic species and analysis of the species needed for 

reintroduction 

Utilization of Economic Valuation Tools 


The Biodiversity Management Plan will consist of: 

A: Biodiversity Conservation: Threats and Constraints 

Habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss, and shrinking of genetic diversity. 

Declining natural resource base and overexploitation of resources. 

Invasive alien species. 

Impact of development projects if any. 

Institutional framework and capacity building. 

B: Frame Work of Action Plan 

Strengthening and integration of in situ and ex situ conservation. 

Augmentation of natural resource base and its sustainable utilization. 

Regulation of introduction of invasive alien species and their management. 

Strengthening implementation of policy, legislative and administrative measures 

for biodiversity conservation and management. 

Valuation of goods and services and use of economic instruments in decision 

making processes. 

WP 7.3: Development of a Comprehensive Ganga River Basin Biodiversity 

Database (GRBBD) 

The short term goal of this pilot project is to develop a prototype database 

architecture for hosting the biodiversity information of the Ganga River Basin with a 

long term goal to develop a comprehensive Ganga River Basin Biodiversity Database 

(GRBBD) that would offer information at different levels (genetic, species, ecosystem) 

and scales (spatial and temporal). 

To develop a model database for the Ganga River Basin Biodiversity encompassing the 

three main levels of genes, species and ecosystems under this work package the 

following methodology will be adopted. 

47


1. Design of the prototype GRBBD based on secondary and primary data and using 

the inputs from Table 1 and various work packages within the proposal. 

2. For populating the prototype database regions of the river having higher indices of 

data richness would be identified and a further selection based on accessibility and 

ease of logistics would be made. The regions poor in data availability would be 

identified for future research focus with respect to biodiversity studies. 

3. Primary data would be generated based on the finally screened location(s) for 

filling up the gaps and further enrichment and populating the database. 

4. Available genetic and molecular biodiversity would constitute the primary layer of 

the database followed by species and ecosystem biodiversity at the secondary and 

tertiary layer. This would finally be linked to a GIS layer at the top for completing 

the canvass of the GRBBD. 

It is proposed to carry out possible molecular biodiversity studies in one or two 

locations with 3-4 samplings each in the current phase for meeting the special 

requirements of data generation and enrichment. Wherever followed established 

standards of ribosomal DNA sequence for microbes and DNA barcoding for higher 

organisms for biodiversity analysis and management would be the protocol of choice 

for achieving the desired goal of molecular biodiversity assessment. DNA barcoding 

would be done preferentially on the river (main channel) fish and other fauna as would 

be available from commercial catches. Local fisherman will also be employed to obtain 

necessary samples from the main channel. Floral biodiversity studies would be 

restricted to the river banks, particularly a chosen cross section of the flood plain. The 

choice of sampling sites would be decided based on secondary data analysis in all 

cases. 


1. Model database for the Ganga River Basin Biodiversity encompassing the three 

main levels of genes, species and ecosystems. All data obtained from secondary 

and primary sources/studies could be housed in the GRBBD for further use. The 

GRBBD would serve as the workhorse for similar studies planned on the Ganga 

River Basin in the future as well as any other river basin in the country. 

2. A comprehensive resource of data will be generated on the microbial diversity of 

the polluted as well as unpolluted (clean) stretches of Ganga River basin. The 

knowledge of microbial biodiversity will provide inputs regarding the well being of 

components of ecosystems as well as human community health taken together. 

Since the study will involve comprehensive analysis of microbes including various 

pathogenic strains, it will also help in understanding the disease epidemiology of 

aquatic fauna and adjoining human population. 

48

WP 7.4: Modeling for Biodiversity Conservation and Management through Ecological 

Principles using Remote Sensing and GIS Tools in Ganga River Basin 


1. Utilization of Remote Sensing, GPS and GIS tools. 

2. Ecological modeling to understand the various ecosystem characteristics of RGB 

e.g., productivity, community structure and ecosystem services. 


Report/Documentation of land use and land cover dynamics of last 3-4 decades to 

delineate direction and magnitude of change occurred in GRB. This will serve as 

one of inputs for the preparation of GRBMP. 

Report/Document identifying different drivers responsible for the change and their 

‘sensitivity analysis’ to provide inputs for taking measures to restore/undo the 

effect(s) on priority basis. 

A ‘Biodiversity DBIS’ that would accommodate the flagship, indicator, IUCN 

categories, etc. to formulate measures for their restoration/conservation. 

‘Functional ecosystem’ report to formulate action plan that would address the total 

environmental quality management (TEQM) 

‘GRB Ecological and Biodiversity’ database management Information System 

(RGBEB-DBMIS) that cann be linked through Gangapedia/Geospatial Data Base 

Management Group. 


In addition to the expected outcomes mentioned in the various work packages 

reports/documents will be developed to describe the following. 

1. Report on ecologically sensitive/significant sites/zones which exist/existed 

naturally or due to construction of hydraulic structures or other 

2. 

natural/anthropogenic processes with analysis of threats to such systems and 

suggestions for conservation/restoration. 

Report on biodiversity hotspots, e,g, impoundments, wetlands and other areas in 

the basin with analysis of threats and suggestions for conservation/restoration. 

3. Report on few key native species at or near the top of the food chain in each 

stretch of the river, impoundment, wetland, etc. which are severely stressed or no 

longer present due to loss of habitat, pollution, insufficient flow or other reasons, 

but whose presence will be highly desirable. 

4. Stretch-wise specification of the minimum acceptable conditions, i.e., channel 

depth, width and velocity, and water quality etc. for the native species to be 

viable. 

49

5. Specification of conditions, i.e., water availability, water quality and other 

considerations for continued and long-term viability of selected native species in 

impoundments, wetlands, etc. identified earlier. 

6. Documentations on ingress of flora in the region of river flood plain which will 

not otherwise survive due to inundation in normal annual wet weather flow. 

7.5 Work plan 

S No Activity 0-3 Months 4-6 Months 7-9 Months 10-12 Months 

1 WP 7.1 

2 WP 7.2 

3 WP 7.3 

4 WP 7.4 

5 Items 1-4 & 7 in 7.4 

6 Items 5 & 6 in 7.4 

7.6 The Team 


1 Utpal Bora IIT Guwahati Leader 

2 Mukund D Behera IIT Kharagpur Leader 

3 R P Singh IIT Roorkee Member 

4 Vikash Pruthi IIT Roorkee Member 

5 Ranjana Pathania IIT Roorkee Member 

6 Partha Roy IIT Roorkee Member 

7 Naveen K Navani IIT Roorkee Member 

8 Ramasre Prasad IIT Roorkee Member 

9 Prakash Nautiyal HNB Garhwal Central University Member 

10 Rachna Nautiyal Govt. PG College, Dak Pathar Adviser 

11 Sandeep Behera WWF Adviser 

12 Kripal D Joshi CIFRI Adviser 

13 R P Mathur Former Professor, IIT Roorkee Adviser 

14 R C Trivedi Former Director, CPCB Adviser 

50

7.7 References 

Bayley, P.B.: 1995, ‘Understanding large river-floodplain ecosystems’, Bioscience 45, 153–158. 

Dudgeon, D. 1999. Tropical Asian streams: zoobenthos, ecology, and conservation. Hong Kong 

University Press, Aberdeen, Hong Kong. 

Dudgeon, D. 2000b. The ecology of tropical Asian streams in relation to biodiversity 

conservation. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 31:239-263. 

Dudgeon, D. 2000c. Riverine wetlands and biodiversity conservation in tropical Asia. Pages 35- 

60 in B. Gopal, W. J. Junk, and J. A. Davis, editors. Biodiversity in wetlands: assessment, 

function, and conservation. Backhuys Publishers, The Hague, The Netherlands. 

Dudgeon, D. 2000d. Riverine biodiversity in Asia: a challenge for conservation biology. 

Hydrobiologia 418:1-13. 

Ehrlich, P.R. and E.O. Wilson, 1991. Biodiversity studies science and policy. Sci., 253: 758-762. 

Gore JA, Petts GE (1989) Alternatives in regulated river management. CRC, Boca Raton. 

Hesse, L.W. and Sheets, W.: 1993, ‘The Missouri River hydrosystem’, Fisheries 18, 5–14. 

Shinde S.E., Pathan T.S., Raut K.S., Bhandare R.Y. and Sonawane D.l. Fish Biodiversity of Pravara 

River at Pravara Sangam District Ahmednagar, (M.S.) IndiaWorld Journal of Zoology 4 (3): 176- 

179, 2009. 

Sparks, R.E.: 2002, ‘What makes a river great?’, presented at the EMAP Symposium, Kansas City, 

MO, http://www.epa.gov/emap/html/pubs/docs/groupdocs/symposia/symp2002/Sparks.pdf 

51

8. SOCIO-ECONOMIC-CULTURAL 

8.1 Preamble 

Ganga river resources are unique in nature in promoting cultural (social capital), 

ecological and economic prosperity of India. The river Ganga not only nurtures a 

unique bio-diversity but also provides invaluable river resources for human 

livelihoods, viz., fishery, irrigation, ferry, recreation, tourism, rafting, etc. Arising out 

of glaciers and further watered by the monsoons, silts carried out by the river enrich 

the soil fertility that helps to improve the productivity of rice, wheat, millet, sugar, and 

barley needed to feed the world's second most populous nation. 

The current problems with the Ganga river basin may be largely attributed to the 

growing population and concomitant economic activities along the basin. If this trend 

continues without appropriate policy and action-based interventions, the Ganga may 

cease to remain as a lifeline to millions of Indians. Therefore, there is a need to 

establish institutional mechanisms which promote efficient allocation of river 

resources in order to sustain cultural, ecological and economic prosperity. It is, thus, 

imperative to understand the size, trend and composition of population in the entire 

river basin, livelihood patterns and their possible impact on the Ganga river basin 

system. On the basis of the past trend of population, a projection may provide insight 

into our perspective towards resource demand in future and its implications for the 

river basin management. Besides, varied settlement patterns having had created varied 

impacts in terms of quantity and quality of river water and the different water uses and 

their impacts across vast expanse of the river also need to be accounted for. Further, it 

is important to understand how land use pattern has undergone changes over the 

years and what bearings does it have on river basin management. Moreover, a 

projection of the demand for land and water use is equally pertinent along with the 

projection of population. It is equally important to study the current sources of 

livelihood and their implications towards river basin management. Any attempt to 

devise basin management plan may require alteration in existing livelihood patterns, 

which should be economically rewarding, socially acceptable and physically 

executable. 

The river basin management plan should, thus, aim at capturing the socio-economic 

and cultural dynamics and settlement patterns, in detail, in order to design 

appropriate plans and mechanisms/systems. In order to source Ganga water and 

52

peripheral services on a sustainable basis, it is necessary to use the resources 

economically. At the same time, resource conservation and management involve 

enormous costs, which primarily are drawn from the public exchequer. A prudent use 

of a scarce resource of this kind requires proper pricing mechanism and incentive and 

disincentive structures. If properly determined, these tools may act as deterrents to 

improper and wasteful use of water resources and may in turn bring about lasting 

solution to the problems. It may thus require development of proper pricing models 

for various resource users, subsidy and tax structure as well as suitable institutions for 

management. Implementation of Ganga river basin management plan would involve 

huge social and economic costs. At the same time, it is expected to generate 

significant benefits, both marketed and non-marketed. It is important to know 

whether the benefits exceed the cost of the management plan so that the economy 

and the society at large remain net beneficiaries. A cost-benefit analysis of the project 

should thus be an integral part. 

8.2 Objective 

The major thrust will be socio-economic analysis of the Ganga River Basin region with 

focus on socio-economic issues and cultural engagement of different groups with 

River Ganga. The specific objectives are: 

To study demographic and socio-cultural profile in Ganga River basin; 

To study the livelihood patterns and their implications; 

To examine the existing land and water use patterns; 

To prepare water resource accounts for Ganga River Basin; 

To review the existing water pricing mechanisms and their implications for water 

uses; 

To gather information on select rituals and religious events and their implications; 

To assess present and future water needs in the river basin for various activities; 

To gather the feedback from various stakeholders including local bodies in the 

management of water resources; 

To recommend policy interventions on the basis of findings. 


Given the unique nature of the problem, collection of data may require the adoption of 

a variety of different approaches. Although the study shall draw primarily upon the 

collection of secondary information, primary data shall also be collected from the 

identified spots along the Ganga River basin. Secondary data will be collected from 

various sources, such as, district statistical handbooks, statistical abstract, databases 

of central and state government ministries, CSO and NSSO, database of indiastat.com, 

etc. Apart from these sources, required information will also be collected through the 

53

eview of the earlier studies on the theme. Further, officials of district line departments 

will also be contacted to get the first hand information and their feedbacks. These 

departments, such as, agriculture, fishery, horticulture, irrigation, forest, DRDA, rural 

and urban panchayat departments, etc. may provide useful raw data for the study. 

Information regarding cultural and religious congregation will be collected from 

tourism and culture department and Mela authorities, etc. 

Since there would be a need to supplement the secondary sources with primary data, 

sample surveys may also be conducted at selected rural and urban locations. For the 

purpose, the entire river basin area will be classified into several regions based on 

some socio-economic, geographical and cultural characteristics. From each selected 

region, four to five major locations (such as Haridwar, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gaya, 

Ganga Sagar etc.), where major religious congregation events and rituals are carried 

out, may be surveyed. The study will cover five states, namely, Uttarakhand, Uttar 

Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. For field study, two representative districts 

from each state will be selected. From the each selected district, two development 

blocks will be randomly selected. From each selected block, five villages will be chosen 

randomly. Questionnaires will be developed for collecting the required data. The 

effectiveness of the questionnaires will be assessed on the basis of pilot survey to be 

carried out. 

Besides quantitative data, the qualitative data will also be required for the study which 

will be collected through field observations, interaction with various stakeholders viz., 

officials, representatives of local NGOs, rural youths, representatives of community 

based organizations, members of farmers’ associations, elected representatives of 

local bodies etc. Focused group discussions will also be conducted towards above 

purpose. The SEC group also intends to organize a workshop at the block/district 

headquarters, inviting all the stakeholders including officials of district line 

departments in order to discuss various issues and get their feedback and 

suggestions. Similarly, a roundtable discussion with elected representatives of urban 

local bodies of the sample urban centers would be organized to discuss pertinent 

issues. 

54


The study will comprise following work packages: 

Work Package 1: 

Demographic and Socio-economic-cultural profile 

Settlement patterns 

Occupational structure 

Anthropogenic activities (industrialization, urbanization etc.) and their implications 

for basin management 


River Resource based Livelihoods (Minor and Major) - past, present and future, 

environmental flows and its impact on livelihood. 


Agriculture land-use and cropping patterns, size of land holdings 

Agricultural production, productivity and income 

Crop-diversification, agricultural practices, irrigation system and agricultural 

extension system 

Farm and non-farm income sources of rural households 

Use of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, technology and other inputs, resource use 

efficiency. 

Problems faced by the farm sector in the river basin area 


Information on select rituals and religious festivals and their implications 


Physical supply, use tables, emission accounts, hybrid and economic accounts, 

asset accounts, quality accounts and valuation of water accounts 

Based on these accounts: Pollution intensity ratios for major industries in the 

basin, water use intensity and water productivity indices 

Exploitation and consumption index 

Water quality indices, river quality generalized index and pattern index 

Reports on: 

o Use value of the basin (direct, indirect and option values) 

o Non-use value (Bequest and Existence Values) 


Assessment of present and future water needs in the river basin for various 

activities 

55

Review of the existing water pricing mechanism and their implications for water 

uses 

Feedback from various stakeholders including local bodies in the management of 

water resources 

Policy recommendations on the basis of findings of the study 

8.5 Distribution of Responsibilities 

S. No. Activities Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh Bihar West Bengal 

1 WP 1 IITD/K/R IITD/R/K IITD/K/R IIT KGP 



4 WP 4 IITR IITR/D IITR/D IITR/D 

5 WP 5 IITB IITB IITB IITB 


8.6 Time Schedule and Delivery of Reports 

Months Deliverables 

1 – 3 

Preliminary Activities: Review of literature, identification of data sources, 

preparation of questionnaires for primary data, data collection from 

secondary sources, recruitment and training of research staff, etc. 

Deliverable: 

Work Package 1: Demographic and socio-economic-cultural profile, 

settlement patterns, and occupational structure. 

Work Package 2: Identification of river resource based livelihoods (Major and 

Minor), based on secondary data. 

Work Package 3: Agriculture land-use and cropping patterns, size of land 

holdings, agricultural production, productivity and income, cropdiversification. 

Work Package 4: Identification and preparation of inventories of all minor 

and major festivals, rituals and religious congregation events on the banks 

of Ganga with frequency of their occurrence. 

Work Package 5: Physical supply, use tables, emission accounts, hybrid and 

economic accounts, asset accounts, quality accounts and valuation of water 

accounts. 

Work Package 6: Collection of water-use data pertaining to various sectors: 

A preliminary analysis 

56 

Submission 

of Reports 

Report: 

Part-I 

table continued to next page … … … …

… … … … … table continued from previous page 


4 – 6 

7 – 9 

Work Package 1: Anthropogenic activities (industrialization, urbanization 

etc.) and their implications for the basin management. 

Work Package 2: Identification of the threats to the livelihood of the 

population settled in the river basin and measurement of the environmental 

flow: a preliminary analysis. 

Work Package 3: Irrigation practices and agricultural extension system. Use 

of fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, technology and other inputs, resource use 

efficiency (based on primary and secondary data). 

Work Package 4: Assessment of the implications of listed rituals and 

congregations for water pollution, health, sanitation, etc., based upon field 

survey undertaken at two major locations 

Tourism influx, statistics and its association with employment and revenue 

generation. 

Collection and analysis of opinions of various stakeholders on the above 

issues. 

Work Package 5: Based on accounts prepared in the first quarter: estimation 

of pollution intensity ratios for major industries in the basin, water use 

intensity and water productivity indices. 

Work Package 6: Review of the existing water pricing mechanism and their 

implications for water use. 

Work Package 1: Population dynamics and settlement patterns and their 

implications for river basin management. 

Work Package 2: River resource based livelihoods: alternative livelihood 

options, environmental flows and its impact on livelihood: A further 

analyses. 

Work Package 3: Farm and non-farm income sources of rural households in 

the river basin area and strategies for livelihood sustainability. 

Work Package 4: Assessment of the implications of listed rituals and 

congregations for water pollution, health, sanitation, etc., based upon field 

survey undertaken at remaining major locations 

Collection and analyzing opinions of various stakeholders on the above 

issues. 

Work Package 5: Exploitation and consumption index of river water 

Work Package 6: Feedback from various stakeholders including local bodies 

in the management of water resources. 

57 

Submission 

of Reports 

Report 

Part-II 

Report 

Part-III 

table continued to next page … … … …

… … … … … table continued from previous page 


10 – 12 

13 – 15 

16 – 18 

Work Package 1: Further analysis of demographic and socio-economiccultural 

profile, settlement patterns and occupational structure. 

Work Package 2: Analysis of major and minor river based Livelihoods, (based 

on primary data). 

Work Package 3: Assessment of current technological, institutional and 

policy based interventions for irrigation management in the river basin area 

Work Package 4: Further analysis of the implications of select rituals and 

religious festivals for the river basin management and suggestions 

pertaining to the interventions to preserve and maintain the cultural capital 

of the basin region 

Association of local populace with respect to sustenance of their livelihood 

on the basis of festivals, rituals and religious activities viz a viz the aspects 

which are creating denigrating effect on the socio-cultural environment on 

the GRB. 

Work Package 5: Water quality indices, river quality generalized index and 

pattern index, Reports on: Use value of the basin (direct, indirect and option 

values), Non-use value (Bequest and Existence Values) 

Work Package 6: Assessment of present and future water needs in the river 

basin for various activities (in collaboration with Water Resources 

Management Thematic Group). 

Integrating all Work Packages and preparation of the Draft Report along 

with the recommendations for the River basin management Plan. 

Workshop on draft report, discussion on the inputs received from the 

reviewers of the Draft Report and incorporation of the appropriate inputs 

into the Draft Report to come up with the Final Report. 

Preparation of a blue print for the SEC action plan. 

58 

Submission 

of Reports 

Report 

Part-IV 

Draft 

Report 

Final Report 

Note: The group will submit a quarterly deliverable report that should have some inputs for 

policy interventions. Pilot study on any of the work packages may be conducted to prepare the 

preliminary report. A workshop on methodology will be organized and the deliverables in each 

quarterly report will be decided.

8.7 The Team 

S No Name Affiliation Role 

1 Pushpa Trivedi IIT Bombay Member 

2 Seema Sharma IIT Delhi Member 

3 V Upadhyay IIT Delhi Member 

4 P Murali Prasad IIT Kanpur Member 

5 Bhagirath Behera IIT Kharagpur Member 

6 Narayan Chandra Nayak IIT Kharagpur Member 

7 Pulak Mishra IIT Kharagpur Member 

8 Taraknath Majumdar IIT Kharagpur Member 

9 D K Nauriyal IIT Roorkee Member 

10 Vinay Sharma IIT Roorkee Member 

11 S P Singh IIT Roorkee Leader 

Note: Some experts in the area of sociology will be included in the team. 

59

9. POLICY, LAW AND GOVERNANCE 

9.1 Preamble 

The preparation of Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) is not only a massive 

but complex challenge. While rectifying the existing damage done by earlier 

interventions and pollution, equally important is to curtail, reduce, and to the extent 

possible, eliminate the processes that cause damage to Ganga. In rectifying the 

existing damage along with technological interventions, policy interventions play an 

equally critical role. While policy is a framework, law provides the legitimacy to it and 

its implementation rests with the institutions of governance. The sub theme on “policy, 

law and governance” shall deal with this important task of formulating a plan for this 

in Ganga Basin. 

The diverse causative factors that create the pollution and other harmful processes 

(such as flood-plain farming, encroachments by buildings) damaging the river are 

addressed. For this purpose, these damaging or harmful processes can be seen as 

emerging from diverse human activities in the catchment of the Ganga river system. In 

sectoral terms, these processes can be seen as taking place in diverse sectors, 

including, agriculture, mining, hydropower, forestry, water resource management, 

sanitation, public health, urban and regional development. These processes can also 

be traced to different types of causative factors, such as planning failures, technical 

failures, technical mis-matches, conflict of jurisdiction and enforcement related 

failures, resource shortages, socio-cultural and behavioural factors, institutional 

failures and vacuums, policy defects and policy gaps, capacity and knowledge gaps. 

Thus, in order to address these causative factors, along with technical interventions, 

interventions in the areas of policy, governance, and institutions are necessary. While 

the vastness of the basin of the Ganga river system indicated scale of this exercise, the 

complexity of the challenge of dealing with the causative factors leading to harmful 

processes need not be stressed here. The complexity created by the diverse causative 

factors, different sectors, and diverse harmful processes is further aggravated by 

multiplicity of policy instruments, multiple legislative provisions, multiplicity of 

governing agencies, their overlapping jurisdictions, contradicting provisions as well as 

contradictory incentives and disincentives provided in the policy instruments. 

Such a massive and complex challenge requires a really comprehensive response 

involving not only scientific and technological approaches, but also policy, law and 

governance approaches. The policy environment and legislative provision (including 

laws) plays a key role in shaping perceptions and behaviour of the stakeholders. In this 

process necessary inputs from and joint deliberations with other core groups, 

60

appropriate precautionary and restorative mechanisms and processes are to be 

developed within the constitutional and other proposed legislative paradigms. 

9.2 Objective 

To identify and map out—geographically and sectorally—the policy, legal, and 

governance deficiencies and gaps 

To evolve corrective measures addressing these gaps and deficiencies 

To identify the potential opportunities for policy, legal, and governance 

instruments to contribute to better management of GRB considering the fact 

that river Ganga (i) is a national river with socio-cultural heritage, (ii) has a 

unique ecosystem and biodiversity supporting variety of services and functions, 

and (iii) is regarded as mother and very sacred to most Indians. 


(i) Review of literature including documents such as reports, parliamentary 

debates, commentaries and critiques 

(ii) Study and review of river basin management systems/approaches adopted 

elsewhere in the world, e.g. Murray Darling Basin in Australia, Mekong Basin in 

Far East, Rhine Basin in Europe, Nile Basin in Africa, as a source of information 

for picking up ideas relevant to the Ganga Basin 

(iii) Review of National Water Policy (2002), National Environment Policy (2006) 

along with national and state policies related to development sectors like 

agriculture, industry, urban development, navigation, tourism, etc. 

(iv) Review of the local, state and central laws applicable relating to domestic and 

business establishment, sanitation and public health, industrial clusters and 

establishment, rural and urban planning, forestry, agriculture, mining, and flood 

plain and hydropower 

(v) Interviews and group discussions with a broad range of stakeholders 

(vi) Consultation meetings and workshops with stakeholders and experts 

(vii) Field Visits, Field Work (Questionnaire Surveys, Participatory Research Methods) 

9.4 Activities 

The activities under this project are divided in two phases. The activities in this project 

are organized around certain major Areas of Concerns (such as Water Resources 

Management’, Pollution, Sanitation, Ecosystem Management) in the context of the five 

states from GRB (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal). 

The first phase involves exploratory studies of Key Problems in the major Areas of 

Concerns. This Scoping Exercise will bring out a series of short reports at the end of 

the first phase. Each short report will elaborate the policy, legal, and governance 

deficiencies and gaps related to the Key Problems in each of the Area of Concerns for 

one state. An analysis of these reports will throw up various issues related to the 

61

theme, especially, the quantitative and qualitative contribution of these to the 

problems of GRB. A study using ’80-20’ technique will bring out the dominant 

contributors to the problems of GRB. This will help focus and identify the issues of 

detailed study for Phase II. 

The Phase II will have Short Term (5 months’ duration) and Medium Term (10 months; 

duration) studies mostly undertaken by IIT faculty. The report of these studies and 

ensuing recommendations will form the output of the second phase. This will also 

point to the detailed studies and research themes for sustainable management of GRB. 

Figure 9.1 illustrates the sequence of activities. 


Phase I 

About 20 Short Reports on Key Problems in selected Areas of Concerns 

pertaining to five states from GRB 

Identification of Key Themes for in-depth analysis in Phase II 

Phase II 

About 10 Detailed Reports, with Policy Recommendation at the end of the Short 

Term Studies (of 5 months’ duration) 

About 10 Detailed Reports, with Policy Recommendation at the end of the 

Medium Term Studies (of 10 months’ duration) 

Proposed changes in the institutional and governance framework exploring 

mechanisms/processes for effective public participation, rather mass 

movement, and use of Panchayat Raj Institutions. 

Recommend amendment and proposed legislations if required. 

62

Steps in Scoping Study 

Common methodology 

Adaptation for /Areas 

Execution by State 

Consultant 

Monitoring &Compilation 

of 5 x X reports/chapters 

Comment by experts 

Finalization of 5 x X 

reports of scoping studies 

Methodology for SS 

Identification of Areas of 

Concern (X) 

Identification of Key issues 

in each X in each State 

Identification of Critical 

dimension/aspects of each 

Key Issue 

Initial elaboration by 

consultant 

Phase II 

Phase III 

Initial 

Consultation 

Workshop 

Scoping Study 

(Covering 5 

states and Areas 

of X Concern) 

Studies on Research Themes Short Term 

(5 months), Medium Term (10 months) 

Output of Research Studies 

Short-Term (5 months) + Long-term (10 

months) studies on “Issues” 

Reports on L & S Term studies 

Policy and other Recommendation 

Detailed Studies or Complex Research 

Themes 

Responsibility of Faculty 

Monitoring of State 

consultants 

Compilation of Reports 

Output of Scoping Study 

Identification of ‘y’ types of 

issues 

Scope, nature of the 

issues 

Quantitative + Qualitative 

contribution to problem in 

management of Ganga 

River Basin 

Figure 9.1: Sequence of Activities of Policy, Law and Governance Group 

63

9.6 The Team 


1 NC Narayanan IIT Bombay Leader 

2 Shyam Asolekar IIT Bombay Member 

3 Subodh Wagle IIT Bombay Member 

4 P Murali Prasad IIT Kanpur Member 

5 Dipa Dube IIT Kharagpur Member 

6 Indrajit Dube IIT Kharagpur Member 

7 Uday Sankar IIT Kharagpur Member 

8 Ashu Khanna IIT Roorkee Member 

9 S N Rangnekar IIT Roorkee Member 

10 S P Singh IIT Roorkee Member 

11 U B Chitranshi IIT Roorkee Member 

12 Vivek Kumar IIT Roorkee Member 

13 Sudhir Chella Rajan IIT Madras Member 

14 G N Kathpalia Independent Advisor 

15 Paritosh Tyagi Independent Advisor 

64

10. GEO-SPATIAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT 

10.1 Preamble 

The Ganga river basin management plan is an ambitious and unique proposal. It has 

been conceived to understand and rectify the various environmental issues that have 

cropped up due to the continuing expansion of human habitat in the basin. In order to 

achieve the goals of the project, scientists from different fields need to work in a 

synergistic manner. A crucial component of the entire exercise will be an integrated 

geo-spatial database management system to be used by all thematic groups and 

policy makers. The system will provide data storage, retrieval, visualization and search 

capabilities. In addition, it will provide relevant interfaces that can be used by the 

different thematic groups for simulation, prediction and analysis of data. 

The enhancement of sensor technologies coupled with the advent of advanced 

geographic information systems (GIS) provide myriad and virtually limitless 

opportunities to applications for assessment and evaluation of natural resources in a 

sustainable manner. However, such systems require the capabilities of robust and 

large databases in order to be successful in the long run. Thus, the proposed data 

centre is an ideal and crucial cog, on which the smooth running of the Ganga basin 

project wheel depends. 

Several themes have been outlined for managing the different aspects of the plan. A 

major common effort will be to collect myriad types of data ranging from climate, soil 

conditions, bio-diversity, land usage and socio-economic practices. While the sources 

from where these data will be available are different, it will be beneficial from both a 

scientific as well as a management point of view to store all the various types of data 

in a central repository. The proposed repository or data centre will provide the 

additional benefit of linking the data from different themes to get an overall 

perspective. 

As the data has been (and will be) collected over a period of time across different 

spatial sites in the Ganga basin, it will be spatio-temporal in nature. Designing a geospatial 

database management system is, therefore, crucial to the entire project. 

10.2 Objectives 

We envision four important aspects of the system: 

A database (henceforth referred to as a data centre) that can house and interconnect 

the different types of data, 

Query, visualization, and retrieval capabilities of the stored data, 

Interfaces that will make the data available to simulation tools, and 

65

Data mining, pattern recognition and knowledge modelling. 

Creation of a data centre using open source technologies and tools with the aim of 

migrating to such a system eventually. It is expected that in the initial stages 

proprietary software and tools may have to be used since most end users are 

generally familiar with them and will require time and training to migrate. 

A unified database that has access to all sorts of data is necessary not only to serve as 

a central repository, but also to establish the connections across the different spatial 

sites, periods and sources of data. Moreover, these will help the thematic groups to 

link their own sources of data to other related data for better understanding of the 

problems they work on. 

However, since the database is supposed to cover every bit of data collected or 

produced by every thematic group, the amount of data will be very large. Such 

voluminous and continuously increasing data calls for sophisticated query processing 

and indexing techniques. The database must support improved ways of searching and 

retrieval in order to be practically useful to the domain scientists. Since the data can 

have various attributes, multi-dimensional indexing techniques along with suitable 

similarity measures need to be developed. Another important feature of the data 

centre is visualization and representation of data in different forms that are more 

suitable and amenable to the needs of the domain specialists. It is important that the 

provenance of each piece of data can be tracked and can be displayed on a map of the 

Ganga basin with the exact time period when it was collected. For a particular site, a 

time-series of each type of data needs to be displayed. This will also help in 

dissemination of information about the progress of the project and the status of the 

river to the general viewers. 

Models will require various abstraction layers on top of the raw data, e.g., a flow 

abstraction that projects the flows into and out of a chosen object (such as the main 

stem of the Ganga or one of its tributaries) giving point and extended source flows. 

The comprehensive data gathering and modelling exercise, both qualitative and 

quantitative, will also reveal gaps in the existing data and help guide future data 

collection efforts. 

Another very important aspect of the system will be the data mining and pattern 

recognition components. Since the amount of data is extremely large, it is not possible 

to sift through them manually and find patterns. Specialized machine learning 

techniques need to be applied for pattern discovery and trend analysis. Statistical 

methods and models can be incorporated to identify data that is statistically unlikely 

and, therefore, points to some unusual physical phenomena that warrants further 

exploration. Due to the large area of the Ganga basin, it may not be possible to collect 

data from all the spatial sites at all times. Thus, building an appropriate generative 

model that describes the different data sources will be a boon. The model will also 

66

help to simulate different situations such as flood, drought, etc. and predict the future 

values of various physical parameters. This will be a valuable resource for policy 

makers and scientists alike. Since the data will be from different sources, linking the 

metadata is important to understand the relationships among the various types of 

data. Therefore, the construction of knowledge models and ontologies are vital as well. 

Research on pattern recognition and statistical analysis can provide value addition as 

well as support research of other thematic groups. This research will be long term and 

will evolve over time with interactions between other thematic groups to understand 

their data and identify their requirements. These include, but are not limited to the 

following ideas. Sensitivity tolerance and confidence levels can be added to the models 

developed by other thematic groups using statistical analysis. Pattern recognition on 

remote sensing data will be an important aspect to develop maps on surface water, 

glacier extent (and monitoring), soil composition, land-use, forest cover (and 

monitoring), etc. Relevant processed data at different times can feed models of other 

thematic groups to make better and/or additional parameter predictions. 

10.3 Scope 

The scope of the project extends to the entire Ganga basin management plan. The 

data centre will include all the data requirements of all the thematic groups. It will also 

include a portal cum qualitative knowledge map (Gangapedia) that will sub-serve the 

communication needs of the project. 

10.4 Types of Data 

The collection of data is external to the project. It is assumed that the different 

thematic groups will feed the data collected or generated by them to this group. Some 

of the typical sources of data that are expected from them are: 

a) Data from water sources 

b) River water levels 

c) Pollution levels 

d) Rainfall 

e) Ground water levels 

f) Ground water pollution levels 

g) Glacier sizes and melt rates 

h) Bio-diversity maps 

i) Chemical substance levels 

j) Data from land sources 

k) Land use maps 

l) Pollution levels 

m) Bio-diversity maps 

67

n) Remote-sensing data 

o) Topographic data 

p) Soil composition data 


The data objects, attributes, sources, views and interfaces will be identified in close 

consultation with representatives of all thematic groups. A consultative group with 

representation from each thematic group will be formed to understand the data 

requirements of each group and the database group will design and implement the 

necessary requirements. It is expected that these requirements will evolve over the 

course of the project. The steps below give a more detailed picture of the approach 

that will be taken: 

a) Identify the objects in the entire system. 

b) Identify the attributes for each object - in particular the spatial and temporal 

aspects. 

c) Identify the type and structure of data elements and the interfaces needed. 

d) Identify the meta data tags for the data elements in the system. 

e) Design data mining techniques to access the raw and processed data in different 

ways. 

f) Create a communication portal for within project and external communication 

needs. 

g) Create qualitative knowledge models showing dependencies and nature of 

dependencies. 

h) Design a security policy for access to data. 

i) Identify the hardware and software needs (e.g., servers, database, GIS and 

visualization software, network bandwidth for connectivity, etc.). 

j) Design and implement a system that meets the requirements from (a) to (h) above. 

k) Design pattern recognition techniques to identify trends and anomalies. 

l) Research on other aspects of mapping, modeling, prediction and support to other 

thematic groups. 

68

10.6 Work Plan 

Activity 

Setup of the basic data centre 

(items (i), (iv) and (viii) with 

basic/standard data access 

capabilities). 

Development of specialized 

interfaces for simulation and 

modeling; visualization; other 

abstraction layers; creation of 

qualitative knowledge models. 

Initiate research into data 

intensive modeling and 

prediction - data mining, pattern 

recognition, machine learning, 

knowledge modeling, and 

ontology creation. 


Data centre with appropriate querying, retrieval, visualization, API interfaces and data 

abstraction facilities. The data will be acquired by the individual thematic groups and 

given to the database group. 

10.8 The Team 

0-3 

Months 

3-6 

Months 

6-9 

Months 

9-12 

Months 


1 Alka Bhushan IIT Bombay Member 

2 N L Sarada, IIT Bombay Member 

3 Smita Sengupta IIT Bombay Member 

4 Umesh Bellur IIT Bombay Member 

5 A K Gosain IIT Delhi Member 


7 Arnab Bhattacharya IIT Kanpur Member 

8 Bharat Lohani IIT Kanpur Member 

9 Harish Karnick IIT Kanpur Member 

10 Krithika Venkataramani IIT Kanpur Leader 

11 Onkar Dikshit IIT Kanpur Member 

12 Purnendu Bose IIT Kanpur Member 

13 Rajiv Sinha IIT Kanpur Member 

14 T V Prabhakar IIT Kanpur Member 

15 Vinod Tare IIT Kanpur Member 

12-15 

Months 

69 

15-18 

Months

11. COMMUNICATION 

11.1 Preamble 

For any large project the number one factor is good communication among the project 

team members. Everybody claims that they are good communicators and we surely 

have the technology to maintain constant communication with land-phones and cellphones 

and email, but it is true that they are not used to their maximum ability. 

For example, when there is an issue, which needs to be communicated to multiple 

people, usually one will email to a number of people who should really be involved. It 

is extremely annoying and breaks the communication chain when somebody replies 

only to the sender of the email without including the rest of the members. 

Preparation of GRBMP is a project that involves participation from several institutions 

and organizations including the seven IITs. Each IIT has its own characteristics and 

traits. As such, constant integration among the teams is of paramount importance. 

Not only constant communication is important, but GOOD communication is 

important. People must be very clear about what they are talking about. Good and 

effective communication support is essential when dealing with complex multithematic 

processes that may have small to large overlap, spanning through several 

institutions and organizations, and involving anywhere from fifty to hundreds of 

contributors to the project. 

In order to achieve this type of good communication team members should have their 

workplaces physically close, which is not possible for this project. Therefore, a 

communication thematic group is proposed. 

11.2 Roles and Responsibility 

Prepare a communication Plan (Internal and External) 

Setup necessary Project Internet Website to support ongoing interaction and 

hosting of evolving project documents from different thematic groups. 

Engage a professional communication agency for all managed external 

 

communication through press conferences, press releases, announcements, 

communication workshops to special groups as needed. 

Evolve a project branding and standards - Project Logo, Document Templates, 

Project Brochure, etc. 

70

11.3 Typical Communication Plan 

What Who/Target Purpose When/Frequency Type/Method(s) 

Initiation Meeting All stakeholders* 

Distribute Project 

Initiation Plan 

All stakeholders* 

Project Kick Off All stakeholders* 

Status Reports 

Thematic Group 

Meetings 

Coordination 

Committee 

Meetings 

Mission 

Management 

Board Meetings 

Project Office 

Audit/Review 

Post Project 

Review 

Quarterly Project 

Review 

All stakeholders and 


Entire Project Team. 

Individual meetings for 

sub-teams, technical 

team, and Functional 

teams as appropriate. 

Project Advisory 

Group and Project 

Manager 

Mission Management 

Board and Mission 

Coordinator 

Project Office, Project 

Manager, select 

stakeholders, and 

possibly Sponsor(s) if 

necessary. 


Manager, key 

stakeholders, and 

sponsor(s). 


Manager, and key 

stakeholders. 

Gather information for 

Initiation Plan 

Distribute Plan to alert 

stakeholders of project 

scope and to gain buy in. 

Communicate plans and 

stakeholder 

roles/responsibilities. 

Encourage communication 

among stakeholders. 

Update stakeholders on 

progress of the project. 

To review detailed plans 

(tasks, assignments, and 

action items). 

Update Project Advisory 

Group on status and 

discuss critical issues. 

Work through issues and 

change requests here 

before escalating to the 

Sponsor(s). 

Update Management 

Board Members on status 

and discuss critical issues. 

Seek approval for changes 

to Project Plan. 

Review status reports, 

issues, and risks. To 

identify and communicate 

potential risks and issues 

that may effect the 

schedule, budget, or 

deliverables. 

Identify improvement 

plans, lessons learned, 

what worked and what 

could have gone better. 

Review accomplishments. 

Review overall health of 

the project and highlight 

areas that need action. 

First 

Before Project Start 

Date 

Before Kick Off 

Meeting 

Before Project Start 

Date 

At or near Project Start 

Date 

Regularly Scheduled. 

Monthly is 

recommended 


Weekly is 

recommended for 

entire team. Weekly or 

bi-weekly for subteams 

as appropriate. 


Monthly is 

recommended. 

Regularly scheduled 

Recommended at the 

start and quarterly, and 

also as needed when 

issues cannot be 

resolved or changes 

need to be made to 

project plan. 

Monthly 

Scheduled by the 


End of Project or end 

of major phase 

Quarterly depending 

on size and criticality of 

the project. 

Scheduled by the 

Project Office. 

71 

Meeting 

Electronic distribution 

through email and 

posting on 

GangaPedia website. 

Meeting 

Electronic distribution 

through email and 

posting on 

GangaPedia website. 

Meeting 

Meeting and/or Tele / 

Video Conference call 

Meeting 

Meeting/Report 

Project Office will 

produce report using 

their template. 



produce report. 



produce report using 

internal template.

What Who/Target Purpose When/Frequency Type/Method(s) 

Presentations to 

Special Interest 

Groups 

GANGAPedia 

Blackboard Site 

Other… 

Examples: 

NGOs, Religious 

Interest Groups etc. 

ALL GRBMP and 

Thematic Group Team 

Members. 

To be determined by 

the GRBMP Team 

11.4 Work Packages 

To update external groups 

to promote communication 

a create awareness of 

project interdependencies. 

Central location to house 

Status Reports, meeting 

minutes, Project 

description, and Project 

Plan. For any 

communications that can 

be shared with all GRBMP 

contributors. 

At project milestones 

so as to communicate 

with other interested 

parties of changes that 

will be introduced 

outside of the Project 

Team. 

Update monthly with 

Status Reports; 

otherwise, as 

necessary. 

General communications As needed 

72 

Presentation/Demonst 

ration 

Electronic 

Communications 

Venue 

WP1: Build and configure GangaPedia Website to facilitate group discussion and 

host project working documents, status reports and project deliverables; 

Train end users to use the site 

WP2: Select and engage a PR agency; Evolve external communication plan and 

standards 

WP3: Build Project Branding and Standards 

11.5 Work Plan 

Activity Description 

WP1- 

Phase-1 

WP1 – 

Phase-2 

WP1 – 

Phase-3 

WP2 – 

Phase-1 

WP2 – 

Phase-2 

GangaPedia - 

Implement Core 

Functionality 

GangaPedia – 

Implement 

Extended 

Functionality 

On going 

GandgaPedia 

Operations 

Select and Engage 

PR Agency 

Build External 

Communication 

Plan 

Seminars, Workshops 

etc. 

Months 

M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10-M18 

Table continued to next page … … …. … … …

… … … … … Table continued to next page 

Activity Description 

M1 M2 M3 M4 

Months 

M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10-M18 

WP2 – Comm. Plan 

Phase-3 Execution 

WP3 – Select and Engage 

Phase-1 Creative Art Agency 

WP3 – 

Phase-2 

Build Project 

Branding and 

Standards 

WP3 – 

Phase-3 

Implement evolving 

requirements and 

refinements 

11.6 The Team 


1 A K Gosain IIT Delhi Member 


3 Arnab Bhattacharya IIT Kanpur Member 

4 Harish Karnick IIT Kanpur Member 

5 Krithika Venkataramani IIT Kanpur Member 

6 T V Prabhakar IIT Kanpur Leader 

7 Vinod Tare IIT Kanpur Member 

73

12. DELIVERABLES 

Main Report: Vision, Mission, Goals, Activities, Tasks, Implications – Ecological, 

Environmental, Societal, Demographic, Institutional, Economic and Financial 

Status reports and simulated future scenarios on various aspects (e.g. surface and 

ground water resources; ecological resources; river flows; pollutant loads – 

point/non-point, domestic/industrial, toxic/hazardous; cultural; livelihood; 

 

agriculture; urbanization, industrialization, etc.) of the Ganga Basin with atlases, 

databases, modeling tools, etc. 

Reports on suggested Sub-Missions for the Mission on Restoration of the River 

Ganga for consideration by NGRBA with phase wise implementation, financial and 

other implications, and measurable and verifiable indicators. 

The preparation of the main report and the report on suggested sub-missions may 

go well beyond first phase of this project which is planned to be completed in 18 

months. However, following specific items are expected to be completed within the 

first phase. 

Gangapedia - Project Internet Website to support ongoing interaction and hosting 

of evolving project documents from different thematic groups. 

Lessons from the past 

Map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) pollution load 

generation from domestic and industrial sources and other related information 

(i.e., population, drainage pattern, sanitation levels, etc.) for each district in the 

Ganga River Basin 

Maps and associated GIS representations showing estimated pollution generation 

and other related information in all districts of the Ganga River Basin from 2015- 

2055 at 10 year increments. 

A map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) water quality 

parameters and associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin. 

Maps and associated GIS representations showing water quality parameters and 

associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin in 10 year increments 

from 2015 – 2055, assuming that the recommended action plan is implemented. 

‘Action Plan(s)’, consisting of a series of projects (including infrastructure and 

water quality monitoring and surveillance projects) to be taken up in a specified 

chronological order, such that the water quality objectives of the GRBMP are 

achieved. 

Assessment of present and future (say 2051) water needs of the system for 

irrigation, domestic consumption, industry, power generation, salinity, inland 

navigation, fisheries, pollution dispersion and dilution, ecological balance, social 

and religious needs. 

74

Virgin, unregulated, water resources availability across the Ganga River Basin for 

the time horizon 2011-2051. 

Scenario generation for assessment of impacts of major and medium scale 

interventions on water quantity as well as quality over a time horizon extending 

upto 2051 on account of: present interventions, ongoing development, and 

proposed development 

Sustainability studies of the suggested alternative development paths 

Geomorphic map of the Ganga River 

Stream power distribution pattern of the Ganga river 

Assessment of environmental flow using geomorphic criteria 

Assessment of sediment supply and its effect on river morphology and flow 

characteristics 

Assessment of geomorphic impact of the existing and future engineering projects 

Hydrology-geomorphology-ecology relationship as a generic tool for sustainable 

river management 

Report on ecologically sensitive/significant sites/zones which exist/existed 

naturally or due to construction of hydraulic structures or other 

 

natural/anthropogenic processes with analysis of threats to such systems and 

suggestions for conservation/restoration. 

Report on biodiversity hotspots, e,g, impoundments, wetlands and other areas in 

the basin with analysis of threats and suggestions for conservation/restoration. 

Report on few key native species (i.e., fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, 

birds, etc.) at or near the top of the food chain in each stretch which are severely 

stressed or no longer present due to loss of habitat, pollution, insufficient flow or 

other reasons, but whose presence will be highly desirable. 

Report on few key native species (i.e., fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, 

birds, etc.) at or near the top of the food chain in each impoundment, wetland, 

etc., which are severely stressed or no longer present due to loss of habitat, 

pollution, insufficient flow or other reasons, but whose presence will be highly 

desirable. 

Stretch-wise specification of the minimum acceptable conditions, i.e., channel 

depth, width and velocity, and water quality etc. for the native species to be viable. 

Specification of conditions, i.e., water availability, water quality and other 

considerations for continued and long-term viability of selected native species in 

impoundments, wetlands, etc. identified earlier. 

Documentations on ingress of flora in the region of river flood plain which will not 

otherwise survive due to inundation in normal annual wet weather flow. 

District-wise analysis of the current and trends of total income of people engaged 

in professions directly related to the river and estimation of total population 

dependent on such income. 

75

District-wise analysis of the current and trends of total income of people engaged 

in tourism-related professions and estimation of total population dependent on 

such income. 

Region-wise analysis of the threats to the livelihood of the people engaged in 

above professions due to the current state of the rivers. 

Specification of the minimum water flow (depth and width) and water quality of the 

river(s) desirable at various locations for mitigation of above threats to the 

livelihood as specified above. 

Inventory of all minor and major religious congregation events with frequency of 

their occurrence and preparation of specification of the desired channel conditions 

(depth and width of water, and velocity of water) and condition of the surrounding 

river bed. 

Analysis of threats and interventions necessary to sustain socio-cultural 

 

congregations with implications of financial resources required. 

Inventory of all rituals carried out at various locations along the river Ganga from 

Gangotri to Gangasagar with involvement of people from various regions within 

and outside the Ganga River Basin. 

Proposed changes in the institutional and governance framework 

Recommended amendment in proposed legislations if required. 

Data centre with appropriate querying, retrieval, visualization, API interfaces and 

data abstraction facilities. 

76

13. THE TEAM 

Theme I: Environmental Quality and Pollution 

Alappat, Babu J 

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi 

M.Tech, Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, IIT Bombay) 

alappat@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26596254 

Asolekar, Shyam R 

Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay 

B.E. (Chemical, UICT, Bombay University); M.S. (Chemical, IISc Bangalore); M.S. (Environmental 

Engineering, Syracuse University, USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa) 

asolekar@iitb.ac.in | +91-9820410443 

Bassin, J K 

NEERI Zonal Lab, Delhi 

M.E. (Environmental Engineering, MNIT, Jaipur) 

jk_bassin@neeri.res.in | +91-9873038089 

Bose, Purnendu 

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur 

B.E. (Civil, Jadavpur University); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, USA) 

pbose@iitk.ac.in | +91-9956575604 

Chakrapani, Govind Joseph 

Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Roorkee 

M.Sc. (IIT Bombay); M.Phil (JNU, Delhi); Ph.D. (JNU, Delhi); Post Doc (USA) 

gjcurfes@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9411769309 

Doble, Mukesh 

Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras 

B.Tech (Chemical, IIT Madras); M.Tech (Process Control, IIT Madras); Ph.D. (Process Control, 

University of Aston, Birmingham, UK) 

mukeshd@iitm.ac.in | +91-9884691871 

77

Ghangrekar, Makarand Madhao 

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur 

B.Tech (Civil, Government College of Engineering, Karad); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, 

VNIT Nagpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay) 

ghangrekar@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9434023357 

Ghosh, Prosenjit 

Center of Earth Science, IISc Bangalore 

Ph.D. (Physics, Physical Research Laboratory/Devi Ahilaya Vishwa vidyalaya, Indore) Post doc 

(California Institute for Technology, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.) 

pghosh@caos.iisc.ernet.in | +91-9341097622 

Goel, Sudha 


B.E. (Environmental Engineering, L.D. College of Engineering, Gujarat University); M.S.E. 

(Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, 

Johns Hopkins University, USA) 

sudhagoel@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9434042840 

Guha, Saumyen 


B.E. (Civil, B.E. College, Shibpur); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, USA) 

sguha@iitk.ac.in | +91-9935168271 

Gupta, Ashok Kumar 


B.Tech (Civil, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar); M.E. 

(Environmental Engineering, Government Engineering College, Jabalpur); Ph.D. (Environmental 

Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay) 

agupta@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434018623 

Habib, Gazala 


B.Tech (Civil, NIT Raipur); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, VNIIT Nagpur); Ph.D. 

(Environmental Engineering, IIT Bombay); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, University of 

Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA and University of California San Diego, USA) 

gazalahabib@gmail.com | +91-9311632587 

Joshi, Himanshu 

Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee 

B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Environmental Engineering, University of Roorkee) 

joshifhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412394288 

78

Kalamdhad, Ajay 

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati 

B.E. (Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, 

VNIT, Nagpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, IIT Roorkee) 

kajay@iitg.ernet.in | +91-9678621395 

Kazmi, Abssar Ahmed 

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee 

M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand); Ph.D. (Environmental 

Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan) 

kazmifce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9837262698 

Kumar, Pradeep 


B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.E. (Public Health Engineering, University of Roorkee); Ph.D. 

(Civil, University of Roorkee) 

pkumafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-8126280901 

Kumar, Arun 


B.Tech.(Civil, IIT Kanpur); M.Tech. (Environmental Engineering and Management, IIT Kanpur) 

Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A.) 

arunku704@gmail.com | +91-9310832617 

Kumar, Rakesh 

NEERI Mumbai Center 

M.Tech (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering) 

r_kumar@neeri.res.in | +91-9820839821 

Kumar, Vivek 

Department of Paper Technology, IIT Roorkee 

B.E. (Pulp & Paper, University of Roorkee); M.E. (Chemical Engineering, University of Roorkee); 

Ph.D. (IIT Delhi) 

vivekfpt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412619735 

Majumder, Chandrajit Balo 

Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee 

B.Tech. (Chemical Engineering, Kanpur) M.E. (Chemical Engineering, University of Roorkee) 

Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee) 

bashefch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412074970 

Mall, Indra D 


M.Sc. (Chemical, BHU); Ph.D. (Chemical, BHU) 

invigfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412991317 

79

Mehrotra, Indu 


M.Sc. (Chemistry, Agra University); Ph.D. (Chemsitry, IIT Kanpur) 

indumfce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412071179 

Mishra, Indra M 


M.Sc. (Chemical, BHU); Ph.D. (Chemical, BHU); Post Doc (Bio-chemical, University of Hannover, 

Germany) 

imishfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412025464 

Mittal, Atul K 


M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, 

IIT Bombay) 

akmittal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-9811690192 

Mondal, Prasenjit 


B.Tech. (Chemical Engineering, Calcutta University) M.Tech (Fine Chemical Engineering, Calcutta 

University); Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee) 

pmondfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897369605 

Mukherji, Suparna 


B.Tech. (Energy, IIT Kharagpur); M.S. (Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, 

USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, The University of Michigan USA) 

mitras@iitb.ac.in | +91-9892977751 

Nema, Arvind Kumar 


B.E. (Civil, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur); M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Rani Durgavati 

University, Jabalpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay) 

aknema@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-9810827852 

Philip, Ligy 

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras 

B.Tech. (Civil, M.G. University); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur) 

ligy@iitm.ac.in | +91-9444009092 

80

Prasad, Basheshwar 


B.E. (Chemical Engineering, University of Roorkee), M.E. (Process Engineering & Plant Design, 

University of Roorkee), Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering, University of Roorkee) 

bashefch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285323 

Rao, C V Chalapati 

Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI, Nagpur 

B.E. (Civil, Andhra University); M.E. (Public and Health Engineering, Andhra University); Ph.D. 

(NEERI, Nagpur University) 

cvc_rao@neeri.res.in | +91-712-2249895 

Ravi Krishna, R 

Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras 

B.Tech (Osmania University, Hyderabad); M.Tech (IIT Madras); Ph.D. (Louisiana State University, 

USA) 

rrk@iitm.ac.in | +91-9884293063 

Shiva Nagendra, S M 


B.E. (Civil, University of Mysore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, University of Mysore); 

Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, IIT Delhi) 

snagendra@iitm.ac.in | +91-9444525799 

Singh, Prabhat Kumar 

Department of Civil Engineering, IT BHU 

M.E. (Environmental Engineering, University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Water Quality Monitoring and 

Control, IIT Kanpur) 

dr_pksingh1@rediffmail.com | +91-9450547143 

Singh, Anju 

National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai 

M.Sc. (Micobiology, Nagpur University) ; Ph.D. (IIT Bombay) 

dranjusingh@gmail.com | +91-9867537419 

Sreekrishnan, T R 

Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, IIT Delhi 

B.E. (Civil Engineering, Government Engineering Collage, Jabalpur) ; M. Tech (Environmental 

Engineering, VNIT Nagpur) ; Ph.D. (IIT Delhi) 

sree@dbeb.iitd.ac.in | +91-9678621395 

Srivastava, Vimal Chandra 


B.E. (Chemical Engineering, CCS University, Meerut) 

M.Tech. (Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee) Ph.D. (Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee) 

vimalfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9410372170 

81

Suresh, Sumathi 


M.Sc. (Life Sciences, Central University of Hyderabad); Ph.D. (Biochemistry, IISc Bangalore); Post 

Doc (Microbiology, University of Urbana-Champaign, USA, Biochemistry, University of Nebraska, 

Lincoln, USA) 

sumathis@iitb.ac.in | +91-9867332958 

Tare, Vinod 


B.Tech (Civil, SGSITS, Indore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute 

of Technology, USA) 

vinod@iitk.ac.in | +91-9415130517 

Theme II: Water Resources Management 

Chahar, B R 


B.E. (Civil, University of Jodhpur); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kharagpur); Ph.D. (Water 

Resources, IIT Roorkee) 

chahar@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-9868266407 

Chaube, Umesh Chand 

Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee 

B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kanpur); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT 

Delhi) 

chaubfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412071903 

Dhar, Anirban 


B.E. (Civil, JGEC, North Bengal University); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Water 

Resources, IIT Kanpur), Post Doc (James Cook University, Australia) 

anirban@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9434147950 

Dutta, Subashisa 


B.E. (Civil, Sambalpur University); M.E. (Irrigation and Hydraulics Engineering, Sambalpur 

University); Ph.D. (Computational Hydraulics, IIT Kharagpur) 

subashisa@iitg.ernet.in | +91-9435104598 

82

Goel, N K 


B.Tech. (Civil, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pant Nagar), M.Tech. (Water 

Resources Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi), Ph.D. (Hydrology, University of 

Roorkee, Roorkee) 

goelnfhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412393851 

Gosain, Ashvin K 


M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Delhi); Ph.D. (Hydrology, IIT Delhi) 

gosain@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-9810944776 

Gupta, S K 

Department of Civil Engineering, IT BHU 

B.Tech (IIT Delhi); M.Tech (IIT Delhi); Ph.D. (IIT Delhi) 

sunkrg@yahoo.com | +91-9415219613 

Hariprasad, K S 


B.E. (Civil, Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur); M.Tech (Geo-informatics, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Remote Sensing, University of Roorkee) 

suryafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285405 

Jain, M K 


B. Tech (Agricultural Engineering, J.N.K.V.V. Jabalpur), M. Tech. (Soil and Water Engineering, 

J.N.K.V.V. Jabalpur), PhD (Hydraulics & Water Resources Engineering, Indian Institute of 

Technology, Roorkee) 

mjainfhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9410371758 

Jain, Sharad K 


B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.Tech (Hydraulics & Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. 

(Water Resources, University of Roorkee) 

jainsfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897018550 

Kansal, M L 


M.Tech. (Civil Engineering, K.U. Kurukshetra), Ph.D. (Civil Engineering, Delhi University) 

mlkgkfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412919302 

83

Kartha, Suresh A 


B.Tech (University of Calicut); M.E. (Anna University); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur) 

kartha@iitg.ernet.in | +91-361-2582422 

Kaushal, Deo Raj 


M.Sc. (Engineering) (AMU, Aligarh); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT Delhi) 

kaushal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-9818280867 

Keshari, A K 


M.Tech (Engineering Geology and Remote Sensing, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Hydraulics and Water 

Resources Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Geoenvironmental Sciences, KNU, South Korea) 

akeshari@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-9873211521 

Khare, Deepak 


B.E. (Civil Engineering, S.G.I.T.S., Indore), M.E. (Water Resources, S.G.I.T.S., Indore), Ph.D. (Water 

Resources, University of Roorkee) 

kharefwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412990808 

Khosa, Rakesh 


B.Tech (Civil, BITS Pilani); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Delhi); M.S. (Hydrology, National 

University of Ireland); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT Delhi) 

rkhosa@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91- 9810457772 

Narasimhan, Balaji 


B.E. (Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University); M.S. (Biosystems Engineering, University 

of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada); Ph.D. (Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M 

University) 

nbalaji@iitm.ac.in | +91-9962466161 

Mohapatra, Pranab 


B.E. (Civil, Utkal University); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT 

Kanpur) 

pranab@iitk.ac.in | +91-8090269458 

Mujumdar, P P 

Department of Civil Engineering, IISc Bangalore 

ppmujumdar@gmail.com | +91-80-23600290 

84

Murthy, B S 


B.E. (Civil, University of Madras); M.E. (Civil, IISc Bangalore); Ph.D. (Civil, Washington State 

University, USA) 

bsm@iitm.ac.in | +91-9840079587 

Ojha, Chandra Shekhar Prasad 


B.E. (Civil, Gorakhpur University); M.E. (Civil, IISc Bangalore); Ph.D. (Civil, Imperial College, 

London, UK) 

cojhafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897604320 

Panda, Sudhindra Nath 

Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering; Head of the Department, School of Water 

Resources, IIT Kharagpur 

B.Tech (Agriculture, OAUT, Orissa); M.Tech (Soil and Water Engineering, PAU, Ludhiana); Ph.D. 

(PAU, Ludhiana) 

snp@agfe.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9434009156 

Pandey, Ashish 


B.Tech. (Agricultural Engineering, JNKVV, Jabalpur), M.Tech. (Soil and Water Engineering, JNKVV, 

Jabalpur), Ph.D. (Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, IIT, Kharagpur) 

ashisfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 9412070399 

Perumal, M 


B.E. (Civil, University of Madras); M.Sc. (Hydrology, National University of Ireland); Ph.D. (Civil, 

University of Roorkee) 

perumfhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9410130958 

Sen, Dhrubajyoti 


B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kharagpur); M.Tech (Water Resources Engineering, IIT Delhi); Ph.D. 

(Computational Hydraulics, IIT Delhi) 

djsen.iit@gmail.com | +91-9434721888 

Singh, Pratap 

INRM Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi 

M.Sc. (Bareilly College); Ph.D. (University of Roorkee) 

pratapsingh.iitd@gmail.com | +91-9958249051 

85

Singh, Virendra 

Engineering & Technology, IT BHU 

B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kharagpur); M.Tech (Geotechnical, IIT Kharagpur); Ph.D. (BHU) 

vsingh@bhu.ac.in | +91-9336454320 

Srivastava, Rajesh 


rajeshs@iitk.ac.in | +91-9838509824 

Tripathi, S K 


M.Sc. (Agronomy, Allahabad University); Ph.D. (Agriculture, Allahabad University) 

sankufwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9837349576 

Theme III: Fluvial Geomorphology 

Bandyopadhyay, Jayanta 

Department of Centre for Development and Environmental Policy, IIM Kolkata 

B.E. (Engineering, Calcutta University); M.Tech (Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Engineering, IIT 

Kanpur) 

jayanta@iimcal.ac.in | +91-9231681656 

Chakraborty, Tapan 

Geological Studies Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata 

M.Sc. (Geology, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Geology, Jadavpur University) 

tapan@isical.ac.in | +91-9830345695 

Ghosh, Parthasarthi 


M.Sc. (Geology, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Fluvial Sedimentology, Calcutta University) 

pghosh@isical.ac.in | +91-9432400301 

Jain, Vikrant 

Department of Geology, University of Delhi 

M.Tech (Applied Geology, IIT Roorkee); Ph.D. (Geomorphology, IIT Kanpur) 

vjain@geology.du.ac.in | +91-9650267330 

Kothiyari, U C 


umeshfce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897017259 

Kumar, Bimlesh 


M.E. (Civil, IISc Bangalore); Ph.D. (IISc Bangalore) 

bimk@iitg.ernet.in | +91-9678000348 

86

Mukherjee, Saumitra 

Geology and Remote Sensing, School of Environmental Sciences, JNU 

M.Sc. (Geology, BHU); Ph.D. (Geology, BHU); Post Doc (Remote Sensing, University of Liverpool, 

UK) 

saumitra@mail.jnu.ac.in | +91-9313908512 

Pati, Jayanta Kumar 

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Allahabad 

M.Tech (Applied Geology, University of Roorkee); D.Phil (University of Allahabad) 

jkpati@gmail.com | +91-9450551686 

Prakash, Kuldeep 

Department of Geology, IT BHU 

M.Sc. (Applied Geology, University of Allahabad); D.Phil (Igneous petrology, Remote Sensing & 

GIS, University of Allahabad) 

kuldeep_prakash@yahoo.com | +91- 9919430067 

Prasad, Kriteshwar 

Department of Geology, Patna University 

M.Sc. (Geology, Patna University); Ph.D. (Patna University) 

kriteshwar.geopat@gmail.com | +91-9431078883 

Rudra, Kalyan 

Project on Status of Rivers in West Bengal, WBPCB, West Bengal 

M.A. (Geography, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Geography, Calcutta University) 

rudra.kalyan@gmail.com | +91-9433007176 

Sarkar, Soumendra Nath 


M.Sc. (Applied Geology, Jadavpur University); Ph.D. (Science, Jadavpur University) 

soumendra@isical.ac.in | +91-33-2418-0383 

Sharma, Nayan 


nayanfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897040762 

Shekhar, Shashank 

Department of Geology, University of Delhi 

M.Sc. (Geology, University of Delhi); Ph.D. (Geology, University of Delhi) 

shashankshekhar01@gmail.com | +91-9210600385 

Shukla, Ramesh 

Department of Geology, Patna University 

M.Sc. (Geology, Ranchi University); Ph.D. (Geochemistry, Patna University) 

rshuklapat@gmail.com | +91-9431075022 

87

Sinha, Rajiv 


M.Tech (Applied Geology, University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Fluvial Geomorphology and 

Sedimentology, University of Cambridge, UK) 

rsinha@iitk.ac.in | +91-9335558218 

Tandon, Sampat Kumar 

University of Delhi 

M.Sc. (Geology, Punjab University); Ph.D. (University of Delhi) 

sktand@rediffmail.com | +91-9810437365 

Theme IV: Ecology and Biodiversity 

Behera, Mukunda Dev 

Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur 

M.Sc. (Botany, Behrampur University, Orissa); M.Phil. (Vikram University, Ujjain); Professional 

Masters (Advanced Geoinformatics, University of Paris, France); Ph.D. (Remote Sensing, IIRS, 

Dehradun) 

mdbehera@coral.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434086859 

Behera, Sandeep 

WWF-India 

M.Sc. (Zoology, Jiwaji University) ; Ph.D. (Jiwaji University, Gwaliour) 

sbehera@wwfindia.net | +91-9312902040 

Bora, Utpal 

Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwahati 

M.Sc. (Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam Agricultural University); Ph.D. (Biotechnology, GGS 

Indraprastha University, Delhi) 

ubora@iitg.ernet.in | +91-9954096847 

Joshi, K D 

Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR) 

kdjoshi.cifri@gmail.com | +91- 9456554766 

Mathur, R P 

rpm_2k1@yahoo.com | +91- 9935168422 

Navani, Naveen K 

Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee 

M Sc., NDRI, Karnal, Animal Biotechnology; PhD, Instt of Microbial Techology(CSIR), Chandigarh 

navnifbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 9761473482 

88

Nautiyal, Prakash 

Department of Zoology, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Sri Nagar 

M Sc. (Zoology, Bhopal Univ); Ph.D. (Zoology, Garhwal University) 

lotic.biodiversity@gmail.com | +91-9412987878 

Nautiyal, Rachna 

Department of Zoology, Govt. (PG) College, Dak-pathar, Uttarakhand (Affiliated to H.N.B. 

Garhwal University) 

M Sc (Zoology, Garhwal University); Ph.D. (Zoology, Garhwal University) 

rachnanautiyal@gmail.com | +91-9412057391 

Pathania, Ranjana 


rpathfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9761305971 

Prasad, Ramasare 


M.Sc. (Biochemistry, Banaras Hindu University); Ph.D. (Molecular Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru 

University, New Delhi) 

rapdyfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897080131 

Pruthi, Vikas 


M.Sc. (Microbiology, Delhi University South Campus, Delhi), Ph.D. (Institute of Microbial 

Technology, Chandigarh) 

vikasfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9997777613 

Roy, Partha 


M.Sc. (Zoology, University of Kalyani), Ph.D. (Endocrine Biochemistry & Reproductive Physiology 

(Visva Bharati University, India) 

paroyfbs@irneitr.et.in | +91-9997302850 

Singh, R P 


M.Sc. (Biochemistry, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, India) Ph.D. 

(Microbial Biochemistry, CDRI Lucknow, CSJM University, Kanpur) 

rpsbsfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897016575 

Trivedi, R C 

DHI (India) Water & Environment Pvt Ltd 

rctrivedi1@gmail.com | +91- 9868967518 

89

Theme V: Socio-Economic-Cultural 

Behera, Bhagirath 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur 

M.A. (Economics, University of Hyderabad); M.Phil (Economics, University of Hyderabad); Ph.D. 

(University of Bonn, Germany) 

bhagirath@hss.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9933077258 

Mazumder, Tarak Nath 

Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur 

B. Arch (IIT Kharagpur); M.Tech (City Planning, IIT Kharagpur); Ph.D. (Architecture and Regional 

Planning, IIT Kharagpur) 

taraknm@arp.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434039581 

Mishra, Pulak 


M.Sc. (Economics and Rural Development, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal); M.Phil (Applied 

Economics, JNU); Ph.D. (Vidyasagar University, West Bengal) 

pmishra@hss.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434702587 

Murali Prasad, P 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur 

M.A. (Economics, S.V. University, Tirupati); M.Phil (Economics, S.V. University, Tirupati); Ph.D. 

(Economics, University of Hyderabad) 

pmprasad@iitk.ac.in | +91-9936335592 

Nauriyal, Dinesh Kumar 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee 

M.A. (Economics, Lucknow Univesity) D.Phil., Ph.D. 

dknarfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9897179179 

Nayak, Narayan Chandra 


M.A. (Economics, Utkal University, Orissa); M.Phil (Economics, Utkal University, Orissa); Ph.D. 

(Economics, Utkal University, Orissa) 

ncnayak@hss.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9434739725 

Sharma, Seema 

Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi 

M.Sc. (Economics, GNDU Amritsar); Ph.D. (Economics, IIT Delhi) 

seemash@dms.iitd.ac.in | +91-9810791153 

90

Sharma, Vinay 

Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee 

BBA (VMU, Philippines); MBA (PCU, Philippines); Ph.D. (UPTU, Lucknow) 

vinayfdm@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9839022610 

Singh, S P 


M.A. (Economics, Meerut University); Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics, CCS University Meerut) 

singhfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9837714002 

Trivedi, Pushpa L 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay 

M.A. (Economics, University of Mumbai); Ph.D. (Economics, University of Mumbai) 

trivedi@hss.iitb.ac.in | +91-9869304162 

Upadhyay, V B 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Delhi 

Ph.D. (University of McMaster, Canada) 

upadhyay@hss.iitd.ac.in | +91-9871433606 

Theme VI: Policy, Law and Governance 

Asolekar, Shyam R 


B.E. (Chemical, UICT, Bombay University); M.S. (Chemical, IISc Bangalore); M.S. (Environmental 

Engineering, Syracuse University, USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa) 

asolekar@iitb.ac.in | +91-9820410443 

Chella Rajan, Sudhir 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras 

B.Tech (Aero, IIT Bombay); M.S. (Meteorology, SDSM&T); DEnv (UCLA, Environmental Science 

and Engineering) 

scrajan@iitm.ac.in | +91-9811150072 

Chitransi, Uday Bhanu 


B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kanpur); M.Tech. (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur) 

udayafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412955766 

Dube, Dipa 

Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur 

LLB (Calcutta University); LLM (University of Pune); Ph.D. (Calcutta University) 

dipadube@rgsoipl.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9933020056 

91

Dube, Indrajit 


LLB (Calcutta University); LLM (University of Pune); Ph.D. (Calcutta University) 

indrajit@rgsoipl.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9933020056 

Kathpalia, G N 

Alternative Futures 

B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.E. (Soil Mechanics, University of Roorkee) 

gnkathpalia@gmail.com | +91-9811150072 

Khanna, Ashu 


ashukfpt@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 9710543454 

Kumar, Vivek 


B.E. (Pulp & Paper, University of Roorkee), M.E. ( Industrial Pollution Abatement, University of 

Roorkee), Ph.D.(Waste Management for small scale Pulp and Paper Industry, IIT Delhi) 

vivekfpt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9412619735 

Murali Prasad, P 

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur 

M.A. (Economics, S.V. University, Tirupati); M.Phil (Economics, S.V. University, Tirupati); Ph.D. 

(Economics, University of Hyderabad) 

pmprasad@iitk.ac.in | +91-9936335592 

Narayanan, N C 

CTARA, IIT Bombay 

M.Sc. (Geology, University of Kerala); M.Phil (Applied Economics, JNU); Ph.D. (Development 

Studies, Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands) 

ncn@iitb.ac.in | +91-9869659510 

Rangnekar, Santosh N 

Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee 

LL.B., M.B.A. (Human Rescores Management), Ph.D., PGDPM & IR 

snrgnfdm@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9420543454 

Shankar, Uday 


LLB (University of Delhi); LLM (University of Delhi); Ph.D. (University of Delhi) 

uday@rgsoipl.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9475884472 

92

Singh, S P 


M.A. (Economics, Meerut University), M.Phil. (Economics, Meerut University)Ph.D. Economics, 

CCS University Meerut) 

singhfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9837714002 

Tyagi, Paritosh 

IDC Foundation; Former Chairman, CPCB 

B.E. (Civil, IIT Roorkee); M.E. (Public Health Engineering, AIIPHE); Ph.D. 

paritoshtyagi@gmail.com | +91-9810823131 

Wagle, Subodh 

CTARA, IIT Bombay and Trustee, Prayas 

B.Tech (Mechanical, IIT Bombay); Ph.D. (Public Policy, University of Delaware, USA) 

subodh@prayaspune.org | +91-9922286682 

Theme VII: Geo-spatial Database Management 

Bellur, Umesh 

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay 

B.E. (Electronics, Bangalore University); Ph.D. (Computer Engineering, Syracuse University, USA) 

umesh@it.iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767865 

Bhattacharya, Arnab 

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur 

B.E. (Computer Science and Engineering, Jadavpur University); M.S. (Computer Science, 

University of California, USA); Ph.D. (Computer Science, University of California, USA) 

arnabb@iitk.ac.in | +91-9793487116 

Bhushan, Alka 


B.E. (Computer Science, Ch. Charan Singh Univ., Meerut); M.Tech (Computer Science and 

Engineering, IIT Guwahati); Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Guwahati) 

abhushan@iitb.ac.in | +91- 22-25764920 






93

Dikshit, Onkar 


B.Tech (Civil Engineering, University of Roorkee, Roorkee); M.Tech (Remote Sensing and 

Photogrammetry, Civil Engineering, University of Roorkee, Roorkee); Ph.D. (Remote Sensing, 

University of Cambridge, UK) 

onkar@iitk.ac.in | +91-9450346572 





Karnick, Harish 


B.Tech (Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay); M.Tech (Nuclear Engineering and Technology, IIT 

Kanpur); Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur). 

hk@iitk.ac.in | +91-9307324012 

Lohani, Bharat 


B.E. (Civil, MMMEC, Gorakhpur); M.E. (Remote Sensing & Photogrammetric Engineering, 

University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Remote Sensing & Environmental Science, ESSC, The University of 

Reading, UK) 

blohani@iitk.ac.in | +91-9450346658 




IIT Bombay) 


Prabhakar, T V 


B. Tech (Electrical, REC Warangal); M. Tech (Electrical, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Computer Science, IIT 

Kanpur) 

tvp@iitk.ac.in | +91-9935148482 

Sarda, Nand Lal 


B.E. (Electrical, Nagpur University); M.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay); 

Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay) 

nls@cse.iitb.ac.in | +91-9820120045 

94

Sengupta, Smita 


M.A. (Geography, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Geography, Gujarat University) 

smitas@cse.iitb.ac.in | +91-9820430648 

Sinha, Rajiv 


M.Tech (Applied Geology, University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Fluvial Geomorphology and 

Sedimentology, University of Cambridge, UK) 

rsinha@iitk.ac.in | +91-9335558218 

Tare, Vinod 






Venkataramani, Krithika 


B.E. (Electronics and Communication, IIT Roorkee); M.S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering, 

Carnegie Mellon University, USA); Ph.D. (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon 


krithika@iitk.ac.in | +91-9532833382 

Theme VIII: Communication 

Bhattacharya, Arnab 


B.E. (Computer Science and Engineering, Jadavpur University); M.S. (Computer Science, 

University of California, USA); Ph.D. (Computer Science, University of California, USA) 

arnabb@iitk.ac.in | +91-9793487116 





Karnick, Harish 


B.Tech (Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay); M.Tech (Nuclear Engineering and Technology, IIT 

Kanpur); Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur). 

hk@iitk.ac.in | +91-9307324012 

95




IIT Bombay) 


Prabhakar, T V 


B.Tech (Electrical, REC Warangal); M.Tech (Electrical, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Computer Science, IIT 

Kanpur) 

tvp@iitk.ac.in | +91-9935148482 

Tare, Vinod 






Venkataramani, Krithika 


B.E. (Electronics and Communication, IIT Roorkee); M.S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering, 

Carnegie Mellon University, USA); Ph.D. (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon 


krithika@iitk.ac.in | +91-9532833382 

Project Implementation and Co-ordination 






Hait, Subrata 


B.E. (Civil, JGEC, North Bengal University); M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Bengal Engineering 

and Science University, Shibpur, West Bengal) 

subrata.hait@gmail.com | +91-9415511208 

Mishra, Rakesh Chandra 


M.A. (Economics, CSJM University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh) 

rmishraz@yahoo.com | +91-9935805656 

96




IIT Bombay) 


Tare, Vinod 






97

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