Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
2. THE OVER-ARCHING IDEA OF RIVERSIDE AFFORESTATION
Revitalization of dying rivers is possible through riverside
afforestation. The proposed solution and policy recommendation is to
develop tree cover by planting trees for a minimum of 1 kilometer-width
along the entire river’s length on either side of the river. All public land
beside the river should be converted entirely into forest with native and
endemic tree species. In riverside farmlands, there should be a multitier
tree-based agriculture practiced for a minimum width of 1 kilometer
on either sides of the river. The agro-forestry in riverside farmlands is
suggested to encompass as a whole all villages that fall within the target
area, i.e. the minimum 1-kilometer lateral distance from the river. This
will ensure that a village functions as the unit of operation, thus applying
the 73 rd Amendment of the Constitution that empowers the village
panchayat as the most decentralized unit of self-governance.
Figure 1 illustrates how the proposed solution will translate into
increased water flow in the rivers.
Throughfall
Unsaturated Zone
DRAFT
Ground water
recharge
Evaporation
Percolation
Percipitation
Interception
Transpiration
Saturated
Zone
Ground water
FIGURE 1: PHYSICAL PROCESS THROUGH WHICH TREES CONTRIBUTE TO
INCREASED RUNOFF AND BASE FLOW IN RIVERS
13