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

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
will always have water to yield. Lately there has been attention on demand
management in order to increase the efficiency of water use through
pricing and technology. But demand management efforts have been
sporadic, and in practice, the supply-side focus has prevailed. We are now
realizing that water will not always be freely available in our rivers. It is
time for measures to augment inflows into our rivers.
CASE STUDIES ON REGULATORY REGIMES FOR RIVER
MANAGEMENT
In this section, we briefly examine successful river regulation
regimes outside India.
Most of the countries have set criteria for identifying their own
Wild and Scenic/ Heritage/Wild or National Rivers and have meticulously
classified activities that can take place in various stretches of these rivers.
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (1968): United States
The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by
Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) to preserve
certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values
in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future
generations. The Act is notable for safeguarding the special character of
these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for their appropriate use
and development. It encourages river management that crosses political
boundaries and promotes public participation in developing goals for river
protection. 11
Based on their characters, rivers are classified as Wild, Scenic
and Recreational, with varying management in each of the categories,
allowing for varying degrees of development along the river stretches.
Most importantly, the Act prohibits federal support for actions such as
the construction of dams or other in-stream activities that would harm
the river’s free-flowing condition, water quality, or outstanding resource
values. 12 On March 30, 2010, the U.S. Congress added 1,100 miles of rivers
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