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

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
3. Kaveri depleted so severely that in 2017, Tamil Nadu suffered
its worst drought in 140 years. 34 Compared to ten years
ago, Tamil Nadu’s reservoir levels have fallen by 49%, and
Karnataka’s have fallen by 30% 35 .The evergreen forest in the
Kaveri catchment area has decreased by 35% between 1977 and
1997. 36
4. Krishna’s observed runoff to the ocean fell from a preirrigation
development average of 57 billion cubic meters a year
(bcm/yr) in 1901-1960, to less than 21 bcm/yr in 1990-2000
and even more strikingly to 0.75 bcm in 2001-2004 during an
extended period of low rainfall 37 .
5. Rivers of Uttarakhand: In the last fifty years, more than
half the rivers of Kumaon region have dried up and have now
become rain-fed rivers. 50 years ago, Almora district had a river
length of 1639 km which has now been decreased 50% to just
810 km. Scientists believe that without remedial steps, rivers
like Gagas, Kosi, Ramganga, Panar, etc. will completely dry up
in the next fifteen years. 38
6. Godavari, the second largest river in the country that waters
three states – Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh –
ran dry at Nashik in 2016 for the first time in 139 years. 39
One who sincerely wants to work towards resolving this situation
feels confused about where to start. How do we go about revitalizing
our rivers?
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