28.02.2018 Views

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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Revitalization</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> In <strong>India</strong><br />

<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> Recommendation<br />

FIGURE 1: DECREASING GROUNDWATER WELLS IN INDIA<br />

Forests created on the river banks with native and endemic species<br />

<strong>in</strong>crease the number <strong>of</strong> ra<strong>in</strong>y days, and <strong>in</strong>crease available run<strong>of</strong>f by<br />

extend<strong>in</strong>g the period <strong>of</strong> surface flow <strong>in</strong> the river. 42 The maximum flow<br />

dur<strong>in</strong>g floods is reduced and the lowest summer flow is <strong>in</strong>creased. 43 This<br />

benefit is lost with deforestation. Over 60-80 million hectares <strong>of</strong> denuded<br />

forest lands and wastelands across the country are unable to reta<strong>in</strong><br />

ra<strong>in</strong>water, which <strong>in</strong> turn would have ensured recharg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> groundwater<br />

and conservation <strong>of</strong> biodiversity. As a result, the rivers emerg<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

these mounta<strong>in</strong>s are unable to susta<strong>in</strong> the flow <strong>of</strong> water throughout the<br />

year. Heavy soil erosion has not only been caus<strong>in</strong>g floods but also forc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the rivers to change their courses. Such rivers will not be able to support<br />

agricultural production <strong>in</strong> the future. 44<br />

57

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!