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

Revitalization of Rivers In India
Draft Policy Recommendation
Due to the extraordinary characteristics of vetiver grass, it has found important
applications as a very simple, practical, inexpensive, low maintenance and very
effective bioengineering technique for steep slope stabilization, wastewater
disposal, phyto-remediation of contaminated land and water, and other
environmental protection purposes.
The South Indian species is also chosen due to propagation only by vegetative
means only; seeds are either not produced, or are not viable. When planted in
single rows vetiver plants will form a hedge which is very effective in slowing
and spreading run off water, reducing soil erosion, conserving soil moisture and
trapping sediment and farm chemicals on site.
Vetiver grass, due to its extraordinary and unique morphological and physiological
characteristics described in subsequent sections, is considered the best choice
for all of the above applications. In addition, the extremely deep and dense root
system of vetiver binds the soil and at the same time makes it very difficult for
it to be dislodged even under high velocity water flows. This very deep and fast
growing root system also makes vetiver very drought tolerant and highly suitable
for steep slope stabilization.
2. VETIVER AS A BIO-ENGINEERING TOOL – A BRIEF HISTORY
In the early part of last century the sugar industry had recognized the value of
Vetiver grass for conservation purpose and it was used in the West Indies and
South Africa for this purpose. Although the sugar industry has used Vetiver grass
as a vegetative soil conservation measure in isolated parts of the world for the past
50 years, it has gone unnoticed by researchers, even in the same countries. It has
been overlooked by lecturers and professors teaching soil conservation. Strangely,
it has never been a subject of any research. Yet for over 200 years, it has been used
by farmers in India as a permanent hedge. It has been free of problems and dense
enough to effectively filter silt out of runoff.
Vetiver grass has been used for soil and water conservation in agricultural lands
for many years but its related impact on land stabilization, soil erosion and
sediment control only started in the late 1980s following its promotion by the
World Bank.
In China its use has extended from agriculture to engineering and mechanical
Annexures
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