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

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

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

What is desirable at the national level is a holistic policy framework,<br />

focus<strong>in</strong>g on river bas<strong>in</strong> management that comb<strong>in</strong>es not only abatement<br />

<strong>of</strong> pollution and conservation but also ensures susta<strong>in</strong>able livelihoods for<br />

the river<strong>in</strong>e communities. Dy<strong>in</strong>g rivers are only go<strong>in</strong>g to aggravate the<br />

water security issues this explosion <strong>of</strong> population will cause.<br />

FIFTH KNOT – POLLUTION AND OTHER FORMS OF RIVER<br />

EXPLOITATION<br />

When one talks about river revitalization, most people focus on the<br />

pollution <strong>of</strong> rivers. It is true that pollution is one the major reasons why<br />

life <strong>in</strong> and around rivers are perish<strong>in</strong>g. Based on the long term assessment<br />

<strong>of</strong> water quality data, 275 rivers out <strong>of</strong> 445 rivers monitored under<br />

National Water Monitor<strong>in</strong>g Programme are identified as polluted. 53<br />

The sources <strong>of</strong> pollution to a river are: domestic sewage from urban<br />

and rural areas, non-sewage dra<strong>in</strong>ages, wastewater from agricultural<br />

facilities, and <strong>in</strong>dustrial wastewater / effluents. Wastewater generation<br />

is proportional to the amount <strong>of</strong> water consumed. Out <strong>of</strong> the total<br />

freshwater used <strong>in</strong> <strong>India</strong>, irrigation accounts for nearly 78%, followed<br />

FIGURE 3: USE OF INORGANIC FERTILIZER OVER THE YEARS<br />

Thousand Tonnes<br />

30000<br />

25000<br />

20000<br />

10000<br />

5000<br />

0<br />

1950-51<br />

1955-56<br />

1960-61<br />

1965-66<br />

1970-71<br />

1975-76<br />

1980-81<br />

1985-86<br />

1986-87<br />

1987-88<br />

1988-89<br />

1989-90<br />

1990-91<br />

1991-92<br />

1992-93<br />

1993-94<br />

1994-95<br />

1995-96<br />

1996-97<br />

1997-98<br />

1998-99<br />

1999-2000<br />

2000-01<br />

2001-02<br />

2002-03<br />

2003-04<br />

2004-05<br />

2005-06<br />

2006-07<br />

2007-08<br />

2008-09<br />

2009-10<br />

2010-11<br />

2011-12<br />

2012-13<br />

2013-14<br />

Year<br />

61

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