Crisis in our backyard - The disappearing Ganga

By Abhishek Joshi:Circa 1839. Professor V.T Kautle, Secretary to the imperial British government decided to conduct a study and survey of the river Ganga to harness the captive energy of the river water by making recommendations of construction of the 1st dam under Ganga Canal Project. The survey and study got concluded in 1854 and lower Ganga developmental project commenced.
In 1914 under the leadership of Pt. Madan Mohan Malviye (Mahamana) Hindu organizations convened at Haridwar to lodge their unequivocal protest against any activity which could possibly disturb the free flow of Holy Ganga as revered by thousands of its devotee’s and to whom Ganga is no less ordinary river, considered as mother being part of their entrenched religious faith. Due to this overwhelming protest the British government brokered peace and a treaty to this effect was jointly signed by Mahamana & then United Provinces, provincial Secretary, Lt. Governor Maston in 1914.
Under this Ganga Treaty the imperial government agreed the free flow of river Ganga would not be checked by any construction which comprises the sanctity of the river water and its free natural flow and breaches the faith of thousands of Hindu’s through any material construction activity. It also agreed that if any future developmental activity is planned, it would not be carried unless the Hindu organizations, associations are prior consulted by the Govt.Circa 2009. An agreement which knuckled down the British government by Mahamana to protect the living symbol of Indian civilization, a rich heritage and handed down through ages having found numerous mention in our Veda’s and religious scriptures, a river which has an indispensable portion of its presence for umpteen devotee’s, a must in ritual ceremonies from “upnayan to dah sanskar”, has been forgotten by none other than our own Indian government and its “Indian” rulers. A treaty which drew respect from the imperial rulers has been trashed perhaps drowned in their own personal salvation of greed, money, allurement of comprising the faith of tens of crores of Hindu’s over millennia by ignoring the facts of ecological sustenance or cultural heritage.The controversial Tehri dam which itself had seen significant protest in the past, saw the judiciary intervening to clear the project in 2002, being commissioned in 2005 continues to remain controversial by the captive hydro electric generation projections under the planned Mw of electricity Vs actual generated electricity. The desire to be a surplus electric state, interfering with the ecological sustenance of the river basin (one of the most highly fertile basins in the world) is being compromised. Close to 20 different constructions of dams of medium capacity 1 Mw to 500 Mw projects are various planning stages (saving technical details)The stretch of Ganga from her origin in Gaumukh, reaching Gangotri & finally to Uttarkashi is the perhaps most important stretch of the river as it’s the region of her origin and hence any ecological tampering would ripple this effect to the entire river and its flow right to the ocean. From Gangotri to Uttarkashi where the river should be left free to maintain its natural flow and where the river is utmost sensitive over just 14 kms of stretch following projects are under planning:: Bharion Ghati 1 & 2, temporarily suspended: Lohari Nag Pala (was under construction, now temporarily suspended due to various social agitations lead by Sh. K. N Govindacharya and fast unto death by noted environmentalist septuagenarian, Sh. G.D. Agarwal) last year: Pala Maneri, temporarily suspended (included twp projects which got suspended as result of above mentioned agitations: Maneri Bhala 1 - Constructed in 1960’s: Maneri Bhala 2 – Finished in 2008

Being consecutive in nature, Ganga is forced through tunnels from bhairon ghati onwards causing disappearance of the river from its original course. Since this actually would link the mega power project of Tehri Dam, due to continuously being forced in & out of the tunnels not withstanding the dry parched original course, lost flora & fauna, environmental pollution, since the debris is again thrown back alongside the river water bed resulting in river pollution has resulted in Ganga not even present from Gangotri to Rishikesh denying the religious rights of countless of devotee’s as well in the process to not worship the holy river.Environmental or cultural, the agitational reason could be different but the resultative impact remains the same, Ganga ji is disappearing fast right from its origin and on its way. The environmental impact is such steep that the sensitive Gangotri valley is now prone to land slides due to heavy constructions and disturbance of the ecology by virtual making of man made disasters a reality of having seen major debris blocking the course of the river with tons of debris being absorbed by the river bed and settling. The self purification process of the Ganga river water through self purifying microbes are being destroyed in the process as well, a fact which has been scientifically proven and an ability of the water to remain purified through long time of preservation.The ecological and environmental impact is more severe due to loss of farmer produce alongside its banks by river now in tunnels and actual course being dry have resulted in loss of profession for most of the farmers, this when they once were the proud owners of tillable land alongside world’s most fertile basin. Not to be left behind adding their irony the constant fear of cracks being developed in their homes due to blasts for aiding construction, fear of landslides due to rains, debris being strewn in open due to heavy construction, specially in Lohari Nag Pala project as begin observed recently. The region not to mention is in seismic zone -5 making it one of the most risky areas with high possibilities of earthquakes, hence making this all seem unviable in comparison of the cost of generating and being called electric surplus state.The villages have seen dry spell of thirst due to continuous depletion of ground water and felling of tree’s right staying next on the banks of the river for potable drinking water..!!!!!!!Last but not the least, one of the fastest retreating glaciers in the world is again the Gangotri glacier as confirmed by various environmental experts and glaciologist.Where are we now, if someone ask despite 2 major projects being temporarily suspended and the river being declared as our “National River” (if you were not aware..!!) by Hon, Prime Minister last year.We are where we were at the start of 1914. The characters have replaced Mahamana but the struggle has not. Prof. G. D Agarwal had since then been on fast again to writ submit his petition of no action to be seen from the govt against his & other associations, namely Ganga Mahasabha, Matu Sangthan, Rashtriya Swabhiman Andolan demands to maintain the free flow of the river at the stretch. Prof. G. D Agarwal, a septuagenarian would again be in a fast unto death in August 1st week this year to press for all of their demands to restore the ecological, cultural heritage of River Ganga to its original form.All for people like you & me, for our generations to hold the river water & in our palms, pray “sur-sari” Ganga mayya to bless us by allowing us to take dip in its waters the most pious dip of all to wash away our sins by counting on the blessings on us and our families

Prof. G.D.Agarwal fast-unto-death since July 20, 2010

Prof. G.D.Agarwal fast-unto-death since July 20, 2010 A 77-year-old former Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) professor who has been on fast-unto-death in Haridwar since July 20, 2010 in protest against the hydropower project on Bhagirathi, the volunteers of Ganga Mahasabha staged a dharna on Manikarnika Ghat on Saturday. "We extend our support to Agrawal's agitation to stop the Loharinag-Pala hydropower project," said Ganga Mahasabha general secretary Acharya Jitendra, while addressing the gathering. He said it was a conspiracy to kill the holy river by passing it through 18-km-long tunnel. The other speakers, including Vishwanath Dubey and Anurag Pathak, called upon people to fight against the assassination of the Ganga in the name of development.