LIVING RIVERS - Columns | Civil Society

LIVING RIVERS / VENKATESH DUTTA

Small rivers, big warning

VENKATESH DUTTA

Over the past weeks, we surveyed six tributaries of the Gomti river — Mala, Kathina, Bhainsi, Sarayan, Sai and Behta — across Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur and Hardoi districts. These lesser-known alluvial streams are sustained by groundwater and rainfall. We first surveyed these rivers 15 years ago in March

Indore in troubled waters

VENKATESH DUTTA

The recent water contamination crisis in Indore has damaged its reputation as India’s cleanest city. At least 15 deaths are linked to consuming contaminated drinking water in just over two weeks, while local media reported 21 deaths. The laboratory tests confirmed faecal contamination in the municipal water supply, including bacteria

In a fragile Sundarbans

VENKATESH DUTTA

The Sundarbans, located in the Ganga delta across India and Bangladesh, is the world’s largest mangrove forest. The forest covers over 10,000 sq. km of which about 60 percent is in Bangladesh and the remainder in India. The word Sundarbans comes from ‘Sundari’ which is the local name of the

Clock ticks for Gomti

VENKATESH DUTTA

Right through the heart of Lucknow, the Gomti river once flowed like a living artery — nourishing farms, recharging water reserves and shaping the cultural and ecological identity of the region, without any obstruction. Today, that river is suffocated under the heavy weight of development. What has happened to the

The Indus conflict

VENKATESH DUTTA

The bilateral agreement for sharing of the waters of the Indus between India and Pakistan has survived wars and periods of high tension over more than six decades. It has been regarded as one of the most successful water apportioning arrangements in the world, but no longer, having been suspended

Drowning in sin

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE Ganga basin is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is beyond belief that over 500 million people took a dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna in Prayagraj in a span of just 45 days! Nowhere else on Earth does such a

Fish in troubled waters

VENKATESH DUTTA

A river has a unique connection with gastronomy, culture, and diplomacy. Hilsa or ilish macch is not only a cherished delicacy but also a symbol of auspiciousness and fortune. When the river has an abundance of native fish like hilsa, the river is considered to be in good health. Durga Puja often

When rivers break free

VENKATESH DUTTA

LAST month in Bihar many rivers swelled, spilling onto floodplains and inundating farms, settlements and roads, and displacing more than two million people. Due to very heavy rains between September 27 and 28 in Nepal, a high volume of water suddenly entered the Kosi, Gandak, and Bagmati rivers on September

Land grab on the banks

VENKATESH DUTTA

OVER the past two years, I have had the opportunity to meet with district magistrates (DMs) and chief development officers (CDOs) across 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh (UP), namely, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Lucknow, Hardoi, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Bahraich, Gonda and Mau. These meetings often culminated in day-long workshops on

Floodplains belong to rivers

VENKATESH DUTTA

A river requires sufficient space to carry out its diverse functions. This space is delineated by the river itself, carving out the river valley and the active floodplain over thousands of years, each serving distinct purposes. There is a topographic depression along the course of the river — the river

Cruising on troubled waters

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE world’s longest river cruise, Ganga Vilas, that was flagged off in 2023, covers five states in India and Bangladesh and spans 27 river systems which are part of the Ganga basin. The luxurious cruise, like a floating hotel, is expensive — costing Rs 50-55 lakh per person. Obviously, it is beyond the

Bringing back wildlife

VENKATESH DUTTA

SANCTUARIES inside rivers? Yes. There are several stretches of rivers that have been declared protected areas under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. These river stretches are special in many ways — they are known to protect and shelter many iconic species such as dolphins, gharials, otters and turtles. Chambal, once

A force for the river

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE Ganga Task Force (GTF) was stationed along the banks of the Ganga with the objective of preventing pollution from both industries and citizens. The GTF is a specialized unit of the Territorial Army established under the public participation component of the Namami Gange programme. The GTF conducts routine patrols

A river has the right to life

VENKATESH DUTTA

DESPITE our professed love for rivers and water bodies, our actions have inflicted deeper injuries on their wholesome existence. The rights of rivers and the representation of their interests when they are threatened are often ignored. Rivers, as essential components of our ecosystems, face significant challenges and suffering due to

Delhi’s water footprint

VENKATESH DUTTA

MOST of the water consumed in Delhi is not of its own. Delhi’s water reflects a strange mix of power, politics and money. The national capital is heavily dependent on external water sources to meet its ever-rising demand. At present, Delhi is grappling with a deficit of about 400 million

Wrecked rivers hit back

VENKATESH DUTTA

OVER the past two months, there has been a series of natural disasters including flash floods, thunderstorms, cloudbursts, landslides, and road collapses in various parts of northern India. Despite having access to advanced weather forecasting technology, it seems we are inadequately equipped to effectively address the situation on the ground.

Highways vs rivers

VENKATESH DUTTA

When highways get built, they traverse many water bodies which feed rivers and streams and may in fact be more important than roads for the prosperity and well-being of a region, especially in drought-prone areas. Highways of course play a crucial role in facilitating transportation and fostering economic activities, but

Yamuna is a little bit cleaner

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE Yamuna river is showing some signs of improvement in its water quality. The levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD) in the Najafgarh drain evidenced a notable reduction of 33 percent, compared to the previous year, in May 2023. A lower BOD level signifies a decrease in organic pollutants and

Riverfronts kill rivers

VENKATESH DUTTA

RECENTLY, over 2,000 citizens participated in a unique protest along the banks of the Mula-Mutha river in Pune by hugging trees — just like the 1973 Chipko movement to save trees in the Garhwal Himalayas. Here, the protest was aimed at opposing the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)’s ambitious riverfront development

Map and save water bodies

VENKATESH DUTTA

A few months ago, I travelled to Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh to carry out a mapping and surveying project of the rivers and water bodies in the area. This district boasts the highest number of water bodies in the state, comprising almost 12 percent of the district’s total geographical

How cities swallow rivers

VENKATESH DUTTA

While working on the older Corona satellite pictures of Lucknow, I was impressed by the number of rivers that the city used to have in the early 1970s. A large network of streams is visible in satellite pictures connected with the Gomti river. There are big ponds — sometimes more than

Floods now on climate agenda

VENKATESH DUTTA

MORE and more towns and cities across the world are facing the threat of extreme flooding. Climate change is increasingly being held responsible for the rise of such extreme weather events. The connection between global warming and floods is clear. A warmer atmosphere is capable of holding and subsequently releasing

Bring back wild and scenic rivers

VENKATESH DUTTA

IN my city I often search for a spot by the side of the Gomti river which looks somewhat wild and scenic. My quest has been futile. Fifteen years ago, I discovered a small stretch, almost 30 km from my home, where I could sit peacefully, reflect and spot fish.

Dense city, dense flooding

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE rain in September and October with unexpected, powerful cloudbursts, and the phasing out of the monsoon was unusual on many counts this year. The monsoon rain, which is usually spread over four months, was replaced with intense and short episodes of heavy downpour. Scenes from the RBD layout on

River as a person with rights

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE idea of endowing legal rights on non-humans and entities with constitutional protections is not new. Local grassroots movements in India, such as Chipko, have campaigned in the past to include the rights of forests to exist and thrive in our forest policies. The method has lately been used with

Rivers need groundwater

VENKATESH DUTTA

THE Ganga basin, the world’s most densely irrigated area, is a global hotspot of groundwater depletion. The five states through which the Ganga flows account for almost 40 percent of India’s total cultivated land. The basin has 360,000 square km of irrigated land or around 57 percent of India’s total