Rivers run through Indian history. On their banks cities have emerged and civilisation has flourished. However, population explosion and development needs have led to their overexploitation. Organic links between rivers, nature and people have been severed. Today, India faces a serious water crisis and remedial measures are of the utmost importance. Irrigation meets 80% of the demand. There is need to take steps to change crop patterns, curb wasteful practices and promote generation of renewable energy. The annual per capita water availability was 5,177 cubic metres in 1961 and it dropped to 1,545 cubic metres in 2011. According to the National Institute of Hydrology, India’s available per capita water was 938 cubic metres in 2010 but will be only 814 cubic metres by 2025.
One way of rejuvenating dying rivers is interlinking. That will transfer the surplus of one river to another. The government has undertaken engineering projects for the purpose. The results are dubious. The Rs 18,000 crore Ken-Betwa interlinking projects can destroy 10,000 hectares of forests. Forests are very important catchment areas for rain-fed rivers. The Rally for Rivers campaign envisages that a one km wide belt along river banks can be reserved for creating tree cover. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act will ensure Rs 6,000 crore is made available annually to state governments. Rs 42,000 crore now remain unutilised with the Centre. The money can be spent to expand tree cover with environmental benefits. Pollution by industrial effluence, municipal waste and generation of thermal energy has to be mitigated. The Centre’s Namo Ganga Project may go a long way in resolving the water crisis.
