G L Khajuria
An eminent song ‘Ganga Tera Panni Amrit’ is quite often sung by all enthusiastically with reverence. Gone are the olden yet golden days of over-gone ages of pride India. The Ganga, the Yamuna and the Sarawati which confluence at ‘Sangam’ in Allahabad have mostly been piously revered over the years with much fan and fair. These rivers offshoot from greater Himalayas like Gangotri and Yamunatri glaciers, which form the part and parcel of our centuries – old heritage. Today, the purity and sanctity of these rivers have lost lustre in more than many ways. Similar is the situation elsewhere of Mahanadi, Godavri, Krishna,Kavari, Narvada and Tapti over Indian landscape. All these rivers have been very badly polluted owning to effluence, an outcome of industrial outlets and filth & faecal emanating from villages residing alongside these rivers.
Narendra Modi’s dream of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has, of course, yielded successful orientation to make India neat clean and green. Over the years, many missions with new names and fames have been earmarked to clean these rivers but all in unison have not yielded success- oriented results.
Talking of our own Tawi which is most oftenly nomenclaurised as ‘Surya Putri-‘ daughter of the sun is facing the same fate. Originating from Kalash Kund (Kalpash) in Bhadarwah, it serpentine flows down, passing through the foothills of Suez Dhar, Jakhed, Latti-Dhuna, Marothi, Koi and finally reaches the base of Sudh Mahadev also prominently called as Haridwar. It takes in her lap two prominent catchments: One, from North- West Yugdhar, Patangarh, Gharian and other from Patnitop, Nathatop, Kud, Chenani, Budhi-Sudi, Shiv GarhDhar and Gaurikund. All these catchments together with rivulets in amalgamation drain down into Tawi. The water though, of course, is moderately stable which lower down ahead when it reaches Nagrota. The river thus loses its pristine purity with its onwards flow upto Beli Charana. And, enroute, it encompasses all sort of filth and other quaqmire thereby making her filth-riddened. Owing to administrative apathy coupled with public unawareness and improper sensitization, from up and around Jammu. It still makes an addendum with multihued filth and looses this perennially flowing river a quagmire beyond description.
Pollution likewise in all other rivers has badly grabbed our attention like never before. It is, therefore, a biggest challenge of our own creation with no stretch of efforts to ensure easy cleansing. The amount of filth, sludge and effluents of multihued form is a herculean task to be tackled with by the Government, industrialists, locals and other stakeholders in unison. Though it is a long-term exercise involving adequate manpower and fundings, yet extra expertise has to be ensured in cleansing our pious rivers on all parameters. The central pollution control Board (CPCB) estimates that out of around 445 rivers flowing over Indian subcontinent, 275 have become completely polluted. And around 650 urban settlements alongside 302 rivers are discharging 62,000 million lts per day compared to 38,000 Million lts earlier. Over the past five years, the number of polluted rivers has almost doubled from 121 in 2009 to 275 ending year 2015 which is a matter of dubious distinction. The figures make dismaying and unimaginative.
If no practical and warranting measures are taken now, our rivers will be a subject of glaring quagmire scenario. Bathing of both humans and cattle, washing of laundry and immersion of dead bodies are other factors contributing filth to our pious rivers. Conclusively, therefore, it is the clarion call at this delicate dilemma to ensure cleansing operation in all our rivers to make them neat and clean. If not now, than never. Let us, therefore, join hands to make our rivers free from dirt, filth and a multitude of such things like quagmaric quote so that a pristine purity is regained otherwise it would amount to an addendum for a new history of filthy rivers. Let’s us unitedly endeavour with unfailing dedication and devotion so as to make rivers of our Mother India neat and clean.
(The author is former Deputy
Conservator of Forests, J&K).
