In a joint statement after two days virtual dialogue on the World Rivers Day on September 27, the Mahanadi Banchao Jivika Banchao Aviyan, Odisha-Chattisgarh, Zilla Banchao Sangharsha Mircha, Raigarh, Chattisgarh, Nadi Banchao Jivan Banchao Andolan, Kolkata, Gamga Bamchao Aviyan, Lok Mukti Sangathan, Odisha Ganatantrika Samukshya, South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers & People (SANDRP), Focus Odisha Foundation and several other organisations from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttakhand, Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have urged the Government to bring a national legislation for management, conservation, protection and rejuvenation of river basins in the country. The organisations also demanded for ensuring free flowing rivers to maintain ecological diversity.
While speaking at the virtual event, convenor of SANDRP and eminent scholar Himanshu Thakkar highlighted how the National Water Policy is trivialised as river policy, where rivers are indispensable for human life and our biodiversity.Thakkar further added that rivers are being encroached, obstructed and polluted; that's why many rivers are dying naturally.
River activist and Pune based prominent researcher Shrishtee Bajapai in her presentation said while de-commissioning of dams are happening world over, we in India are opting for more dams, thereby damaging ecological character of rivers.
Former IIM Bangalore Professor and Ganga campaigner Dr Bharat Jhunjhulwal stressed the need for framing a river management policy and solution of both inter-State and trans-boundary river issues at the earliest.
River scientist Supratim Karmakar highlighted how frequent natural disasters were harming the river-ecosystem in the Mahanadi, the Sunarnarekha, the Ganges and Sundarban delta and in turn, threatening livelihoods of millions. Director of Focus Odisha Foundation Sudarshan Chhotoray in his keynote presentation spoke how people in Mahanadi river system especially farmers,
fishermen and artisan communities belonging to both Chattisgarh and Odisha were living with uncertainty over construction of barrages in upstream of Hirakud and lifting of Mahanadi waters for industrial purposes and discharge of both municipal and industrial wastes.
