The outlay of Rs2037 crore for the integrated Ganga conservation mission - Namami Gange and decision to establish a National Centre for Himalayan Studies in Uttarakhand announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget have evoked mixed responses from environmentalists in Uttarakhand. Apart from Namami Gange mission, Jaitley has announced Rs100 crore for beautification of river ghats at Kedarnath, Haridwar and other places in the nation. While some state that these decisions will at least provide a platform for debate on the conservation of Himalayas, rivers and environment, others state that the State where the Ganga originates, Uttarakhand, is being ignored and that these decisions will achieve only cosmetic changes unless public involvement is ensured and the system of executing the plans is changed into an efficient system. Some have also opined that execution of these nnouncements would facilitate the commercial use of the Ganga in the name of its conservation.
According to environmentalist and the founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) Anil Joshi, Before making provision for a National Centre for Himalayan Studies, the Government should review the performance of the various existing institutes dedicated to the Himalayas and close these down if they have failed to deliver. “How this national centre be different from the existing institutes — we don’t know so at present we can only wait and watch. The Ganga catchment area — a considerable proportion of which is in Uttarakhand — should receive more serious focus instead of the beautification of river ghats. While Governments change, the machinery which executes Government decisions remains the same; so this mechanism needs to be improved,” he said.
Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan said, “There are hundreds of reports on the state of the Himalayas and rivers but none of them have been complied with. It is immaterial to talk of a pure, free flowing and perennial Ganga without focusing on the biodiversity, ecology, catchment area and existing constructions including dams in Uttarakhand where the Ganga originates. The announcements made in the Union Budget appear to be aimed at facilitating the commercial use of the Ganga in the name of its conservation,” he opined.
Suresh Bhai of Uttarakhand Nadi Bachao Abhiyan said that the execution of announcements in the budget would at least provide a platform for various environmental and riverine issues to be raised. “Ensuring participation of the public is vital for successful implementation of these decisions.
Uttarakhand- where the Ganga originates, cannot be ignored just like its tributaries and other rivers like Alaknanda, Pinder and Mandakini cannot be ignored. About 860 lakh litres of raw sewage is dumped into the Ganga daily in Uttarakhand apart from 80 tonnes of garbage dumped daily. The contamination of Ganga begins in Uttarkashi district where it originates with 42 lakh litres of raw sewage being dumped every day into the Bhagirathi in this district alone,” he added.