Non-forestry interventions like sewerage treatment plants (STPs) are very important and should be implemented concurrently with forestry intervention for cleaning the Ganga. The pilot project of forestry intervention for this should be implemented within the coming months without delay. Public awareness, public participation, planting of fruit trees, income generation activities etc. must be an integral part of the detailed project report, feel experts.
These views were expressed by experts on the concluding day of the two-day national meet on preparation of the DPR on forestry interventions for the Ganga at the Forest Research Institute (FRI).
Forest Department officers from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal made presentations on the forestry interventions conceptualised by them for maintaining an ecological flow in the Ganga. Uttarakhand State proposed forestry interventions on a larger part of the State for improving hydrological functions, besides addressing problems of forest fires, grazing, pollution caused by tourists and role of medicinal plants.
The model proposed by Uttar Pradesh focused on agroforestry based strategies and management of riparian zone of Ganga.
Bihar emphasised on development of wetlands, riverbank stabilisation, checking siltation in rivers, promoting aquatic biodiversity (especially turtles and dolphins) and addressing issues of uncontrolled riverbed mining.
Jharkhand suggested specific species of trees, shrubs and grasses for bioremediation measures, besides lac culture, fisheries and sericulture. West Bengal highlighted the need for collection of scientific data on rainfall, soil properties and river breadth which will serve as basis for the DPR.
The participants agreed that religious leaders can contribute considerably in sensitising the people for keeping Ganga clean. Apart from Ganga, it is necessary to provide interventions for its tributaries also. The quantity of water in Ganga has considerably reduced in large stretches due to canals and siltation. Increasing water flow in Ganga would also contribute to making Ganga water clean. Silt generated by road construction and hydroelectric projects on the mountains need to be properly managed to reduce problem of siltation in the rivers.
long-term hydrological studies on a large area of landscape should be carried out by National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, FRI, State Forest Departments and other institutions concerned. Government lands which are not under dispute could be utilised for carrying out forestry interventions immediately.
FRI Silviculture division head and project coordinator Kunal Satyarthi said that a meeting of conservators of forests/divisional forest officers handling areas on the banks of Ganga and its tributaries will be organised soon to work out the project in more detail.