Rivers - Explore

The Basics

Take Action

River pollution

• The pollution of rivers features prominently on the environmental agenda worldwide. In India, the rising pollution levels of River Yamuna have been a cause for concern for the authorities, the environmentalists and the civil society. Several campaigns to clean the Yamuna have been launched but there is still a long way to go. The context of river Yamuna is applicable to many other Indian rivers as well.  How do rivers get polluted and what are its repercussions? How does the civil society get involved? Read this informative document, titled Sewage Canal, How to Clean the Yamuna, by Centre for Science and Environment. Click Here
  

Controversy

• Probably no other river has been at the centre of controversy as much as River Narmada. The proposed plan for developing River Narmada mooted the building of 30 major dams, about 135 medium dams and over 3 minor dams. The Sardar Sarovar Project, which was among the major dams, raised several questions about its benefits and the rehabilitation packages for the people displaced by it. Wikipedia provides an overview of the geology related to Narmada river, as well as information related to its religious significance, forests and sanctuaries, and anthropolical sites. It also provides information on how the Narmada River Development project evolved since its inception. Click Here

• In many ways, the Polavaram project is the Narmada of south India. Godavari’s waters were needed by the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and the Polavaram Project was conceived to meet the purpose. A conflict arose on the issue of human re-settlement. Click Here

Conflicts over rivers sharing

• Any conflict over sharing of water of rivers is often a complex and a long drawn one. States and various parties battle it out in the forms of citizen protests and litigation. The conflict over sharing of the Beas, Ravi and Sutlet waters began almost four decades ago and still finds itself in a deadlock. Amidst all this, who are the ones to bear the brunt of water conflicts? Click Here

• There are various riverine  schemes on Tungabhadra , a major tributary of Krishna river. This includes mini-hydel projects, lift irrigation projects. In the larger context, what are the economic, political and technical compulsions of operating or maintaining various riverine schemes? A comprehensive paper by Chitra Krishnan, supported by Knowledge in Civil Society provides an understanding of related issues through the Tungabhadra experience. Click Here

• A river basin (or 'catchment') is the entire area drained by a river, including its tributaries. An integrated river basin management programme is one of the approaches to conserving the world's freshwater resources. To learn more, read the principles and case studies of river basin management programme from different parts of the world. The feature titled Integrated River Basin Management, developed by WWF presents a holistic approach that rests on the principle that naturally operational river basin ecosystems, that include wetlands and groundwater systems, are the source of freshwater. Click here