Bringing all stakeholders together to clean Ganga

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Katrina Bell
6 years ago
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1 Bringing all stakeholders together to clean Ganga In olden days due to less population and less pollution, Offerings to river as a part of worship was considered as a way to tribute to rivers. Mostly Kings used to offer such prayers, However now a days issues are different. Clean water is the single most important building block of ecosystems around the world. It s also our most valuable resource; however, contamination of the world s waters leaves more than 2.5 billion people without access to sanitized water sources. Because global water conditions are declining, more people will soon have to rely on polluted water sources unless we make a concerted and dedicated effort to maintain clean our water supply and Rivers. - Yogesh Deshmukh

2 1. A government notice should be issued to Astrologers, Saints, Guruji to stop suggesting, to offer flowers, gulal, coconut, har, Plastic, coins, dead ashes, remains to river bodies. Instead only cheque or DD payment will be allowed on banks of the rivers in the temple. This money should be accountable and will be used for welfare and maintenance of river bodies. Our preachers need to be told about this. Close down all the shops which supply such items near the river bodies. Instead they can supply coconut trees. 2. Instead of offering coconut to river bodies, Temple/Local Govt Bodies should allocate land and allow worshipers to plant a coconut tree. Local Govt. or temple bodies can utilize this land for this purpose. This can be a great cultural shift and mass plantation on the banks of the rivers will possible. Also team of helpers alongside of river banks can help worshipers to plant a tree. These helper teams can also monitor the growth of the tree. This could be a huge employment generation from Himalayas to Kanyakumari. This also can be done in your own house. This will be great "Green Rivers" initiative. This way we will have to build nurseries to sale of coconut trees. This will increase the Farming output. Hence coconut will be ample in our country. That way we can drink coconut water for less than 5 Rs. and PEOPLE LEAVE PEPSI and COKE. Even we start huge exports of coconut based products after 5 years. After All it is called Kalpa vruksha Or else, one can plant medicinal plant along the riverside. This also can lead to building auryvedic research centers along riverside. We can promote our oldest institution called Gurukul parampara with gowshala along the riverside. Where from current know technologies to Advance Vedas can be taught. Instead of wasting milk on the banks of rivers, we can donate some money so that very same milk can be utilized for the needy.

3 3. Every riverside villages/ghats should have Digital contamination indicators board in native and English language as well as a Bottle of WATER to explain the pollution level in water to the people. By community "Jan Jagurti" movement we can explain the problems related to health due to this contaminated water, because we will consume the very same water and varieties of fish within. If contamination level crosses certain limit, then the AUTOMATICALLY water supply should be stopped to that village or city including farming. First local Govt bodies with community should resolve the problems in rivers and reduce the contamination and/or take major steps to reduce contamination and then automatically water supply will resume. People can understand this issue in this way only. These indicators should have, Water Temp. Acidification, Pathogenic organisms Like in Varansi there are 5+ checking point before we enter into the temple. However to go to ghats there are no functional check points to ensure no one carries flowers and other offerings to river bodies. This should be strictly implemented. (I completed Kashi Darshanam 10+ times) 5. There are several ways to remove existing pollution in river bodies, however if we do not stop future polluting elements, Even if we spend Billions It will not help. We are wasting our energy, money and valuable resources. 6. Plan to regulate and divert these water bodies for irrigation of our vast land, instead of sending it to oceans. I vision Ganga flowing from Himalayas to Kanyakumari, solving water problems of multiple states; this is a "Bhagirathi Prayatna". Like we acquire land for roads, industries etc. We may acquire land for development of canals, separate river paths to allow our rivers to flow. If we closely look at it, already we have Dry River bodies spread across our country. Our Ganga's water flow or most flood prone river bodies needs to divert

4 properly to these dry rivers so that it will start flowing in the direction which we wish to. As such we have drought in one area and floods are in another. It can be PHASEWISE LINKING Stop Idol immersion in water bodies. It is criminal. Or else, another way out is, Create idols based on water purifier elements, powders, which will be affordable and every one should immerse these idols in the water, that way water will start purification process. Use of POP should be banned. This should be government notice to all murtikars Under-water plantation for water purification can lead to water quick and massive scale. This will be natures self-protecting methods. This can be planned and planted near to Ghat. 9. During my visit to Shrsheshtra Narsorbachi wadi near Kolhapur MH, I saw Krishna River full of water without any flowers or offerings. When i discuss this matter with the Guruji, They told that they have a POWDER which they mix with Nirmalya and keep it for 1 year to make a good fertilizer for farms. We can utilize such experiences and experiments for Ganges benefits. 10. Like what we have Rain water harvesting for Homes, we can also have Rain water harvesting for our highways. On highways we can create rain water collection points and divert them to nearby lakes or rivers. This way burden on lone rivers can be reduced. 11. Provide a policy or framework to boost Recycling industries. Recycling items which can be and have properly disposing of items that cannot be recycled -- Keep them from making their way to rivers and oceans. Even cigarette butts

5 have a dramatic environmental effect when people drop them on the ground at a beach or riverside area. 12. Provide a policy or framework to boost Industry related to Disposing Hazardous material in India. Proper disposal of hazardous materials such as paints, motor oil and pharmaceuticals keeps them out of the water supply. We need to Inquire with our municipal center about chemical pickup or drop-off locations in our area. Govt. Of India and/or states within need to provide this facility or else it should a PPP effort. E.g. A2Z infrastructure 13. Do not allow stray dogs/pigs to drink the riverside water and banks of the rivers. All our animals swim, bath in the water which eventually we consume in various ways. Stray dogs/pigs issues need to take care differently by giving them proper shelter. 14. Again Every River needs to have a proper built in banks and EHS compliance. A strict EHS compliance needs to be implemented to safe guard our water bodies. All River bodies, Mainly Ganges needs to be insured under EHS insurance policy. After contamination all those who are living on banks of this river need to cough off the higher premium. 15. Irresponsible water usage can lead to droughts., Car washing, can be a good example. Create Car spas where with less water they can clean your car. Hence wherever possible reduce water use. 16. Keep the drainage system clean and closed. I have seen it all over India from LEH to Kanyakumari; this is not practiced at all. Underground drainage system is must to resolve most of our health related issues and it should lead to STP or treatment plants, not to water bodies. Heavy penalty needs to be implemented in case of any Violations. 17. Create a Govt. norm and policy to reuse the water in households, this way it will reduce burden on rivers, basic rainwater system channels water from gutters into a collection barrel. A gray-water system designed and installed by professionals recirculates water through your home in non-contaminating ways. For example, water used for showers or washing dishes would always be

6 fresh and clean, but after it has been used, it may be channeled to the toilet and flushed away. This should be linked with Health Insurance Company. Insurance company will ensure all above before giving insurance to Industries, households. Insurance company can increase the premium if these things are not maintained by the owners. This is widely being used in developed countries. 18. Stop bathing in rivers with soap. This is a horrifying sight to see. This not only contaminates water but also pass possible skin deceases from one person to other. 19. Encourage Public participation in Clean-up efforts for Ganga and other river bodies. Take part in local clean-up days to help keep trash out of the water. Clean up litter along a river, stream or beach, or along city streets or highways. If you have children, use this opportunity to teach them how litter thrown into the street can eventually reach the ocean. Better yet, organize a clean-up day for a school or temples group so everyone can work and learn together 20. Keep our wetlands intact and safe. e.g. Forests. Wetlands act as a natural filter that keeps chemicals, other toxins away from water systems. Aforesaid Coconut farming near the river bodies or near to water streams can help to keep waterways clean. 21. Govt. Of India and/or states within required framing water quality standards at par with international water quality guidelines. This also required to be funded efforts. A special fund needs to be created called as Water Quality fund. 22. I donot understand why would there be cementation on the bank of Ganges. There should be compromise between ASTHA and Arogya. This can be resolved by Govt. Intervention only.

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