Skip to main content

As Narmada flows "backwards", sea water intrudes 72 km in the river, destroying farms, fish catch: Petition to NGT

Counterview Desk
“Failure” to maintain what is called “environmental flow” in the downstream of Narmada river is leading a major ecological disaster in South Gujarat, with salinity ingress affecting the river till about 72 km upstream of mouth of the river in Gulf of Khambhat. A petition filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has estimated that the failure has resulted in tidal effects being felt 100 km upstream.
Pointing out that “reduced flows in Narmada have caused salinity” along the Narmada river, destroying agricultural lands, the petition, filed Jayesh Rathi of the Narmada Pradushan Nivaran Samiti, a local environmental group, and the Bharuch Citizens’ Council, has said that “Narmada River at present literally flows backwards during the tides in the dry season, transferring salt and pollution from industries in Bharuch upstream.”
Citing studies, the petition says, biologists, fisheries experts and hydro-ecologists have noted “serious impact of the reduction in the freshwater flow in the downstream of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam”, situated about 110 km from the Narmada river’s mouth. It has already led to hydro-ecology of the Narmada Estuary and reduced the fish catch.
“Reduced or no freshwater flow from the impounded structure, the SSD built on the Narmada system in Gujarat has caused detrimental and irreversible damage to the Narmada estuary, severely damaging the livelihoods of thousands of fisher folk families directly dependent on fish resources of the river ecosystem.”, it says.
Citing a report prepared by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, Kolkata, the petition says, the study identifies the essence of immediate remedial measure for the emerging environmental scenario in terms of making provision for the required “environmental flows” and zero effluents discharge for ensuring the ecological integrity in the downstream.
The petition says, there is “consistent negligence” to ensure minimum downstream flow from the Sardar Sarovar Dam, led to permanent and detrimental changes in the downstream hydro-ecology leading to habitat destruction, increased soil salinity in the agricultural lands, groundwater contamination and changes in the overall environment.
It recalls, “During the summer of 2016, the water flow in the downstream of Narmada in the Bharuch district reduced to extreme minimum, raising concern and alarm among all the stakeholders directly dependent on the ecological flow of the river”, the study says, adding, “ The same in the current year has aggravated to a phenomenal level unheard of.”
Pointing out that chemical, pharmaceutical, dye, dye intermediaries, petro products and fertilizer industries contribute “significantly” towards water pollution, the petition says, all of this
“concentrated around the Narmada estuary in the Bharuch district. “The release of untreated effluents into the estuary has had severe detrimental impacts on the hydro-ecology of the area”, it adds.
“Partially treated or untreated toxic industrial and chemical effluents from other industrial zones along the estuary, especially from Ankleshwar, Jhagadia and Panoli Industrial estates are being dumped into the Narmada estuarine area”, the petition alleges.
This, the petition says, has happened despite the fact “all efforts have been made to bring the severe deterioration of downstream environment of the Narmada Basin to the notice of the authorities”. It adds, “No action has been taken to address the issues by ensuring additional flows.”
“In view of these facts”, the petition insists, “The NGT should direct the Narmada Control Authority (NCA) and the “ministry of water resources and the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Dam Ltd to make urgent provision for the release of 1500 cusecs from the Sardar Sarover dam for downstream purpose, on a daily basis”, the petition says.
At the same time, it wants “an independent assessment by expert body/committee to assess the environment flow required in the Narmada river in different seasons to ensure that the river continues to provide the environmental, social, economic, livelihood and cultural services in the downstream of SSD.”

Comments

TRENDING

Avoidable Narmada floods: Modi birthday fete caused long wait for release of dam waters

Counterview Desk  Top advocacy group, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), has accused the Sardar Sarovar dam operators for once again acting in an "unaccountable" manner, bringing "avoidable floods in downstream Gujarat."  In a detailed analysis, SANDRP has said that the water level at the Golden Bridge in Bharuch approached the highest flood level on September 17, 2023, but these "could have been significantly lower and much less disastrous" both for the upstream and downstream areas of the dam, if the authorities had taken action earlier based on available actionable information.

From 'Naatu-Naatu' to 'Nipah-Nipah': Dancing to the tune of western pipers?

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD*  Some critics have commented that the ecstatic response of most Indians to the Oscar for the racy Indian song, “Naatu-Naatu” from the film, “RRR” reeks of sheer racism, insulting visuals and a colonial hangover. It was perhaps these ingredients that impressed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, one critic says.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Biden urged to warn Modi: US can declare India as worst religious freedom offender

By Our Representative  During a Congressional Briefing held on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, Nadine Maenza, former Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), has wondered why the Biden administration should raise issues of mass anti-minority mob violence  -- particularly in Haryana and Manipur -- with Modi. Modi should be told that if such violence continues, the US will be “compelled by law” to designate India as one of the world’s worst offenders of religious freedom, she urged.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Asset managers hold '2.8 times more equity' in fossil fuel cos than in green investments

By Deepanwita Gita Niyogi*  The world’s largest asset managers are far off track to meet the  2050 net zero commitments , a new study  released by InfluenceMap , a London-based think tank working on climate change and sustainability, says. Released on August 1, the Asset Managers and Climate Change 2023 report by FinanceMap, a work stream of InfluenceMap, finds that the world’s largest asset managers have not improved on their climate performance in the past two years.

Evading primary responsibility, ONGC decides to invest Rs 15,000 crore in sick subsidiary

By NS Venkataraman*  It is reported that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will infuse about Rs 15,000 crore in ONGC Petro-additions Ltd (OPaL) as part of a financial restructuring exercise. ONGC currently holds 49.36 per cent stake in (OPaL), which operates a mega petrochemical plant at Dahej in Gujarat. GAIL (India) Ltd has 49.21 per cent interest and Gujarat State Petrochemical Corporation (GSPC) has the remaining 1.43 per cent.

'State-sanctioned terror': Stop drone attack on Adivasis, urge over 80 world academics

Counterview Desk  A joint statement, “Indigenous Peoples’ Un-Freedoms and Our Academic Freedom: A Call for Solidarity”, endorsed by over 80 signatories, including international academics, activists and civil society organizations, as well as diasporic Indian academics and researchers, working with Adivasi (indigenous) communities in India, has made an urgent appeal to prevent future drone bomb attacks by the Indian state on Adivasi villages.

Sales, profits of Indian firms 'deteriorate', yet no significant increase in cost pressures

By Our Representative  The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad's (IIM-A's) latest Business Inflation Expectations Survey (BIES), a monthly exercise, has said that while cost perceptions data does not indicate significant increase of cost pressures, sales and profits of the Indian firms have deteriorated.