The National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) is the planning, financing, monitoring and coordinating authority for strengthening the collective efforts for effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the river Ganga. One of the important functions of the NGRBA is to prepare and implement a Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP). Accordingly, this Plan containing six chapters was formulated: 1. Introduction; 2. Key Features of National River Ganga Basin; 3. Philosophy, Vision and Conceptual Framework; 4. GRBMP Missions; 5. Implementation of GRBMP Recommendations; and 6. GRBMP Documentation. Chapter 1 contains the introduction and discusses the physical environment of the National River Ganga Basin (NRGB) and its resource management. Chapter 2 describes the features of the NRGB such as the ganga river network, water resources, geology, wetlands, river morphology and biodiversity. Chapter 3 lays down the vision, guiding principles and objectives of the GRBMP. Based on the study conducted, eight missions have been identified under the GRBMP: 1. Aviral Dhara (continuous flow); Nirmal Dhara (unpolluted flow); 3. Ecological Restoration; 4. Sustainable Agriculture; 5. Geological Safeguarding; 6. Basin Protection Against Disasters; 7. River Hazards Management; and 8. Environmental Knowledge Building and Sensitization. Chapter 4 provides for the focused interventions under each mission identified in chapter 3. The issues of concern, reasons for degeneration and recommended actions for each mission have been fully presented in the respective mission reports. The important findings of the missions are presented in a condensed form to enable an integrated plan of action in GRBMP. These include recommendations in respect of water storage and demand control; dams, barrages and e-flows; waste management; control of alien species invasions; promotion of organic farming; restriction of geologically hazardous activities; ecosystems strengthening and preservation of wetlands; preparation of basin scale flood-risk maps; drainage improvement and land reclamation in low-lying areas; environmental monitoring of basin; and conducting educational workshops and campaigns with stakeholders and interested citizens. Chapter 5 contains the principles of usage of water in NGRB and lists the environmentally ruinous activities which are prohibited. Other environmentally harmful activities are identified and are to be restricted. Further, the implementation mechanism is proposed with the legislative basis for creating a National River Ganga Basin Management Commission. Chapter 6 explains the 3-tier structure of the GRBMP which includes the main plan document, thematic reports providing inputs for different missions and the individual mission reports.
Inde · 2015-01-01