Newsletter 5

Newsletter No.-5

November 2009

Ganga Across the globe the impact of natural

underprivileged people of Sundarban.

disasters and calamities have increased

Many people are showing interest in the

manifold. Time has really come to

activities of IRBMS this encourages us

awake and take action. It is heartening to

to continue our Newsletter ‘Ganga’ and

see the awareness is building across the

to enrich it more.

Globe and Society on nature and our

This issue continues with our journey on

over exploitation of natural resources

River Ganga and we started a new

which has disturbed the fine and intricate

chapter on the rivers of Bengal along

web of life. One of such endeavor is

with other river basin articles. We appeal

“Sundarban Basir Sathe” in which many

to the readers to send their comments,

people are concerned about the impact of

feedback and articles to enrich Ganga

nature

further.

on

us

particularly

on

Integrated River Basin Management Society

from

Ganga the Eternal River Part-2 Alakananda

Ganga,

originating

north

of

Badrinath, at the confluence of the Satopanth and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers in Uttarakhand and it’s originating point is known as Alkapuri. Satopanth, is a triangular lake at a height of 4402 m. above the sea level and named after the Hindu

trinity

Lord

Brahma,

Lord

Vishnu, Lord Shiva. Along the banks of the Alaknanda River within the two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan with

the

Neelkanth

peak

on

the

background is the famous pilgrimage Badrinath Temple and the natural spring Tapt Kund. Alakananda basin covers an area of around 12670 Sq Km and its Glaciarised area is 1229 Sq. Km. which is shrinking at a faster rate. Alakananda passes through the western border of Pauri

Garhwal

District.

separates

this

district

Garhwal,

Dehradun

The from

and

river Tehri

Hardware

districts. The main tributaries of the River

Alakananda

are

to

south

and

near

Vishnuprayag, it merges with river

Alaknanda River is the main tributary of the

north

Mandakini,

Nandakini and Pindar rivers. In the first part Alakananda, the river is flowing

Dhauli Ganga. From there it started moving

from

east

Nandapryag

it

Nandakini, Karnaprayag Alakananda

to

west;

meets

near

with

River

further

west

near

River

Pindar

meets

and

near

Rudraprayag

Mandakini joins Alakananda. Famous Kedarnath temple is situated near the originating point of Mandakini in the north.

It

merges

with

the

River

Bhagirathi near Devprayag. This river has the major contribution in the flow of the Ganga, more than River Bhagirathi, which is regarded by the Hindus as the origin of the Ganga. It is a holy river and legend says that Alakananda was formed while Mother Ganga descended on to earth and has split off from the celestial Ganga River when it descended from heaven. Along

the

Alakananda

numerous

hydroelectric projects of different sizes are being constructed. Many experts believe that, this will endanger River Ganga and badly affect its flow. D S Kunwar writes in Times of India about the drying up of Alakananda. The report

Integrated River Basin Management Society

says “Alaknanda, which once sliced

the construction material played a major

through the Lambagar area just below

role drying up of the riverbed. ‘‘This is

the 400 mw Vishnu Prayag hydroelectric

killing the flora and fauna of the

power project in Chamoli, doesn’t flow

region,’’ says Dehradun-based senior

there

heavy

scientist N Ravi Chopra, who conducted

construction work for a hydroelectric

a detailed research on the major causes

project has forced it to change its course.

of the drying up of Alaknanda and

Environmentalists warn that a delicate

Bhagirathi riverbeds.”

any

more.

Reason:

ecological balance in the area has been gravely imperiled and say that up to 26 km of riverbeds along the Alaknanda

SANDRP (South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers & People) in their publication August 2008 published a

and Bhagirathi have begun to dry up.

map of Alakananda (prepared by Mr. In the case of Alaknanda, the tragedy

Swarup Bhattacharrya of SANDARP)

unfolded soon after the Uttarakhand

shows the condition of the Alakananda

government cleared the construction of a

will be much worse, (Map below). The

12-km-long tunnel and a four-storeyed

Map shows there are 6 Existing projects

hydro-electric project in Chamoli about

and 7 projects are under construction and

two

the

another 24 proposed projects are there

explosives used to build the project in

along the course of Alakananda and it’s

the nearby river area and the debris of

tributaries.

years

ago.

Apparently,

Integrated River Basin Management Society

(To be continued)

Overpowered By Greed

a 100- year old record – and that too just

The devastation, caused by incessant

within 7 days. The rainfall in individual

rains, and accompanying floods in

districts has been incredibly high, a

Krishna River in 11 districts of North

phenomenon that could be attributed to

Karnataka has shattered the lives of over

global warming. Districts like Bijpur,

18 million people in the drought prone

Bagolkot, Koppul, Gadag, Belgaum and

region. The magnitude of the havoc can

Gulbarga

be judged from the fact that against a

between 208 and 334 mm, whereas

normal average of 35 mm, the region

average rainfall in these districts never

received a rainfall of 251 mm, breaking

went beyond 34 mm. Critics argue that

received

rainfall

Integrated River Basin Management Society

ranging

damage to life and property could have

these dams in the Krishna basin was to

been minimized significantly if the

tap the available water resources for

department had not been off the mark in

power and irrigation. All attempts were

its weather report .But people of the

made to store water up to maximum

affected districts of Karnataka and

level without finding it necessary to

Andhra Pradesh blame the officials in

reduce the load by gradual or periodical

charge of the dams in the region. Despite

releases. It would obviously take time to

the incessant rains, if the authorities in

find out the reasons behind the heavy

Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh had

flooding, natural or otherwise, the fact is

released the waters at short intervals, the

that the damage has been immense.

district in the two states would not have

Suggestions have been thrived from all

suffered much. But it is alleged that

corners to disaster management cells in

officials were happy to maintain good

all the affected sectors and make them

levels of supply all throughout the

work

period. Once the rain overfilled the

management effects.

reservoir, the rising levels in the dams

[Excerpts from the statesman- 14th oct,

become a number of concerns. Net

2009]

for

pre

and

post

disaster

result-flooding in the surrounding areas

Bengal Rivers

adding to the problem already created by

The river Ganga, has divided West

the incessant rain. Panduram Hegde, a

Bengal into two clear parts – North and

noted environmentalist wrote in an

South Bengal. In North Bengal, five

article that Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh

rivers namely Tista, Jaldhaka, Torsa,

& Karnataka, overpowered by their

Raidak and Mahananda passed over

greed, had sought to conquers the

21,763 sq.km. area.

Krishna River by constructing dams’ viz.

Bengal has been divided in two parts –

Koyna dam by Maharastra, Almatti &

Mahananda and its branch Fulhar has

Narayanpur dams by Karnataka and

joined with Ganga and from Tista in the

Srisailam and Nagarjun sagar dams by

west and Sankosh in the east, all the

Andhra Pradesh. The idea is building

rivers have joined with river Yamuna in Bangladesh.

Integrated River Basin Management Society

Rivers of North

All these five catchments will be

river Tista turns eastward and ultimately

discussed

of

joins with river Yamuna, converting

‘Ganga’ one by one and later South

Karotoa, Atrayee & Punarbhaba into dry

Bengal Rivers will be discussed.

abandoned rivers.

River Tista:

In Tista catchment area torrential rain in

Tista is a very important river in North

short period during monsoon is very

Bengal, has originated from ‘Kangse’

common. In this case, reservoirs become

glacier at a height of 6200 m. above sea

full to the brim and excess water is

level in Sikkim. The river has passed

released due to which flood is a

through Sikkim, West Bengal and

recurring

Bangladesh for about 415 km. before

Construction of a barrage over river

joining with river Yamuna at Kumargunj

Tista was started in the year 1976 near

in Bangladesh. The area of the basin is

Gajaldoba in Jalpaiguri district. But the

around 12160 sq.km of which 85% is in

work has been delayed in impletion

India and rest in Bangladesh. Many

during the last three decades owing to

important towns in Sikim and North

delay in land acquisition and other

Bengal are in the banks of Tista and it’s

reasons. The main objective of the

tributaries.

project was to arrange for irrigation in

Lachen, Lacheung, Rongichu in Sikkim,

about a lakh hectors land. Till now only

and Rongpo, Rangit, Lysch, Gysch,

15 % of the land has been irrigated with

Chel, Neora and Karla are its important

the help of this water. NHPC has taken

tributaries. Many rivers in North Bengal

up total 8 projects in the upstream of

have changed their course due various

river Tista and its tributaries. Two dams

geological reasons. Tista also has three

will be constructed in West Bengal and

main

six in Sikkim. All these dams going to

in

successive

distributaries

viz.

issues

Karotoa,

phenomenon

here.

Punarbhaba and Atraiyee most of these

be

are flowing through Bangladesh. In the

causing a great concern among the

later part of Eighteenth century during

environmentalists.

heavy flood regime, the main flow of

large volume of coarse sediments are

built

in

earthquake-prone

During

Integrated River Basin Management Society

zone

monsoon

carried by Tista this will reduce the life of the reservoirs and the dams built along the river. No remedial measures have been thought to solve this problem and no clear flood control mechanism has yet been thought over. The excess water and uncontrolled rain water create havoc damage in lower catchments. Moreover, when the eight projects will run in full swing, in each case about 5% A Ship in the dry Aral Sea desert

of water will be lost making a total 40% loss of water – which will affect the

Surprisingly in recent times the Aral sea

future of the barrage. Eco Miracle: The Return of Aral Sea

started showing revival. Uzbekistan part

The Aral Sea was once the world’s

of the sea shows no chances of revival

fourth largest body of fresh water

but

situated

Kazakhstan portion only and the rate is

around

Kazakhastan

in

Erstwhile Soviet Union. But endless

the

rescue

has

occurred

in

really striking.

human greed diverted the rivers which

Water Institutions In India

used to feed this inland sea to irrigate the

IRBMS is covering brief write up on various

neighboring cotton fields. The result was

institutions associated with water resources

that – the Aral Sea shrank by 90% to a

in India from newsletter-3.

string of isolated stretches of water. The Catastrophe is unprecedented in modern times. Even now, the damage is far from reversed.

Public Sector Undertaking 10. Water and power consultancy services (india) Ltd.

Water and Power Consultancy Services, a Public Sector Enterprises comes under

Satellite images, taken earlier this year, show one section of the sea has shrunk by 80% in the last three years alone.

the Union ministry of Water Resources. It was set up by the Government of India in the year 1969 to channelise Indian

Integrated River Basin Management Society

expertise in Water & Power Sectors and

and River Valley Projects, Dams, and

allied fields for the benefit of developing

Barrages, Hydro-electric and Thermal

countries. It is now a consultancy

Power

organization working in these sectors.

Surface transport Structures, Bridges and

The company is accredited with ISO

Flyovers, Building and Townships and

9001:94 certification and also enjoys the

Airfields etc. In its existence of over 43

status of “Mini Ratna” conferred by the

years,

Government of India. WAPCOS has also

associated with 150 projects of national

received the Prime Minister’s award.

importance

WAPCOS

the

involving some at the most remote and

representatives on the Hydroelectric

hazardous locations. The Corporation

Power

Sectional

has also successfully executed several

Committee of the Bureau of India

overseas projects in Nepal, Bhutan, and

Standards.

the Middle East Countries.

11.

is

also

House

Structures

National

corporation

one

projects

Ltd.

of

construction

(Rashtrya

Priyojana

Plant,

the

Industrial

Corporation

all

over

Structures,

has

the

been

country,

(Source: Ministry of Water Resources) (To be continued)

Nirman Nigam Ltd.)

The

National

Projects

Construction

Corporation ltd. (NPCC) was established in the year 1957 as a construction company to provide necessary man power

and

know

how

for

the

**************************** Editor- Sujit Choudhury, Published by IRBMS (© Integrated River Basin Management Society)

construction of Canal Systems, Irrigation

Integrated River Basin Management Society