New Delhi: Jal Jan Jodo Abhiyaan organized 'Hindon-Yamuna-Ganga River Panchayat' in presence of Water Activists, Political Representatives, Policy Makers, State Representatives, Saints, Industrialist, academicians and representatives of CSOs across state of Uttar Pradesh and Union Government of India.
More than 180 participants were gathered today at Hindon – Yamuna - Ganga River Panchayat and explored challenges and opportunities related to river rejuvenation from the perspectives of people, government, industrialist, academicians and CSOs.
Participants and Guest speaker mapped out the pathway of change and defined strategy & course of action for the coming period for rejuvenation of Hindon River and making it pollution free.
PANCH were unanimously decided during River Panchayat for taking forward the decision of the panchayat under the strong leadership of Jal Jan Jodo, State and Society in the coming days.
Shivpal Singh Yadav, Cabinet Minister for Public Works Department, Irrigation and Water Resources, Government of Uttar Pradesh stated that Ponds identification and demarcation will be done more strictly in the state of Uttar Pradesh and needful will be done for ensuring natural flow of river in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
He also informed that the state government of Uttar Pradesh has already started interventions in this direction. The state government of Uttar Pradesh has increased 300-cusec water in Yamuna River and it will increase further in the coming day.
Shashi Shekhar, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India stated that Water need to be increased in River. River will not flow naturally without increasing water into river. There is a need to increase accountability at every level. It is collective responsibility of all to contribute in river rejuvenation.
Sustainable Urban Development is one of the major challenges in India Situation will be more worst in the coming days due to increase level of Urbanization. There is a need to change urban infrastructure else internal conflict will increase on the need of water.
Deepak Singhal, Principal Secretary Department of Irrigation and Water Resources, Government of Uttar Pradesh stated that state of Uttar Pradesh has largest basin in world and government of Uttar Pradesh has already done mapping of every river.
He told about need to develop organic link between governance to grass root for ensuring effective implementation of programme. He also publically announced and assured that Irrigation & Water Resource department of Uttar Pradesh will seriously work for rejuvenation of Hindon River in support and leadership of Jal Jan Jodo Abhiyaan.
Manoj Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India stated that one should functions towards need based small project rather than working on larger project for solutions. Water structure should be constructed as per the need of the villages.
He also informed that Government of India is preparing policy for combating the adverse effect of climate change. He also suggested for increasing use of sand in construction of building.
Rajendra Singh moderated the River Panchayat and stated that time has come to ensure rights of river to flow naturally. River land should be use for river only. Encroachment over water bodies and river need to be checked and water bodies/ river should be demarked and identified for reducing encroachment.
River areas need to be freed from encroachment. There is to need to prepare and reinforce strong rule of law for checking flow of drainage into river. He acknowledged the initiatives of government of Uttar Pradesh towards river rejuvenation and water conservation & protection.
Bastiaan Mohrmann, co-head Asia and India Representative, 2030 Water Resources Group stated about need of participatory water resources management approach for Hindon Rejuvenation.
Group discussion was facilitated for finf=ding out solutions and opportunities by the representatives of 2030 water resources group. Ramesh Singh, State Convenor, Bihar Jal Jan Jodo shared experiences of NADI SANSAD (River Parliament) of North Bihar.
Five Panch were announced to take forward the decision of River Panchayat. Smt Indira Khurana, Smt. Veena Khanduri, S. K. Verma, Prof Vinod Tare and Arun Tiwari were unanimously selected as PANCH during River Panchayat.
Decisions of the River Panchayat are followings – Water Treatment Plant should be installed through small water conservation. Reasons of pollution need to be controlled and checked. As per the need, ponds should be constructed under MGNREGA.
Implementation and enforcement of proper treatment of industrial effluent, separation of river and urban sewage, reuse of treated water for agriculture and social and cultural behaviour change are need to be implement in the coming days as solutions and opportunities for rejuvenation of Hindon River.
Water Activists, Environmentalist and representatives of government including Shri Pankaj Kumar, DM, Agra, Shri Rajesh Kumar, DM, Mathura, Shri Pankaj Yadav, DM, Meerut, Shri C. K. Verma, Shri K. K. Jain, Shri S. K. Verma, Shri Kunal Koolkshtra, Shri R. K. Gupta, were present during river panchayat. Shri Mahaveer Tayagi, Haryana, Dr. Major Himanshu, Meerut, Pankaj Kumar, Bhagwaan Singh and Ashok Kumar Sinha participated during River Panchayat. River panchayat ended with the vote of thank by Shri Sanjay Singh, National Convenor, Jal Jan Jodo Abhiyaan.
The purpose of the “Hindon, Yamuna, Ganga River Panchayat” was to bring together water practitioners & experts, policy makers, media functionaries, researchers & academicians for cleaning of Hindon River and making it pollution free.
The River Panchayat helped in identification of solution for ensuring rejuvenation of Hindan, Yamuna, Ganga and Ancillary River. Jal Jan Jodo Campaign functions as independent advocacy & campaign groups in India.
It mobilizes community members, water practitioners, students, women groups, farmer groups, and stakeholders from public & private sector, civil society, institutions, universities to engage in public campaign, advocacy meetings, alliance buildings, and water literacy.
