Features,Functions and Preparatory
steps of National Ganga River Basin Authority
Key Features
of the New Approach of NGRBA
·
River Basin will be the unit of planning and management.
This is an internationally accepted strategy for integrated management of
rivers. Accordingly, a new institutional mechanism in the form of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) will spearhead river
conservation efforts at the national level. Implementation will be by the State
Agencies and Urban Local Bodies.
·
The minimum ecological flows for the entire Ganga will be determined
through modeling exercises. NGRBA will take appropriate measures in cooperation
with the States to regulate water abstraction for marinating minimum ecological
flows in the river.
·
Attention would also be paid to the restoration of living
parts of the river ecosystem for its holistic treatment to enable conservation
of species like dolphin, turtles, fishes and other native and endangered
species in their river.
Key Functions of the NGRBA
·
The NGRBA would be responsible for addressing the problem of
pollution in Ganga in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
This will include water quality minimum ecological flows, sustainable access
and other issues relevant to river ecology and management.
·
The NGRBA will not only be regulatory body but will also have developmental role in terms of planning & monitoring of the river
conservation activities and ensuring that necessary resources are available.
·
The NGRBA would work
for maintaining the water quality of the river Ganga upto the acceptable standards. The pollution abetment activities will be taken up through the
existing implementation mechanisms in the States and also through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) at the pollution hotspots.
·
The NGRBA
will ensure minimum ecological flow in the Ganga by regulating water abstraction and by
promoting water storage projects.
·
The NGRBA will plan and monitoring programmes
for clanging of Ganga and its
tributaries. To begin with, it will concentrate on Ganga main stem.
·
The NGRBA would draw upon professional expertise within and
outside the Government for advise on techno-economic
issues.
·
The technical and administrative support to NGRBA shall be
provided by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.
‘Preparatory steps’ after setting up National Ganga River Basin Authority
1.
River Basin Management Plan: a notice inviting Expression of
Interest to start the process of selecting an appropriate agency to prepare the
Ganga River Basin Management Plan has been issued.
This has been prepared taking into account inputs received from the Central pollution
control Board and the Central Water Commission on the scope of work to be
included in the Plan. 30 proposals have been received from leading consultants.
The Consultant will be finalized shortly after two stage selection process.
2.
Status Paper: the Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, IIT, Roorkee has been asked to prepare a Status Paper on Ganga which includes the
experience of the Ganga Action Plan and the present
water quality. It is being finalized. The Status paper will be presented in the
first meeting of meeting of the NGRBA.
3.
Priority Action plan for pollution hotspots: one of the
priority functions of the Authority is to implementation river conservation
works at pollution hotspots. These activities should commence even as the
comprehensive basin management plan is under preparation. MoEF
has requested the concerned State Governments to prepare action plans for
comprehensively tackling the problem of pollution in the Ganga at the hotspots
locations, such as Hardiwar, Varansani,
Ahmadabad, Kanpur, Patna and Howrah. These plans are
awaited.
4.
SPVs as mode of implementation: the
process of consolations with State Government and Urban Local Bodies has been
started to discuss he feasibility of having SPVs in
the river clearing sector and to evolve the necessary modalities viz. Contractual arrangements, concessions agreements, etc. A
meeting was organized
on 16th June
2009 with the representatives of the State Governments and the
Heads of the Urban Local Bodies as a
brainstorming session to begin the process of identifying appropriate locations
and the types of river conservation infrastructure where SPVs
would be feasible. A presentation was made by IL&FS. State Governments & ULBs
have been requested to formulate proposals for implementing this concept on a
pilot basis.
5.
GIS Mapping: The National Information Centre (NIC0 has been
entrusted with the work of GIS based
mapping of the entire Ganga Basin. This work has
already commenced. This will help the users to view and update maps and tabular data relating to
pollution abetment works, water quality etc. and analyze the data for
monitoring and effective decision making.
6.
Memoranda of Agreement with States: the National Institute
of Urban Affairs has prepared a modal Memorandum of Agreement which would link
flow of funds to achievement of milestones such as measurable improvements in
water quality indicators, implementation of pre determined reform measures and
provision s for O&M.
7.
Compendium of Technologies: A Compendium of the treatment
technologies available in India and aboard is
being prepared by IIT, Kanpur. This can serve as
a store house for the NGRBA and would help the State Governments and the local
authorities in choosing the appropriate technologies depending upon the totality of local circumstances.
The compendium would be presented in the first meeting of NGRBA.
8.
The States have to be at the forefront of implementation of
the river conservation programme. The Authority,
therefore, provides for the State Governments to constitute State River
Conservation Authorities under the chairmanship of their Chief Ministers.
However, certain States may want the States Authorities to be constituted under
the Environment (Protection) Act in
which case the notification will have to be issued by the Central Government. A
model notification in this regard has been circulated to the State Governments
for their consideration.
KP
Features,Functions and Preparatory steps of National Ganga River Basin Authority
