'Community monitoring of environment necessary' - Times of India

[Gopal Krishna]

'Community monitoring of environment necessary'

There is increasing concern that rivers are getting more polluted despite the efforts of the government. Gopal Krishna, Delhi-based coordinator of Water Watch Alliance, an international network on water-related issues, spoke to Reshma Bharti about policies that are necessary to save our rivers:

Why have efforts to reduce pollution in rivers failed?

Issues of water quality, water quantity and land use are interlinked. One can't deal with them as if they are separate from the river basin. There is no alternative to genuine river basin approach. Some aspects like the weaknesses of our laws and the limitations of our sewage plants have already received some recognition. What is not so well recognised is that the existing patterns of industrialisation (including increasingly industrialised agriculture) and urbanisation will invariably pollute rivers. So there have to be more broad-based policy changes or policy reversal before we can succeed in reducing river pollution.

The balance of power between those responsible for causing pollution and the communities, particularly riverside communities, who can make a real contribution to reduce pollution has to shift. The existing system favours polluters, not those who want to resist and fight pollution. Communities that are willing to be involved in monitoring and reducing pollution should be strengthened so that they feel empowered to resist pollution and polluters. Emphasis should be on 'community monitoring of environment'.

Many people consider rivers sacred. So, is mass mobilisation of people against pollution of rivers possible?

There have been a few examples. For example, in Punjab, Baba Seechewal was able to mobilise people and save a sacred water source from pollution. It is interesting that he challenged those who opposed him to show any law which gives polluters the permission to pollute water bodies! However, the argument about sacred rivers should be broad-based. We can't concentrate on just one or two rivers like Ganga.

What are the policy changes needed to protect rivers?

Saving our rivers has to be an integral component of policies, programmes and projects. In the light of the adverse consequences of ongoing amputation of rivers from their basins, there is a compelling logic to reverse current policies. They need to be based on natural resource accounting to ensure inter-generation equity.

We should no longer live under the illusion that pollution can grow to any level and we'll build treatment plants to save our rivers. The complex of policies which decide how much water will remain in rivers, how many hazardous chemicals are being released, what will be the increase in sewage and industrial pollution are very important and all these issues have to be addressed through radical structural changes in the governance of our natural resources.

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