Do we care for our holy rivers?

[vgane]

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We care two hoots for our rivers which are considered as divine...Why are we allowing a savage treatment of our holy rivers by polluting them, constructing dams and reservoirs on them disturbing the ecological balance...Earlier in June 2011 a smilar fast to save the Ganges from pollution caused by illegal mining had claimed the life of Swami Nigamananda Saraswati...Now another Swami who was an IIT Professor has been on fast...When will the authorities wake up?


‘The govt doesn’t care for the issue Prof GD Agrawal is fasting for’

Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand (GD Agrawal), environmental engineer, former IIT Kanpur professor and former secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, has been on a 103-day fast at the 500-strong Matri Sadan Ashram. His mission is to save the Ganga from pollution and the destruction caused by hydel power and other projects on the river. On 21 September 2013, Professor Agrawal stopped drinking water and now, his condition is critical. Though the administration is planning to stop the fast, they are yet to address the issues he is fasting for. Weakened by the fast, Agrawal was unable to talk, but, Swami Shivanand and Hemant Dhyani of the Ganga Ahwan movement spoke to TEHELKA
about his sacrifice to save the river

Ushinor Majumdar

September 23, 2013


When did Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand start his fast?


He started his tapasya on 13 June 2013 on the death anniversary of Swami Nigmanand, who had died after a 115-day fast to save the river and the region from damage. Earlier, he had fasted from 14 January 2012 to 17 April 2012 and had been admitted to AIIMS in a critical condition. The fast had been called off when the Prime Minister, who is also the President of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), had said in an NGRBA meeting that he would speak to the professor, but till now nothing has happened. Sanandji fasted earlier also, but no one in the government cares for the issue he is fasting for.


What are your demands?



The demand is to immediately halt the construction of dams and other projects on the Ganga which are causing environmental damage to the river and disturbing the ecological equilibrium of the region. Till now, there has been no response to last year’s fast or to the several letters we have written to state and central authorities.


What projects are these?



There are 70 projects in the pipeline on the river and its three tributaries – Mandakini, Alaknanda and Bhagirathi. There are 14 dams under construction – bumper-to-bumper hydel power projects – on the river. With such projects, soon the river won’t even be visible. It will be channelled through tunnels and diverted. Apart from these there are 17 operational projects and 39 more are proposed projects on which construction is yet to begin. The work on these must be immediately stopped and the projects cancelled.


But what about the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out on these projects?


The EIA on these projects are an eyewash. The very proponents of these projects conduct them, so how can you trust the EIA reports? Since it is their own project, they hide the flaws and the impact of the projects.


So what is the actual environmental toll?



At least 350 villages are in the critical zone right now due to environmental damage. People have started migrating and we have repeated man-made disasters each year. There are frequent cloudbursts resulting in flash floods, floods, earthquakes and this year, everyone saw the massive tragedy in Joshimath, Kedarnath and Badrinath that was also triggered by rampant construction and other such human activities. The number of landslides and landslide zones has increased proportionately to the increase in the number of power and other dam projects. Wherever there is a flowing river, some new dam is put up. Even the smaller streams are drying up. This affects people’s livelihood and even the availability of drinking water and food.


What is the state’s role in the projects?



The politicians of Uttarakhand, whether they are of the Congress or the BJP, have no interest in saving the state from this kind of environmental degradation in the name of development. Whichever party is in power does not bother to frame a policy for the projects on the river. The state has a fragile environment and the river water is supplied to at least 50 crore people. The Supreme Court also asked for an investigation into the projects but the state hasn’t set one up. The state government is selling the state by inviting corporate entities and investors without respecting the socio-cultural and environmental issues here.


Are more projects being planned?



The state has identified more than 500 sites for power generation. The state generates 4,400 MW at present and the plan is to expand this to 44,000 MW, 10 times the present capacity. The Tehri hydel power project generates around 2,000 MW. Imagine the impact of 22 such projects in Uttarakhand! The region is hardly able to bear the weight of the present projects. Do you think it can deal with the impact of more major projects?

​

?The govt doesn?t care for the issue Prof GD Agrawal is fasting for? | Tehelka.com

 

[prasad1]

Kirti Punia, Yourstory.in
Siblings Marthand Bindana and Valli Bindana are on a mission to save the polluted river through Return of the Ganga Project. The three-part documentary series aims to highlight how redevelopment and power lobbying is causing the river to dry up. This is their story


The longest river of India and the most sacred one for Hindus – The Ganges or Ganga – a lifeline to millions, was once also considered a purifying river for all the impurities of body and soul.


The same purifying water of Ganga has been drying up because of an extensive number of hydo-power projects being built on it.


Even when Ganga was ranked one of the five most polluted rivers in the world, we were not taken aback.


The research, reports, news about the plight of Ganga and projects, plans, preservation measures that follow have been taking up pages of newspapers, special mention in magazines and prime time slots on news channels.


We all – people living by the river, development enthusiasts, politicians, power companies, their lobbies, religious groups, environment analysts, geologists, seismologists – see Ganga with different visions making the plight of Ganga very complex.


The number of dams being built on Ganga are outrageous, polluting agents are innumerable, vested interests in the river are varied and paradoxical corrective measures, often seeing corruption before seeing the light of execution, just perplex us more.


Two siblings, Marthand Bindana and Valli Bindana, who are ‘simply madly deeply in love with the river’ have taken up the Ganga Project to create awareness of the possible routes that can be taken to help save the river.


While speaking to Valli of the project they have taken up with little experience and money and of which they have no clue on the returns, she says, “Return of the Ganga is a three-part documentary film that explores the recent ongoing chaotic tension between conservation and exploitation of our land, water and people. At the heart of the film is the river Ganga being dammed extensively and dried up. The film explores the options we have to save Ganga from the 600 hydro-power projects being built on her. It also explores our choices against the backdrop of vast sweeping global changes. On how we can get out and get our act together to ensure our continued survival.”

Fighting the odds to save the Ganga - Rediff Getahead


Instead of depending on government, and politicking these people are doing something worth vile.

 

[sangom]

Most rivers have been declared holy (to varying degrees of holiness) by our scriptures (scripture composers). But they do not seem to have had any notion similar to our notion of river pollution of the present times. The rivers were looked upon mainly as agents of purification and this entailed that the ashes after cremation of dead bodies could (and rather, should) by immersed in one of the holy rivers. In fact many of our great personages, religiously venerated people, etc., were honoured by immersing their ashes (after cremation) in all the important sacred rivers.

The poorest section of the hindu society which was also encouraged to follow the scriptures applicable to the dwija castes, could not afford full cremation, immersion of ashes, etc., because of the costs involved, plus local opposition in many places on the banks of the ganges for the shudras, chamars and other panchamas using any of the common cremation grounds; so they cut it short and after disfiguring the face of corpses, they started floating the dead bodies in Ganges - in this they merely adopted a profit-making technique used by the authorized Pandas of Dasaswamedh Ghat in Kasi.

We have no idea how long it took for the hindu priesthood to inculcate the (warped) notion about the "holiness" of rivers among the populace, but it seems to be a Bhageeratha prayatna to change this notion now. Hence, all attempts to depollute our rivers are bound to fail only. But it is a fertile scheme which will help politicians and officials to enrich themselves immensely.

 

[Vaagmi]

Dear Prasad,

Most rivers have been declared holy (to varying degrees of holiness) by our scriptures (scripture composers). But they do not seem to have had any notion similar to our notion of river pollution of the present times. The rivers were looked upon mainly as agents of purification and this entailed that the ashes after cremation of dead bodies could (and rather, should) by immersed in one of the holy rivers. In fact many of our great personages, religiously venerated people, etc., were honoured by immersing their ashes (after cremation) in all the important sacred rivers.

The poorest section of the hindu society which was also encouraged to follow the scriptures applicable to the dwija castes, could not afford full cremation, immersion of ashes, etc., because of the costs involved, plus local opposition in many places on the banks of the ganges for the shudras, chamars and other panchamas using any of the common cremation grounds; so they cut it short and after disfiguring the face of corpses, they started floating the dead bodies in Ganges - in this they merely adopted a profit-making technique used by the authorized Pandas of Dasaswamedh Ghat in Kasi.

We have no idea how long it took for the hindu priesthood to inculcate the (warped) notion about the "holiness" of rivers among the populace, but it seems to be a Bhageeratha prayatna to change this notion now. Hence, all attempts to depollute our rivers are bound to fail only. But it is a fertile scheme which will help politicians and officials to enrich themselves immensely.

1. The hydropower projects on the river Ganga are no problem.

2. The drainages that empty their lines into the River Ganga in all the cities that are on the banks of that river are also no problem.

3. The reckless destruction of forests on the upper reaches of Ganga are no problem.

We should urgently do the following things to save the river:

1. The pandas in the dasaswamedhghat in Varanasi should be arrested and put in prison.

2. The priesthood of India (read brahmins) should be encouraged to tell the people that the rivers are all unholy. They have been claiming holiness to the river for too long and thereby polluting it.

3. The shudras and panchamans should be given reserved space in the ghats of Varanasi and should be given subsidised firewood, match boxes and kerosene. The space and subsidy should be proportionate to the number of shudras and chamars in the total population of India. The other OBCs, BCs and MBCs can also be extended this benefit in course of time just before the next general election.

கிடப்பது கிடக்கட்டும். கிழவியை தூக்கிவந்து மணையில் வை.

 

[kunjuppu]

1. The pandas in the dasaswamedhghat in varanasi should be arrested and put in prison.

.

100% right about the pandas!!

 

[prasad1]

Dear Prasad,



1. The hydropower projects on the river Ganga are no problem.

2. The drainages that empty their lines into the River Ganga in all the cities that are on the banks of that river are also no problem.

3. The reckless destruction of forests on the upper reaches of Ganga are no problem.

We should urgently do the following things to save the river:

1. The pandas in the dasaswamedhghat in Varanasi should be arrested and put in prison.

2. The priesthood of India (read brahmins) should be encouraged to tell the people that the rivers are all unholy. They have been claiming holiness to the river for too long and thereby polluting it.

3. The shudras and panchamans should be given reserved space in the ghats of Varanasi and should be given subsidised firewood, match boxes and kerosene. The space and subsidy should be proportionate to the number of shudras and chamars in the total population of India. The other OBCs, BCs and MBCs can also be extended this benefit in course of time just before the next general election.

கிடப்பது கிடக்கட்டும். கிழவியை தூக்கிவந்து மணையில் வை.

I suppose your post is a tongue in cheek (or I did not get it).

1. The hydropower projects on the river Ganga are no problem.
2. The drainages that empty their lines into the River Ganga in all the cities that are on the banks of that river are also no problem.
3. The reckless destruction of forests on the upper reaches of Ganga are no problem.

The problems due to pollution are:

An estimated 2.9 billion litres or more of human sewage is discharged into the Ganges daily (200 million litres daily in the city Varanasi alone[5]), although the existing treatment plants have capacity to treat only 1.1 billion litres per day, leaving a huge deficit.

Countless tanneries, chemical plants, textile mills, distilleries, slaughterhouses, and hospitals contribute to the pollution of the Ganges by dumping untreated waste into it. Industrial effluents are about 12% of the total volume of effluent reaching the Ganges. Although a relatively low proportion, they are a cause for major concern because they are often toxic and non-biodegradable.

Built in 1854 during the British colonization of India, the Haridwar dam has led to decay of the Ganges by greatly diminishing the flow of the river. The Farakka Barrage was built originally to divert fresh water into the Bhagirathi River but has since caused an increase of salinity in the Ganges, having a damaging effect on the ground water and soil along the river. The barrage has caused major tension between Bangladesh and India. The government of India has planned about 300 dams on the Ganges and its tributaries in the near future despite a government-commissioned green panel report that has recommended scrapping 34 of the dams citing environmental concerns.

An analysis of the Ganges water in 2006 showed significant associations between water-borne/enteric disease pop and the use of the river for bathing, laundry, washing, eating, cleaning utensils, and brushing teeth. Exposure factors such as washing clothes, bathing and lack of sewerage, toilets at residence, children defecating outdoors, poor sanitation, low income and low education levels also showed significant associations with enteric disease outcome. Water in the Ganges has been correlated to contracting dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, as well as severe diarrhea which continues to be one of the leading causes of death of children in India.

The pollution level in river Ganges - the holies water body for Hindu folks - is 3000 times higher than the prescribed limit set by World Health Organization. It hurts the largest river population in the world. Nearly 450 million people rely on water of Ganges for food, water, bathing, agriculture and religious rituals. Every year millions and millions of people visit this holy watery place to bathe and worship to please their gods.

 

[kunjuppu]

I suppose your post is a tongue in cheek (or I did not get it).


.

dear prasad,

i think vaagmi is sincere in his post, as i think, he is a very honourable and learned man.

re pandas, we have discussed this before, and as someone whose father has been gypped by the pandas at the banks of the ganga near patna, i tend to agree with vaagmi. anyone who complains about our vadhiars, should go and see how the pandas operate. they will come back and prostrate before our kudumi clad intermediaries to God

 

[prasad1]

dear prasad,

i think vaagmi is sincere in his post, as i think, he is a very honourable and learned man.

re pandas, we have discussed this before, and as someone whose father has been gypped by the pandas at the banks of the ganga near patna, i tend to agree with vaagmi. anyone who complains about our vadhiars, should go and see how the pandas operate. they will come back and prostrate before our kudumi clad intermediaries to God

Mr. K,
I did not question the credentials of Vaagmiji. He may be learned man I can understand it.
I may even agree with him on Pandas.
But i can not understand how anyone can say that pollution of Ganga or any other river is not a problem.

 

[vgane]

Mr. K,
I did not question the credentials of Vaagmiji. He may be learned man I can understand it.
I may even agree with him on Pandas.
But i can not understand how anyone can say that pollution of Ganga or any other river is not a problem.

Dear Sir,

Sri Vaagmi is actually taking potshots at Sri Sangom who is trivializing the pollution, deforestation and construction of hydroelectric projects on the river and instead focusing on the Pandas..It his style of writing

 

[Vaagmi]

Dear Sir,

Sri Vaagmi is actually taking potshots at Sri Sangom who is trivializing the pollution, deforestation and construction of hydroelectric projects on the river and instead focusing on the Pandas..It his style of writing

vgane,

You got it right while kunjuppu and prasad missed the message. LOL.

 

[sarang]

Our holy rivers are polluted; indiscriminate use of resources and non creation of facilities for the practice of rituals. Clean ganga yojana initiated by rajiv gandhi must have swallowed a fortune, and made many congressmen and associates rich.

It is ridiculous to blame the pandas, with so much anti brahmin, anti ritual, anti hindu sentiments asserting their strength; blame the brahmins for any problem, then there is no need to go aftr any solution.

A river is expected to keep the village/town clean and its souls pure; but there is a limit. More filth and more papatmas will do immense damage to the sanctity and purity of the holy river; some pre-treatment will definitely help

 

[prasad1]

vgane,

You got it right while kunjuppu and prasad missed the message. LOL.

I apologize for misunderstanding. But I did say that it may be tongue in cheek statement. LOL

 

[vgane]

I apologize for misunderstanding. But I did say that it may be tongue in cheek statement. LOL

Come on Vaagmi,

Our NRI friends are simple...They need not read between the lines....While we in India have to constantly do so to understand others, stay relevant and be effective...

 

[vgane]

Oh what an EGO? I thought people who are Satvic (Brahmins are supposed to be) would have humility, may be I am wrong again.

I am actually saying that our US based folks are straight forward which is a compliment...So where is the question of ego?

 

[prasad1]

I am actually saying that our US based folks are straight forward which is a compliment...So where is the question of ego?

I guess I am speaking American and you are speaking English. Simpleton is not a compliment in my book, it is a derogatory term.

 

[vgane]

I guess I am speaking American and you are speaking English. Simpleton is not a compliment in my book, it is a derogatory term.

I meant simple & not gullible

 

[Anand Manohar]

Dear vgane

Your post # 13 - " Simpleton " means quite something altogether - please check it out.

Yay Yem

 

[vgane]

Dear vgane

Your post # 13 - " Simpleton " means quite something altogether - please check it out.

Yay Yem

Oh! It is a slang! Any way have changed the word to mean what I wanted to communicate

 

[vgane]

The dictionary meaning of word is different from what you think the word is..I then referred to online comments under merriam webster..Look at the post by one reader:

Quote

I meant it as a simple true person, not the literal meaning all kinds of dictionaries came up with.

· December 27, 2011 at 9:00pm

Unquote

May be there are many such words which can be looked under a separate thread! LOL!!

 

[sangom]

I thought we are discussing "Do we care for our holy rivers?" and not river pollution in general and secular terms. The following are usually cited as the major causes of river pollution in India:—

{i} Growing Population,

{ii} Poverty,

{iii} Urbanization,

{iv} Industrialization,

{v} Agricultural run-off and Improper Agricultural Practices, and

{vi} Religious and Social Practices.

(Welcome to Dehradun Law Review)

Growing population causes pollution of all rivers, in general, but the "holy" among the rivers in India get morw polluted because of the religious and social practices. The web page cited above tries to summarize these causes as under:

[vii] Harmful Religious and Social Practices:
Faith is a simple word of five letters, yet very powerful when one has it. It is like how, when the five fingers of each hand come together, the entire meaning of their existence changes.[SUP]60[/SUP] Yet, on many occasions this faith cause unimaginable loss to the human beings. Religious and social practices in the Indian Societies in India are glaring example, because they are resulting in damage to the rivers. People worship the rivers as “Goddesses” or “Devi” with great faith in eternity, but these religious activities under the guise of faith, are proving very costly to the rivers, because they involve unmindful and ignorant practices, which cause severe harm to the rivers. Burning of dead bodies on the bank of rivers, throwing of un-burnt or half-burnt bodies in the rivers, throwing of carcasses of animals, mass-bathing in rivers and idol immersion in the rivers during the festive seasons , some example of harmful religious and social practices prevailing in India.

{a} Cremation of Dead Bodies on the Bank of Rivers :

In keeping with ancient rituals, the dead bodies are still cremated on the banks of rivers by the religious people in our country.[SUP]61[/SUP] The tones of ash produces in the process of burning of dead bodies on the bank (ghats) of rivers, is eventually thrown conveniently into the water of rivers. In simple words, the Burning-Ghats on the banks of rivers are causing pollution in the rivers.

{b} Throwing of Un-burnt or Half-burnt Bodies into the Rivers:

The tradition of throwing un-burnt and half-burnt bodies of holy man like sages and hermits (sadhus and sanyasies), infants and those who succumb to contagious diseases, into the rivers, has given the issue of pollution in the Indian rivers an unhealthy social dimension.[SUP]62[/SUP] The dead-bodies when thrown into the rivers, undergo the process of decomposition in the water of river, which results in defilation of water.

{c} Mass Bathing in the Rivers:

The tradition of taking bath in the rivers, specially on the occasion of religious ceremony, is very old. In olden days when there was abundant of water carried by the rivers, such traditions do not affect rivers, adversely. But the case is no longer same. Much water has been flown from the river till now. Now rivers are facing the scarcity of water, thus, losing their flow. Mass bathing on any occasion is, now no longer good for the ecology of the rivers.

But, mass-bathing is a part of integral religious practices, which is considered as sacred, by the religious community. Mass-bathing in the rivers during festive occasions, is prevailing in India. In Allahabad, during the occasion
of Maha-Kumbh in the year of 2001, more than 20 million people took a holy dip at the confluence (sangam) of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. Recently , during the occasion of Ardh-Kumbh, million of people from various part of the world had, taken holy bath, at the confluence, in Allahabad. Mass bathing usually takes place on the occasion of religious festivals like Amavasya, Chhath, Dussehra, Diwali, Budh-Poornima etc. on the river banks, in almost all the rivers of India, and particularly, in the rivers like the Ganges, the Yamuna , the Brahmaputra etc. Studies have indicate that the Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) of river water goes up when tens of thousands of people simultaneously take a ‘holy dip’ or ‘Pavitra-Snan’. It is submitted that mass-bathing or holy bath is no longer safe for the persons, who takes it, given the quality of water of Indian rivers, which is extremely polluted. Thus, people by mass-bathing not only putting themselves in the situation, where there is every possibility that they might contract the diseases, but also further deteriorating the quality of water by washing out their filth into it.

{d} Idol Immersion in the Rivers:

Idol immersion in the rivers is another environmentally hazardous practice, which is deteriorating the quality of water of Indian rivers. The festive season begins with Ganesh Pooja in September and usually ends with Saraswati Pooja in February.[SUP]63 [/SUP]During these festivals, millions of idols are immersed in the various rivers of India. According to an estimate, about 1 million small idols and, also about 1 million large community idols are immersed in the rivers.

Lead and chrome based cheap paints are extensively used in the making of idols in the various cities of our country. Paints containing lead and chrome, have been banned in many countries of the world since they are harmful to the health of the humans. Plaster of Paris (P.O.P.) is commonly used in making of idols, which is insoluble in water and contaminates the rivers by forming an impermeable layer in the river bed, thus, prevents bio-degradation of substances, which causes a build-up of poisonous gases, resulting in destruction of aquatic life.[SUP]64
[/SUP]
In olden days the idols were made exclusively of clay, which is eco-friendly, easily dissolve in the water and does not contain any harmful chemical. Such idols were painted with organic dyes, derived from stones, vegetables, seeds, fruits, sea-shells and soils. However these age old practices have now replaced by
In olden days the idols were made exclusively of clay, which is eco-friendly, easily dissolve in the water and does not contain any harmful chemical. Such idols were painted with organic dyes, derived from stones, vegetables, seeds, fruits, sea-shells and soils. However these age old practices have now replaced by the modern cheap methods of idol formation, which include use of Plaster of Paris, inorganic paints, which are inherently hazardous to the rivers.[SUP]65[/SUP]
Religious practices also demands that offerings from pooja be immersed in the rivers. Not only the floral offerings, but also the other rubbish of the temples and other worship places, usually be thrown into the rivers. It is now common to see the people immersing offerings in plastic bags, further adding to the pollution load of the rivers.
It is submitted that idols made of Plaster of Paris, painted with inorganic paints are highly dangerous to the water of rivers, and also to the health of the any living being, who consume the water of that river. It can be concluded that with the immersion of idols during festival seasons in rivers may contribute increased levels of organic and inorganic load into the water bodies. Thus, idol making from clay painted with lead and chrome free organic paints should be encouraged, so not only the rivers could be saved from the calamities of chemicals, but also the public money on river cleaning programmes.


In addition to the above, there is the practice - mostly brahministic but also followed by many other castes once or twice in a year, and it consists of throwing cooked rice, sesame seeds, bunch of darbha grass, etc., in river water in the belief of propitiating dead ancestors.

If the rivers had not been declared "holy" by the priesthood, these kinds of pollution might not have been caused. That is why people like myself, who do not believe in the holiness of rivers, attribute a great amount of blame to the hindu scripture makers in making most of our rivers highly polluted. The priesthood was shortsighted in looking for as many income avenues for itself and did not have any ability to make far-sighted decisions/rules for the welfare of all people. In any case, the hindu Dharmasastras had hardly any concern for the Shudras and Panchamas and, historically, these untouchable classes were forbidden even to use the river anywhere near the ghats set apart for the higher castes.

 

[Nara]

dear prasad,

i think vaagmi is sincere in his post, as i think, he is a very honourable and learned man.

I don't think the obvious sarcasm escaped K, read the above carefully and you will see how he castled dear vaagmi, LOL .... K, you are too clever for people to get you -- double LOL

 

[prasad1]

Oh! It is a slang! Any way have changed the word to mean what I wanted to communicate

Thanks to you and AMji.