Comprehensive-study to assess environmental flow of Yamuna to be undertaken
What's the story
A comprehensive study to assess the minimum required environmental flow of the Yamuna river will be undertaken by the government, according to officials. The decision to undertake the study was taken on the recommendations of a monitoring committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal to look after the cleaning of the river, they said. National Mission for Clean Ganga was launched in 2014.
Information
National Mission for Clean Ganga in talks for conducting study
The members of the National Mission for Clean Ganga -- launched by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation -- are in talks with the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) to carry out the study, the officials said.
Points
Study to be carried out between Hathnikund and Okhla
The monitoring committee in its action plan submitted in October 2018 had recommended that a study to assess the environmental flow of the Yamuna river for the stretch between Hathnikund and Okhla must be carried out. It had said the river is "fighting to stay alive" and it would not be possible to rejuvenate it unless minimum environmental flow is provided.
Notes
Environmental flow of 10-cusecs was 'completely insufficient' for Yamuna: Officials
The panel further said that Yamuna is "virtually reduced to a trickle and remains dry in some stretches for almost nine months of the year". In a meeting held between the monitoring committee and experts, it was discussed that the environmental flow of 10 cusecs observed to be released at Hathnikund was "completely insufficient" to maintain the uninterrupted flow of Yamuna, officials shared.
Development
National Mission for Clean Ganga ED recently wrote to NIH
Following which, they said, it was decidED that a study to assess the minimum required environmental flow of the Yamuna river will be undertaken by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. D P Mathuria, ED, National Mission for Clean Ganga, wrote to NIH Director stating what's required to ascertain the amount of flow and maintain longitudinal integrity of the Yamuna.
Letter
Study will ascertain flow amount in stretch downstream of Hathnikund
Mathuria wrote that to ascertain the amount of flow in the stretch downstream of Hathnikund to Agra, it's necessary to have a comprehensive study involving supply and demand of water. "I'm directed to say that a comprehensive study may be undertaken to study the minimum required flow of the Yamuna river in the stretch from downstream of Hathnikund to Agra," his letter read.
Information
Letter said study may take around 4mnths to get completed
"The study shall take into account supply and demand of water, including return of flow while assessing the minimum required flow," Mathuria said in the letter. It may take around four months to complete the study, the letter, written in December last year, had said.
Reaction
Study should be conducted by independent, unbiased organizations: Water activist
E-flow is a regime of flow in a river that mimics the natural pattern and refers to the quality, quantity and timing of water flows required to maintain the functions, processes and resilience of aquatic ecosystems that provide goods and services. Water activist Manoj Misra said the effort would be worth only if the study is conducted by "independent organizations that don't have biases".
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'Study should be carried out in a time-bound manner'
"The study should be credible and inclusive only then it would help in achieving its aim. It should be transparent and public and experts must be kept in loop. Secondly, it should also be carried out in a time-bound manner," Misra said.