Summary Report
Ganga-Yamuna Remediation Options & Strategies (Ganga-Yamuna) Conference

New Delhi, July 25, 2002

Enveloped in a sizzling summer environment with water level hitting a 15-year low at the Yamuna river, the “Ganga-Yamuna Conference” drew the “water hearts” of this capital city and many other dedicated individuals from Agra, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Mumbai.  The Lions Club of Delhi Capital, District 321 A1, outnumbered all other organizations, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), in the total head count from one single organization at this conference.

The conference was audaciously opened by Lion Jittender Kapoor in a air-cooled environment of the School of Arts and Sciences auditorium of JNU.  Mr. Kapoor introduced the guest of honors, and the speakers. 

Prof. Kasturi Dutta, Dean, School of Environmental Sciences, JNU made a striking opening remarks and urged the participating organizations involved in the Yamuna cleanup to amalgamate their energy to solve this complex pollution problem of the Yamuna river in a cost-effective way.

Dr. R.C. Trivedi from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi, presented the status of the Yamuna river and historic water quality records of different segments of the Yamuna river.  In his presentation, Dr Trivedi had carefully analyzed the water quality status of the following sectors of the Yamuna river:

·        Himalayan segment,

·        Tajewala segment,

·        Delhi Segment,

·        Eutrophicated segment, and

·        Diluted segment of the river from its confluence with the Chambal river.

Actual water quality results, as monitored by the CPCB, were concisely presented by Dr. Trivedi.  To provide a proper perspective the physiography, groundwater, and streamflow of the Yamuna subbasin of the Ganga basin is shown on Figure 1 (Source: Yamuna Action Plan, 1985).

Dr. Brij Gopal from JNU took the podium after Dr. Trivedi and emphasized the need for conservation of rivers and floodplains in India. Dr. Gopal stated the need for even simple awareness of the rapid deterioration of the water quality of rivers and lakes in India is an important step. He stressed upon the following issues:

• High levels of abstraction of water from rivers and lakes for agriculture, industries and domestic supplies, to the extent that many downstream reaches of rivers and many other water bodies have no water during the dry season;

• The need for maintaining adequate flow in rivers during the dry season for improving water quality and sustaining the biodiversity,

• To focus on a holistic approach by treating rivers as living ecosystems which harbour and sustain a significant proportion of the country’s biodiversity;

Figure 1.  The Yamuna Subbasin of the Ganga River (Source: Yamuna Action Plan, 1985)

• To recognize that rivers, lakes, wetlands and other water bodies cannot be considered in isolation of their watersheds, and that all inland surface water systems need to be treated together as part of a river basin;

• The need for a river basin approach and for treating each river basin, with its specific geological, climatic, hydrological, biological and socio-cultural features, separately;

• The importance of maintaining the ecological integrity (physical, hydrological, chemical, and biological characteristics, and natural functions) of rivers, lakes and all inland aquatic ecosystems;

• To educate all the stakeholders of the river bodies about the importance of floodplains, which  are an integral part of river ecosystems, and that any change in the river flow (volume, velocity, quality, etc.) affects its floodplain;

• To emphasize the functions and values of floodplains for moderating floods, recharging groundwater, production of valuable natural resources, improving water quality, sustaining high biodiversity (especially fisheries), and providing aesthetic beauty to the landscape;

• To compile and disseminate the available information on rivers, lakes and other surface waters because of the dearth of information on various aspects of river ecosystems and the absence of appropriate mechanism for retrieving.

• The need for giving highest priority to protecting the upper watersheds of rivers (near origins) for checking erosion and improving flow;

• Need for proper enforcement of regulations for strict adherence to the standards developed by CPCB for improving the water quality of rivers through interception, diversion and treatment of sewage, and industrial discharges.

• The need for coordination between different ministries of the Central and State Governments and various agencies concerned with water resources and their use and management;

Mr. Subijoy Dutta from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency addressed the enchanted audience thereafter with a summary of his effort on Yamuna river remediation since 1992.

Mr. Dutta covered the following  topics in his presentation:

Mr. Dutta touched upon the following facts and figures in his presentation:

Details of  the above three options were presented by Mr. Dutta.

The floor was then opened to Questions and Answers and a Panel Discussion chaired by Mr. Subijoy Dutta with Dr. Brij Gopal and Dr. R.C. Trivedi on the panel.  Various questions and issues were raised in the panel discussion.  Dr. Aradhana Mehra, who completed her PhD from JNU, raised the issue of cost-effective treatment systems. She asked why constructed wetland systems are not given appropriate consideration in treating sewage discharges in India.  Mr. Dutta responded to her question and mentioned that the very first proposal that was submitted by him to the Delhi Jal Board contained a passive (subsurface flow) constructed wetland system, which needed only 2.3 acres to treat one million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater.  Site-specific  design of the constructed wetland system was prepared for the Khyber pass drain near Aruna Nagar pumping station.  Prof. D.K. Banerjee, ex-Dean of the School of Environmental Sciences at JNU also commented on the issue and recommended usage of constructed wetland systems.

Dr. R.P. Singh, from the St. John’s College, Agra raised the next question about monitoring water quality of the Yamuna river near Agra and possible help/support of their advanced chemistry laboratory in Agra.  Mr. Dutta accepted the idea and indicated that he would visit the Yamuna sites in Agra and the Laboratory.

There were four more questions and issues raised by the audience which did not focus remediation strategies and options.

A light refreshment was hosted by the Lions Club after the Conference.  During the get-together, Lion S.K. Anand invited Mr. Subijoy Dutta to take a look at the Vasant Vihar complex and possibly suggest an independent wastewater treatment system for this locality of about 5,000 people. Mr. Dutta agreed to follow it up within the next few days.