the capital by the DJB have failed a purity
Pradesh, and a large swathe of Maharashtra,
test conducted by the municipal corporation
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Neither the
of Delhi in 2012. River Yamuna is now
central nor the state governments have come
considered
from
up with any long term plan to tackle this
pollution. The contamination has reached
situation. This is something we should have
such a high level that it is almost impossible
highlighted at the Paris meet.
to clean it.
What is especially tragic is that traditionally
beyond
redemption
over the centuries, we in India have
SPECIAL NEWS
developed an expertise to manage drought
'The Ganga is in ICU' – A shocking news
and had also developed an expertise on how
‘1% of wealthy people have been handed
to manage floods. Both are the same sides of
over 99% of our nation's resources. The rest
one coin.
are mute, helpless and very frightened
These traditional, community-driven, time-
spectators to this loot.'
tested models on how to handle drought as
'More forests have been axed in the last 19
also our water resources helped ensure that
months than in the entire history of post-
our rivers, lakes, wetlands and other water
independent India.'
bodies remained intact over the centuries.
"The government is only interested in
It is these areas of expertise that we should
working with contractors. It does not work
have promoted at the Paris meet. We were
for the benefit of the people. It is a
Gurus in protecting wildlife and nature.
government whose only purpose is to help a
Other countries could have learnt this
handful of corporate houses," says Shri
knowledge from us.
Rajender
water
But at Paris, the only green technology
with
being promoted, was technology related to
Singh,
conservationist,
an
in
eminent
conversation
Rashme Sehgal. Below is the excerpts -
energy efficiency, whereas our traditional
water
management
systems
were
not
The unprecedented drought across our
showcased at all.
northern, central and western states has
The only people assisting our official
caused distress to millions of farmers.
delegation were corporate and consultants.
How do they represent the view point of
India is facing an unprecedented drought
millions of Indians?
across several states that include Madhya
6
Integrated River Basin Management Society