Time running out to save rivers: environmentalists

 Time is running out to save our rivers, said environmentalists who got together for a seminar on rivers at St. Albert's College Kochi .The greens pointed out that indiscriminate human interference was one of the major reasons for the slow death of rivers. K. Sukumaran, former High Court Judge, who initiated the discussion, said that river protection programmes should be considered as a great patriotic service. Rivers are the lifeline of a society. He said the wrong notion regarding development prevailing in the modern society was one of the major reasons for the extinction of rivers. Urging the public and the government to join hands in protecting natural resource, Mr. Sukumaran suggested strong legal measures to curb pollution of rivers. He urged the government to bring in stringent legislation to check indiscriminate exploitation of rivers. Mr. Sukumaran also called for a people's movement to protect rivers. The seminar also came up with a series of recommendations on river protection. River protection activists urged the government to establish a State-level river basin authority, as mentioned in the State water policy. They suggested cluster level river basin organisations for smaller rivers. The greens voiced support for setting up benchmark health status for each river system based on detailed studies. "Ensure the strict implementation of existing laws on sand mining, pollution and quarrying," said the list of recommendations prepared by experts.The programme called for a viability study on the amount of sand deposited in dams. It recommended vegetative measures for river bank protection. Experts who presented papers on the occasion suggested improved eco-bioengineering techniques for treatment of wastewater. They recommended formulation of a biodiversity atlas of rivers in the State using fish as indicator species of river quality. Local populations and non-governmental organisations should be involved in the preparation of the atlas, they said. Select freshwater fish species should be protected under the new freshwater fish conservation act. Other recommendations adopted at the seminar include making the custodians of the river basin accountable for the loss of natural resources and cancellation of the proposed Athirapally hydro-electric project.

The Hindu, 24^th October 2008