Save Ganga MovementSave Ganga Movement is a widespread Gandhian nonviolent movement supported by saints and popular social activists across the Indian States Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in support of a free Ganga. The movement is supported by Ganga Seva Abhiyanam, Pune-based National Women’s Organisation (NWO) besides those of many other like-minded organisations and with the moral support from many religious leaders, spiritual and political, scientists, environmentalists, writers and social activists.[1][2][3] Ganga Calling – Save Ganga is another such campaign supported by Indian Council for EnviroLegal Action (ICELA). 1 Causes Wastes and left overs of tours and picnics flowing in Ganges. See also: Pollution of the Ganges Ganges is the largest and the most sacred river of India Pollution at the ghats of Varanasi. Timeline of retreat of Gangotri glacier. (Note that the blue contour lines drawn here to show the recession of the glacier’s terminus over time are approximate.) states. It is estimated that the livelihoods of over 500 million people in India are dependent upon the river, and that one-third of India’s population lives within the Ganges Basin. Despite this magnitude of influence and control by the river over present and future of the country, it is allegedly under direct threat from various man made and natural environmental issues. 1.1 Pollution Ganga Dashahara in 2005 brought throngs of bathers to the riverfront in Haridwar. (Religious association of Ganga also accounts for an appreciable degree of pollution.) River Ganges flows through the most densely populated regions of India passing 29 cities with population over 100,000, 23 cities with population between 50,000 and with enormous spiritual, cultural, and physical influence. 100,000, and about 48 towns.[4] A sizeable proportion It provides water to about 40% of India’s population in 11 of the effluents in Ganges are caused by this population 1 and hospitals contribute to the pollution of the Ganges by dumping untreated toxic and non-biodegradable waste into it.C. Gangotri glacier has retreated more than 850 meters.2 3 through domestic usage like bathing. different studies revealed the deteriorating health of the river.He is a well known Social Activist(Environmentalist) in India. Kanchanlata Sabarwal. convener of dams on the Ganges in the near future and the tributaries Ganga Seva Abhiyanam alleged the Central Government despite a government-commissioned green panel report of overhearing their demands and trying to obstruct the that has recommended scrapping 34 of the dams citing movement. slaughterhouses. Vrindavan and finally reach to Delhi on 17 June. with a recession of 76 meters from 1996 to 1999 alone. distilleries. Kanpur. Concerns about the condition of the Ganges were raised for decades which gained impetus in the past few years owing to awareness and support from keen environmentalists. The Farakka the Movement. Lal Krishna Advani[19] in 2008 to compel the Chief Minister B. although studies show its retreat quickened after 1971. However.[11] Moved by the government’s inaction towards saving the Ganges. D.2 km long and between 0.[9][10] The UN 2007 Climate Change Report has suggested that the glacial flow may completely stop by 2030.1 Mega rally of June 2012 1.[15] Barrage was built originally to divert fresh water into the Bhagirathi River but has since caused an increase of salinity in the Ganges.[18] 3. also joined greatly diminishing the flow of the river. having a damaging effect on the ground water and soil along the river. The government of India planned about 300 Swami Avimukteshwaranand Sarasvatī.2 Dams utaries. the eminent Ganga Mukti Sangram Saamiti decided to initiate a mass drive by gathering thousands of Ganga Devotees along with the Ganga Rath which travelled through Varanasi on 14 June and then to Allahabad.[12] Therefore.4 Failure of Ganga Action Plan Main article: Acharya Jitendra The Ganga Action Plan or GAP was a program launched by Rajiv Gandhi in April 1986 to reduce the pollution load on the river. this plan was withdrawn on 31 March 2000. Smt Rama Rauta.[16] environmental concerns. chemical plants.[17] Shankaracharya of Dwarka Sharda Pithas Swami Svarūpānanda Sarasvatī who also joined the movement at Jantar Mantar in Delhi gave an ultimatum of three months to the Central government over the government’s apathetic attitude towards the protection and conservation of the National River.2. Over the last 25 years. Furthermore. A seminar on Ganga aur hamaaraa daayitvaon (Ganga and our duty) was conducted on 13 November Built in 1854 during the British colonisation of India.5 and 2. the founder of National Women’s Organization (NWO) under the leadership of Dr. Shri Sunderthe Haridwar dam has led to decay of the Ganges by lal Bahuguna and Dr.1 Acharya Jitendra 1. MOVEMENT 2 Background The movement did not build up suddenly. In 1998. But the efforts to decrease the pollution level in the river became abortive even after spending र 9017. textile mills. Soon popular Gandhians.[4] Apart from this. It was his effort to convince Mr. Matura.5 km wide is one of the largest in the Himalaya.[13][14] Acharya Jitendra is National General Secretary of Ganga Mahasabha. laundry and public defecation. Countless tanneries. at which point the Ganges would be reduced to a seasonal river during the monsoon season.3 Global warming Gangotri glacier which feeds the river Ganges is 30. Sushila Nair conceived the necessity to initiate public mobilization based on the principles of non-violence to seek support for Save Ganga Movement – against the pollution of the Ganges and its trib1. Khanduri to abandon all state hydro-dam projects on the Ganga and persuade Professor Guru Das Agrawal G.2 Activists 3. 3 Movement Bangladesh and India faced major tensions due to this barrage.1 million (~190 million USD adjusting to inflation). He is working for Ganga since 2000. Agrawal .[7][8] 3. This plan is described as failure by many scientist and NGOs in their studies. Due to global warming it has been receding since 1780. 1998 at Kanpur.[5][6] It is this sheer volume of pollutants released into the river every day that are causing irreparable damage to the ecosystem and contributing to significant sanitation issues. laden with heaps of . Prof. G. Narendra Modi has been very bent on the issue of the holy river. He also called for a National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA) meeting and urged the authorities to utilize the ₹ 26 billion (about 520M US$) sanctioned “for creating sewer networks. leading a delegation of the Ganga Mahasabha.2. Due to support from other social activists like Anna Hazare. from used irrigation water containing fertilizer and pesticides to industrial waste.M. Agrawal Main article: G.[21] Following his death in June 2011. In 2010 Again Acharya Jitendra played a crucial role to stop the Loharinag Pala Hydel Project – On The Ganga.[24] It should be declared a Wild River zone and visits by tourists and people to Gangotri National Park should also be regulated and toned down.[25] This demand was backed by a recent report prepared by the state-funded Wildlife Institute of India that recommended scrapping 34 of the Ganges dam projects. interfacing with people and like Baba Ramdev and Acharya Jitendra. The amount received from the bidding will be utilized for the cause. He even approached senior Congress leaders for their support. He then spoke to senior Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajnath Singh. holiness and age old heritage of the same. When a favourable atmosphere was created. environmentalists and politicians of all hues. putting flowers and idols into the river creating filthy and unhygienic conditions. Time-bound steps for non-commercial afforestation of the Uttarakhand should be undertaken and these activities should be carried by the local people. Eco-friendly tourism should replace the present eco-hostile tourism. he met Pranab Mukherjee. Modi has offered the gifts he received during his tenure as PM of the nation for bidding. Most of the ghats could be seen with a series of iron grills erected on stony platform.000 per 100ml to 58. his Ashram leader Swami Shivananda fasted for 11 days starting on 25 November 2011. quarrying in the Ganges would now be studied by a special committee which would assess its environmental impacts the river and its nearby areas. and has promised the Parliament of India to get the holy river clean and out of misery.2. from people bathing in the river to ashes immersed in it. taking his movement forward. D. 4. Finally. Though most of the demands are directly related to the pollution and construction works overs Ganges.2 Nigamanand Main article: Nigamanand In early 2011.[22] According to administration officials. citing environmental concerns.1 No construction It is demanded that the Upper course of Ganges should be strictly disallowed any kind of damning and construction work. Govindacharya said he worked behind the scenes for three years. the Ganga is abused. On both occasions. the Uttarkhand government released an order to ban illegal mining all over Haridwar district.[20] 3. D. 4 Demands The movement is solely aimed at one goal – to prevent the anti-nature.2 Pollution regulation Ganga suffer from a large scale pollution due to common practices like bathing.[23] to protest the building of dams in the Upper course of Ganges. sewage pumping stations. Manmohan Singh admitted publicly to cease any further hydroelectric damming of the Ganga in Uttarkhand. anti-human. protesting against illegal mining happening in the district of Haridwar (in Uttarakhand) resulting in pollution. as the density of coli-form bacteria have risen from 5. washing.000 crore has gone into the cleaning of the Ganga—most of it down the drain. there are ought to be several demands related indirectly to these. the Prime Minister of India.2. anti-environment activities against Ganges and sustain the cultural importance. electric crematoria. Dr. From household waste to construction debris.3 to give up his fast within 24 hours. Shri. community toilets and development of river fronts”.6 over the acceptable limit. As K. Dismal civic conditions. sewage treatment plants. D. asking him to scrap the Loharinag Pala project. P. Rs 20. Agrawal Noted environmental activist. Agrawal was successful in stopping thermal damming construction in this sensitive and sacred region of India. So far. who persuaded CM Ramesh Pokhriyal to write to the PM. G.3 Prof. Agrawal Patron of Ganga Mahasabha sat for fast unto death on twice in 2008 and 2009. which is 11. a Hindu seer named Swami Nigamananda Saraswati fasted unto death.000 per 100ml.N. using samplings of local plants. 3. bad smell and unavailability of basic amenities like toilets and changing rooms could be seen. 3.4 Narendra Damodardas Modi Main article: Narendra Modi Former Chief Minister of Gujarat.[24] 4. 3 Industrialization control Since. proposed to upgrade the existing National Ganga River • National laboratories such as NEERI. • Environmental ethics should be taught as a part of the syllabus on ethics.[27] The committee includes representatives from the ministries of environment. and water resources and other authorities and research insti4. the union government soon sprung into action after the Shankaracharya reached the city to participate in . Teaching environmental ethics without discussing the value and means of an ethical life would be of little significance. However. Basin Authority (NRGBA) to the level of an independent TRC.[28] form the public about the hazardous effects through various forms of mass media.the progress of the governmental course of actions in this uled and continued cleaning effort from the concerned direction should be appointed. trou..V. 4. We must study critically the views of great religions and of great teachers and thinkers of mankind about various fundamental issues of ethics.4 Awareness tutions. Also. It is demanded that further establishments of any kind of new Industry without proper management shouldn't be undertaken. • A comprehensive website on the Ganges and other rivers of our country should be created for networking of various organisations and people involved in the Ganga Action Plan and for creating necessary mass-awareness for saving the Ganges and other rivers of our country. those who are flouting the pollution regulation norms should be checked at once.4 6 CONTROVERSIES garbage and rotten stuff. must regularly monitor the commission along the lines of the National Human Rights pollution levels of major rivers and inCommission through a new law.5 Monitoring committee bling the residents and devotees is the other problem. etc. The committee will also inspect previous reports by IIT Roorkee and Wildlife Institute of India. the government proposed to set up an expert-panel which would review the situation and examine the ecological impact of hydel projects taken on the Himalayan rivers.2 NRGBA ularly about the water pollution levels of major rivers and of air pollution levels in To fulfill the demands of activists to have an independent big cities and their adverse affect on the monitoring committee for Ganges. initiated by the disciples of Shankaracharya. es. the government has common people. so that India would buy Uranium from them to run its Nuclear Power Plants.sen director general of Centre for Science and Environpecially against pollution of air. water and land and ment Sunita Narain. Industries dump a large quantity of inorganic and non-bio degradable wastes into the river. former professor of IIT-BHU and deforestation and destruction of wildlife should be under. direct the Central and State Governments. the latter stayed away. power. Afforestation and efforts to save wild life in the Himalayas should be regulated by a high powered committee. informing reg5. It should report all of its findings and actions to the Supreme Court of India which officials. From outside the government. both at the school as well as at the college level. the PMO has choMass awareness against environmental degradation. It is known that senior Congress leaders share old association with the Shankaracharya of Shrada Jyotish and Dwarka Peeths Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati.[28] • T. Animal loitering on ghats.mahant of Sankat Mochan temple at Varanasi Virbhadra Mishra and head of Tarun Bharat Sangh-Rajendra Singh. and Radio are to be persuaded to give a substantial amount of prime time to create such awareness. 5 Government’s efforts 5. alleged that the agigators protesting against them were funded by US.1 Panel to review projects on Ganges Amid the building pressure from the Hindu leaders in the June mega rally. 6 Controversies • Those groups who backed the construction of Hydel Power projects on course of river Ganga. Since the launch of stir by the Ganga Seva Abhiyanam.4. taken.[26] It is necessary to frame some rules and guidelines for the It is demanded that a committee of experts to monitor Civic authorities and municipalities to carry out a sched. • Controversies were raised about alleged fixing of the agitation among the sadhus and the Congress party. Retrieved 5 June 2012.” [6] “Ganga receives 2. NI Wire. Retrieved 2 July 2012. 9 External links • ICELA [12] Ganga Action Plan • Tribune India [13] “GAP Failure”. “Sadhu dies after a 73day fast to save Ganga”. [30] “nand’s potest for uninterrupted and clean Ganga halted for 3 months”. Retrieved 29 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012. [18] “Shankaracharya’s ultimatum to Centre over Ganga”. Retrieved 2 July 2012. India Water Portal. Retrieved 14 June 2011. 19 July 2008. The malay mail.[29] 7 Present status [16] “Govt trying to obstruct Save Ganga Movement. [5] “Sacred Ganges Carries Toxic Pollution. [27] “Govt mulls panel to check impact of dams on Ganga”. 30 June 2012. • Save Ganga Movement • Save Ganga Movement by Acharya Ashish • Ganga Mahasabha . “Fight for Ganga continues from Kashi to Pune”.com/ have already started would also be stopped. “Ganga Mukti Maha Sammelan on May 21”. The Times of India. These Are The Men Who Stopped in the flow of Ganga in the same period. Hindutan Times. Retrieved 2 July 2012. [21] Dube. 12 December 1996.900 million ltrs of sewage daily” [7] “300 dams on the Ganga: A bane or a boon?" [8] “Pranab gives go-ahead for dam on Bhagirathi”. Retrieved 29 June 2012. 24 The movement which made most of the news for 168 June 2012. 19 June 2012. The Times of India. Sankat Mochan Foundation.com/ these-are-the-men-who-stopped-a-dam-the-loharinag-pala-hydel-project-onitself will submit its study report on dams creating hurdle Retrieved 11 Sep 2010. An interthese-are-the-men-who-stopped-a-dam-the-loharinag-pala-hydel-project-onministerial committee constituted by the Prime Minister Tehelka http://www. Retrieved 29 June 2012. [26] “Ganga ghats in miserable condition”. This Is How They Did It Missing or empty |title= would be halted only for three months and shall resume (help) again in September if no sufficient action is taken. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012. [9] “Gangotri glacier retreat”. Retrieved 29 June 2012. 21 June 2012. The Times of India. • Tehelka [14] “Ganga Action Plan bears no fruit”. Priyanka (14 June 2011). with the then PM Manmohan Singh's letter assuring of no new dam projects to start while works on those which [20] Kang. Retrieved 2 July 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012. NASA.org. 12 June 2012. [17] “Ganga Mukti Mahasangram”. The Times of India. Retrieved 29 June 2012. http://www. 28 August 2004. [28] “Government sets up panel to review power projects on Ganga”. says seer”. 26 June 2012. [2] TNN (17 May 2012).in. Retrieved 2 July 2012. [29] “Controversies start with pause given to movement”. Retrieved 5 June 2012. The Times of India. 18 June 2012. Swami Nigamanand [22] “Shivanand breaks fast after forcing curb on Ganga bed quarrying” [23] “Save Ganga activist GD Agarwal ends fast” [24] “Indian 'sadhus’ protest dam projects on holy Ganges”. [11] “India Seeks Israeli Technology to Clean Ganges River”. Bhavdeep (11 Sep 2010). [10] “The Ganga’s Last Roar”. ibnlive. 8 Notes [1] TNN (15 May 2012). It raised rumours of having this meet up between the two to be fixed. 26 June 2012. India Vision. India). The Times of India. The Hindu (Chennai.tehelka. 11 July 2010. Tehelka News. culminated to a halt by its organizers after the then union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal arrived in Delhi [19] “Abandon dam projects on Ganga: Advani tells Khanduri Copyright Hindustan Times”. [3] “Ganga activists threaten to re-launch campaign”.5 the agitation. Retrieved 2 July 2012. days. 7 May 2012.tehelka. Africanwater. Retrieved 2 July 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012. 14 May 2012.com. [4] “The Water Page – River Ganges”. ENS-Newswire. The Times of India. [15] “Save Ganga Movement”. CNN-IBN. The Times of India. [25] “Charter of 10 Demands”. Retrieved 2 July 2012.[30] It was deA Dam – The Loharinag Pala Hydel Project – On The cided by the organising committee that the Mahasangram Ganga. GoingBatty. Ground Zero.0 Contributors: Flickr: IndiaMarch07 169 Original artist: Lane • File:Varanasi_ghats.jpg Source: https://upload. CONTRIBUTORS.0 Contributors: ? Original artist: ? • File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.2 Images • File:Ganga_Dashara. Varunhira and Anonymous: 26 10.wikipedia.svg Original artist: Wiki_letter_w.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Varanasi_ghats. Materialscientist. AND LICENSES Text and image sources. AnomieBOT. Gaius Cornelius. CommonsDelinker.wikimedia. ClueBot NG. Vivek Rai.nasa. Chris the speller.wikimedia. Armbrust. Evano1van. Melonkelon. Parikshit gulia 121.wikimedia. Roxy the dog.svg License: CC-BY-SA-3. Ohconfucius. Yobot. BG19bot. contributors.php3?img_id=16584 Original artist: NASA Earth Observatory • File:Pollution_of_Ganga_2. Shyamsunder. John of Reading.6 10 10 10.1 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES.jpg Source: https://upload.0 .wikimedia. 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