Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan - 3.12.2007.pdf - PEACE Institute Charitable ...

• ISSUES
• CONCERNS
• POLICY IMPLICATIONS

ISSUES
Water and Water Security
Rivers and our tendency to take them for granted
Rivers flood plains as valuable ‘wetlands’ and not wastelands
Judicial pronouncements and executive action
Expert studies
All facts in this presentation are sourced from either a published source or
response/s received under the RTI Act

A river is more than a water way
• It is a unique and dynamic ‘aquatic ecosystem’ and is
composed of river channel that meanders and its flood plains
• It moderates the impact of floods
• It recharges the Ground Water
• It regulates the thermal currents
• It is habitat to innumerable forms of flora and fauna many of
which are endangered or threatened
• It is a cultural and religious symbol

Let us not compare Apple with Oranges
Average Monthly Rainfall (1970 – 2000)
(Source: WMO)
New Delhi (Yamuna)
Oxford (Thames) Paris (Seine) Vienna (Danube)
Month
Mean
Total
Rainf
all
(mm)
Mean
Number of
Rain Days
Mean Total
Rainfall
(mm)
Mean
Number of
Rain Days
Mean
Total
Rainfall
(mm)
Mean Number
of Rain Days
Mean Total
Rainfall (mm)
Mean
Number
of Rain
Days
Jan 20.3 1.7 57.5 11.5 53.7 10.2 37.2 7.3
Feb 15.0 1.3 42.6 9.2 43.7 9.3 39.4 7.6
Mar 15.8 1.2 50.0 10.5 48.5 10.4 46.1 8.3
Apr 6.7 0.9 46.2 8.7 53.0 9.4 51.7 7.5
May 17.5 1.4 53.9 9.1 65.0 10.3 61.8 8.5
Jun 54.9 3.6 54.5 8.7 54.6 8.6 70.2 9.1
Jul 231.5 10.0 38.2 6.7 63.1 8.0 68.2 9.0
Aug 258.7 11.3 54.4 7.8 43.0 6.9 57.8 8.0
Sep 127.8 5.4 58.9 9.1 54.7 8.5 53.5 7.0
Oct 36.3 1.6 61.8 10.6 59.7 9.5 40.0 6.0
Nov 5.0 0.1 59.4 10.1 51.9 9.7 50.0 8.3
Dec 7.8 0.6 64.7 10.9 58.7 10.7 44.4 8.2
Total 797.3
642.1 649.6 620.3

Delhi a
Helpless
Island
RIVER
YAMUNA
No tributary worth
the name in plains
Forms an Interstate
border over
large length
Every state wants
a pie but takes
little responsibility
Naturally
Delhi
Must plan
For becoming
Self dependent
For water
To the extent
Possible
Every expert
report hence
advices
that ‘remaining’
river bed in Delhi
be treated
sacrosanct

Yamuna at Hathnikund 17 Feb 07
WYC
EYC

Y
a
m
u
n
a
in
D
el
hi

22 km
Of
River
In
Urban
Delhi

HARD FACTS
1. The 22 km stretch of river in Delhi is perhaps the most threatened
riverine stretch anywhere in the world (P.Kumar, IEG, Delhi)
2. It is the most polluted river stretch in the whole country today
(CPCB)
3. The river bed is so badly silted up and encroached upon that you do
not need 1978 level flood waters to suffer the same or worst
devastation in the city any more. (Less will do). (NEERI, 2005)

HARD FACTS
Delhi is flood prone (1977,1978, 1988, 1995, 200..) – Needs inviolate Flood
Plains
Delhi is water scarce – Desperately requires ground water (more than 50% of
city’s needs) and hence needs inviolate flood plains for annual monsoonal
recharge of ground water
Delhi sits over an Earthquake fault line (Zone IV) – River bed in Delhi
is most vulnerable (According to Iyengar 2000, in a 50 yr window 1983 – 2033,
Delhi would experience PGA = .2 g ) – 893 ; 1505 ; 1720 ; 1803 ; 1842 ;
1905; 1956; 1960; 1966; 1991; 2001; 2005.
18.10.2007 - Mild tremor felt in Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 18 - A mild quake measuring 3.6 on the Richter Scale was felt in the national capital
region at around 11.25 a.m. Thursday. There were no reports of casualties. Epicentre of the quake
was NOIDA. (http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/126422.html
26.11.2007- Quake of 4.6 on richter scale jolts NCR in the morning. Epicentre was Bahadurgarh.

Sub Zone 05: ITO – New Rly Bridge

Sub Zone 06: New Rly Bridge – NH 24

JJ removed and concretised as parking space

General Guidelines by NEERI, 2005
(Sponsored by the DDA)
(page 3.33)
Through the results obtained from ground level survey and Hydrodynamic
simulations, it has been established that
a)The stretch has substantially lost its carrying capacity due to long term
silting
b)The present width of the river is desirable to maintain for conveying
maximum flow of 12,750 cumecs to avoid flooding of adjoining flood plains
No residential or industrial facilities requiring permanent structures should be
provided on the river bed

World Bank / MOEF / IGIDR Study
Valuation of Ecological Functions and Benefits: A case study of
Wetland Ecosystems along the Yamuna River corridors
of Delhi Region (DU and Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi, 2000)
Conclusions:
a) Floodplains play a crucial role in ground water recharge to the sandy aquifers
present in the study area and connected aquifers in Delhi city. The importance
of the water recharge function of the wetlands is amply reflected in the economic
value, which is the highest among all the economic estimates of all ecological
functions that were assessed.
b) Channelisation of river Yamuna in the Delhi stretch will have detrimental effect
on the ground water recharge which occurs through the flood plains.
c) Even though, wetlands in the Yamuna river corridor are perturbed ecosystems they
support a wide variety of flora and fauna as 155 plant species of 27 families and 97
birds species (56% are migratory) have been documented from this area.
d) Wetlands ecosystems in the Yamuna river corridor are under continuous threat for
conversion to alternate uses due to the pressures of a fast expanding city.
e) Benefit-cost Analysis favourably suggests the conservation of flood plain area.

World Bank / MOEF/ IGIDR study
(2000)
Recommendations
1. A significant proportion of investment should be in physical and ecological
interventions so as to maintain and conserve the ecological and hydrological
character of the wetlands, which at present is under stress due to rapidly
increasing anthropogenic pressures.
2. As it appears from the present investigation, the hydrological functions comprise
of 39.35% of the total economic value. Hence to maintain the ground water
recharge potential of the floodplains, it is imperative to prevent any fresh
civic structure to come up in these areas. This is necessary because fresh
ground water resources present in the flood plain and connected aquifers
in the city are replenished annually due to flood plains.
3. Channelisation of the river in the Delhi stretch should not be carried out.
Channelisation will not only lead to reduction of the ground water reserve, it will
completely stop the ground water recharge that occurs from the flood plains. In
the light of acute scarcity of fresh water in Delhi, reduction of the ground
water reserve will further aggravate the water problem.

‘Truth’ about Global Sporting Events like
Olympics, Asiad, CGW etc
Article 5 – Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Constitution
‘The Commonwealth Games are contests between athletes and not contests
between countries’.
These short duration (CGW 2010 is 10 day event) mega events are actually non
government events (IOA is the host) which are often with few exceptions (like the
Cricket World Cup organised by BCCI) facilitated specially in developing countries
by respective Governments through generous use of public funds invested
mostly in infrastructural constructions.
Since public money is involved it is important that the kind of ‘legacy’ that such
events leave behind in the host city as well as the country concerned is a matter of
public concern, debate and scrutiny.

Excerpts from CG 2010 Evaluation Commission 2003 report
(What was presented to the Voting members of CGF)
3.4.2 Village
1. The Government is constructing the Village on a pleasant and high
quality site.
2. Delhi has guaranteed that the Games Village will be constructed well in
advance of the Games although no specific development schedule has been
provided (Village construction timetable is anticipated to be 2 years).
3. Post games the Village will become University accommodation.
4. The Village will feature low to medium rise buildings.
5. The proximity of the Village to the airport, city and the venues is excellent
and will allow all athletes to live in one Village.
IS ANY OF THE ABOVE TRUE ?

Unrealistic Hype and Extravaganza
Tourism
Asiad 82 – Against thousands of foreign tourists only 200 arrived
CG 2006 (Melbourne) – Only 56000 foreign tourists visited
CG 2010 – 10 lakhs foreign tourists and 40 lakhs in-country tourists projected
Expenditure vs Revenue
Initial Estimate of Expenditure – INR 1700 crores
Current Estimate of Expenditure – INR 28000 crores
Current Estimated of Revenue – INR 4550 crores

Shall we host our guests in a risky, dangerous
and disturbed site?
Crafting a disaster (Cherian, 2004)
The CWG village site lies within the 25-year floodplain belt of river Yamuna.
The rectangular land parcel lies to the west of the first girdle of East Delhi’s
development, and thus closer to the River than any previous construction in its
floodplain.
The site is bound on all four sides by earth embankments, and lies more than six
meters below adjacent roads and four meters below the infamous 1978 flood’s
water level.
The Kolkata branch railway line, NOIDA city link road and flood control dykes
restrict drainage possibilities and limit drainage solutions to expensive mechanical
dewatering. River floods, water-logging and the high ground water table
create a perennial menace to any development, with high risks of structural
damage and inflated construction costs.

The CWG Village sits over an unstable base of deep sediment layer. The first
relatively stable layer of consolidated clay begins at 40 meters BGL, and bedrock
begins at depths around 100 meters BGL.
The site invariably lies in the most seismically vulnerable part with the highest
peak ground acceleration expected in the city.
The high water table and poor drainage further this perilous condition. Damage may
intensify as a result of liquefaction, or flow of water-saturated sand or silt. Liquefied
soil may flow like a mudslide towards the Yamuna river sinking or uprooting
all structures in its path.
The site thus is prone to tremendous damage from even mild tremors that may
disturb the progressively abused and precarious geo-hydraulic balance.”

Fundamental Duty of the state (Article 48A)
The State shall endeavour to protect and improve
the environment and to safeguard the forests and
wild life of the country.
The Supreme Court observed (In the well known Span
Motels Case (MC Mehta vs Kamal Nath and others, 1997) :
The state as a trustee is under a legal duty to protect the
natural resources.
In the absence of any legislation (Rivers fall in this category), the
executive acting under the doctrine of public trust cannot
abdicate the natural resources and convert them into
private ownership or for commercial use.

High Court of Delhi
Observations of the Hon. HC, Delhi in the case WP (Civil ) No. 2112 /
2002 and WP ( C ) No. 689 / 2004 dated 08.12.2005
River Yamuna is lifeline for the citizens of Delhi right from its entry into
Delhi till it leaves Delhi. The purity, sanctity and the cleanliness of its
water has to be maintained. It is repeatedly claimed that the
Government is doing its best and has already spent thousands of
crores of rupees in the name of ‘Cleanse Yamuna’ Project.
But the common man does not find any visible change. Encroachments
on river beds and embankment have become order of the day. No
effective steps have been taken to make Yamuna free from
encroachments and pollution of all kinds.

Usha Mehra Committee
It is because of this realization that we have entrusted the task to the
Committee headed by Justice Usha Mehra (Retired). (VC-DDA; C-
MCD; CP-DELHI)
We direct the Committee to take up in right earnestness and day-today
basis the task of removing encroachments up to 300 meters
from both sides of River Yamuna in the first instance.
No encroachment either in the form of jhuggi jhopri clusters or in
any other manner by any person or organisation shall be permitted.
Yamuna has to be re-developed in such a manner that it becomes the
habitat for trees, forests and center for recreation.
We are making it clear that no structure whether it pertains to
religious, residential or commercial or any other purpose shall be
allowed to exist.

Consider the facts:
WHAT IS THE STATE CLAIMING ?
We have all the approvals !
1)Yamuna Standing Committee (CWC)
2) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
3) Usha Mehra Committee of Delhi HC
4) Ministry Of Environment and Forests (MOEF)
5) Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC)
Recommendations of the NEERI report (2005)

MOEF
RTI response received from MOEF informs
a) IOA won the bid in Nov 2003. It approached MOEF for EC in October 2006
b) MOEF issued 4 Clearance letters (14.12.06; 22.1.07; 29.3.07 and 2.4.07)
c) Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) expressed serious environmental
concerns on the site and recommended change of site on 3.11.2006
d) First Clearance letter (EC) provided for raising only temporary ‘dismantable’
structures so that river bed could be restored to the river
e) DDA served ultimatums on MOEF on three occasions 16 Jan 07, 7 March 07
and 2 April 07.
f) If Akshardham could be built then why not Games Village, said DDA.
g) MOEF found serious shortcomings in the CWPRS report of Feb 2007
h) 2 nd and 3 rd clearance letters on 22 Jan and 29 March 07 provided for DDA to
plan for permanent or temporary structures subject to…..
i) 4 th clearance letter on 2 April 07 provided for DDA to construct permanent or
temporary structures subject to……
Clearly the DDA ‘extracted’ the clearance from MOEF not on merit but
persuasions and ultimatums (Mockery of EIA process at MOEF)

PONDERABLE
Clearly a dangerous and wrong act is happening in the
RIVER BED in the city which would further compromise the
ability of the river to recharge ground water and become yet
another precedence for further concretisation of the river
bed.
Should Delhi Metro be permitted to build ‘polluting’ ,
‘residential’ and ‘commercial’ structures in the river bed
against High Court orders
Safer alternatives exist for the games village site in the city.
There are still three years to go to the Games in Oct 2010.

SAFDARJUNG AIRPORT

DWARKA SECTOR 20

JASOLA SPORTS COMPLEX

POLICY IMPERATIVES
RIVERS IN INDIA
No policy (a new draft policy has dangerous portents)
No legal protection
River Regulation Zone (RRZ) draft with MOEF since 2002

POLICY IMPERATIVES
Transparency and Accountability of the State machinery
Process to decide state funding of non government events and how and to what
extent and with what safeguards should the state fund such events?
Process to monitor and document fast forwarding of ‘developmental’ efforts so
as to avoid misuse, mis planning, disregarding of regulatory processes and mis
selling of an event using unrealistic hype?
Process to involve civil society in key decisions that impact the latter like how
should the river be ‘developed’ if at all?
How to ensure that the state itself does not become predatory in nature?
CAN A ‘PUBLIC WRONG’ EVER BE TIME BARRED FOR ACTION

CITIZENS’ VISION FOR THE RIVER BED AND
FLOOD PLAINS
a) River bed is a wet land and belongs only to the river
b) River bed cum Flood plains are city’s most valuable
natural resource and meant ONLY for passage of flood
waters and ground water recharge
• 25 year flood line in river bed be declared sacrosanct (bridle paths
and bathing ghats alone be permitted)
• Flood plains beyond (between the two embankments) be used only
for organically grown vegetable, fruits and flowers to meet the city’s
growing requirements
• River in Delhi be cleaned and turned into a functioning buffer of
welcome greens and water and a model for rest of the world

Shastri Park Metro Station

Proposed CG 2010 village

• picture
Yamuna Metro Depot