New Delhi : The Government has admitted that the water in the Ganga and Yamuna were no cleaner than what it was 20 years ago despite the Rs 1,700 crore spent on these two rivers during this period. “I admit with full responsibility that Ganga and Yamuna are no cleaner than 20 years ago,” Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said, while responding to a Calling Attention Motion on checking pollution in rivers and lakes, in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
“I can provide technical figures regarding water quality in these levels that would suggest both the rivers being above pollution levels. But, I myself don’t believe these numbers... The true test for a layman would be whether Ganga is cleaner than 20 years ago or is Yamuna cleaner than 20 years ago. The answer is a depressing no,” said the minister.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Letter to Sri Jairam Ramesh regarding request for personal hearing......(16 July 2009)
16 July 2009
YJA/CORRES/7/09
Sri Jairam Ramesh,
Hon'ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environmental and Forests, MOEF
CGO Complex, Lodi Road
NEW DELHI
Sub: Request for a personal hearing on a matter of urgent and grave environmental matter involving the MOEF
Respected Sir,
Greetings.
You would agree with us that extraordinary situations demand unprecedented actions.
Today this nation stands at exactly such a situation, when the MOEF, the state's instrument created for safeguarding the nation's natural environment and the defender of Article 48 (A) of the Indian Constitution is a mute witness by default, if not exactly a colluder by design, in the blatant violation of the sanctity of river Yamuna being indulged in by the DDA and the DMRC. It is a situation which unless urgent steps are taken at the highest levels, the river Yamuna and by implication every river in the country would be made free to be violated by vested interests taking the example of what might be decided in the Yamuna case (Rajendra Singh & Othrs Vs State of Delhi and Othrs) by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, where the judgement in the matter has been reserved.
Sir, we seek only one thing from you.
Please give us an opportunity (till date repeatedly denied to us by the MOEF) to present our case to your good self over not more than 30 minutes of your valuable time. And if after listening to us you still find that we have no merit in what we are saying, we would be glad to abide by whatever you may choose to do or not in the matter.
Just as a glimpse of what we are trying to present to your honour, kindly note that during the last floods in Delhi in river Yamuna during the months of August, September 2008, when flood waters reached right upto the embankment cum road south of the Akshardham (please see the enclosed picture) establishing beyond any doubt where the river bed is and that a grave wrong, which the state is constitutionally duty bound to prevent is taking place in the river bed abetted by a deliberate misinformation and misguidance of the Hon'ble Courts by the highest levels of the legal officers of the state who ought to know and act in a far more responsible manner since it is a PIL that is the subject matter of the petition and one which we were compelled to file after our innumerable letters and petitions made to almost all in the land failed to elicit the requisite response for the safety and security of the life-line river of this city and one of holiest rivers in the country. (Please refer for confirmation to the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan at www.peaceinst.org).
We would be grateful if your honor would oblige us with a personal hearing at an early date in the matter.
Warm regards,
Manoj Misra
Convenor
YJA/CORRES/7/09
Sri Jairam Ramesh,
Hon'ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environmental and Forests, MOEF
CGO Complex, Lodi Road
NEW DELHI
Sub: Request for a personal hearing on a matter of urgent and grave environmental matter involving the MOEF
Respected Sir,
Greetings.
You would agree with us that extraordinary situations demand unprecedented actions.
Today this nation stands at exactly such a situation, when the MOEF, the state's instrument created for safeguarding the nation's natural environment and the defender of Article 48 (A) of the Indian Constitution is a mute witness by default, if not exactly a colluder by design, in the blatant violation of the sanctity of river Yamuna being indulged in by the DDA and the DMRC. It is a situation which unless urgent steps are taken at the highest levels, the river Yamuna and by implication every river in the country would be made free to be violated by vested interests taking the example of what might be decided in the Yamuna case (Rajendra Singh & Othrs Vs State of Delhi and Othrs) by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, where the judgement in the matter has been reserved.
Sir, we seek only one thing from you.
Please give us an opportunity (till date repeatedly denied to us by the MOEF) to present our case to your good self over not more than 30 minutes of your valuable time. And if after listening to us you still find that we have no merit in what we are saying, we would be glad to abide by whatever you may choose to do or not in the matter.
Just as a glimpse of what we are trying to present to your honour, kindly note that during the last floods in Delhi in river Yamuna during the months of August, September 2008, when flood waters reached right upto the embankment cum road south of the Akshardham (please see the enclosed picture) establishing beyond any doubt where the river bed is and that a grave wrong, which the state is constitutionally duty bound to prevent is taking place in the river bed abetted by a deliberate misinformation and misguidance of the Hon'ble Courts by the highest levels of the legal officers of the state who ought to know and act in a far more responsible manner since it is a PIL that is the subject matter of the petition and one which we were compelled to file after our innumerable letters and petitions made to almost all in the land failed to elicit the requisite response for the safety and security of the life-line river of this city and one of holiest rivers in the country. (Please refer for confirmation to the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan at www.peaceinst.org).
We would be grateful if your honor would oblige us with a personal hearing at an early date in the matter.
Warm regards,
Manoj Misra
Convenor
Letter to Sri Jairam Ramesh on National Ecological Security (12 July 2009)
12 July 2009
YJA/CORRES/7/09
Sri Jairam Ramesh
Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
CGO Complex
Lodi Road,
NEW DELHI
Sub: YJA - Congratulations, but the road to national ecological security is long.....
Respected Sir,
Greetings from Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, a consortium of NGOs and individuals in the city who came together more than two years back for the revival of the city’s life-line river Yamuna.
Sir, we have followed with great interest and growing admiration your statements made and actions taken since taking over the charge of a union Ministry looking after the destiny of natural India.
Your recent timely actions notably the sacking of Sri P Abraham as the Chairman of an EAC (resulting from a blatant and shameless case of 'conflict of interest' in his role) and inquiry into illegal and blatant misuse of government machinery and public money in NOIDA by the current Chief Minister of UP are few examples that fills one with hope for a secure future of natural India under your stewardship of the MOEF.
Sir, lots of people within and outside of your Ministry must have already suggested a number of agenda points for your kind attention. Allow us to add the following few to the said list based on our experiences gained from the campaign (Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan) and related activities:
a) It is urgent that the yet pending move to notify a River Regulation Zone (RRZ) on the lines of CRZ for the country, which the ministry had initiated way back in 2001 - 2002 be revived. This is because in our land where laws abound, our rivers as an ecological entity in its own right enjoy no legal protection whatsoever. For this to happen, while on one hand the NRCD in the Ministry would need an almost redefinition of its mandate and role, on the other an expert group may help revive the RRZ.
b) That there is a serious problem with the definition and execution of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) mechanism in the Ministry is no longer any secret. So much so that an instrument created to safeguard the nation’s natural environment has in instances proved to become the very basis of its devastation. As regards the working of the NEAA (Environmental Appellate) lesser said is better. Under the circumstances we request that let an independent expert body thoroughly re examine the entire EIA mechanism in the country, in particular the merits and demerits of the EIA Notification of September 2006, so that the shaken public confidence in the EIA system in the country is redeemed.
One example of ‘faulty’ EIA norms may suffice to highlight the loop holes and risky provisions in the EIA Notification of 2006.
Section 8 in the Schedule to the Notification dealing with Building /Construction projects/Area Development projects and Townships sets a standard norm for the entire country without making a distinction (Except as a limited 'general condition') based on the location of the project, which is a highly irresponsible act on the part of MOEF to say the least. Resultantly any such project located either on the coast, islands, river beds / flood plains, steep hills, forests, or vulnerable Seismic Zone shall be treated at par with a project proposed in the secure plains. Worse is when any project, wherever coming up, and below the built up covered area of 20,000 sq m and less than 50 ha shall not even qualify for assessment? Additionally the fact that a Railways Project has no environmental impact (and hence needs no environmental impact assessment) takes the cake in the Notification.
Sir, we hope that our suggestions as made above would merit serious consideration by your honour.
Wishing god speed to all your initiatives
Warm regards,
Manoj Misra
Convenor
CC:
Chairman, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 – For your kind information please.
YJA/CORRES/7/09
Sri Jairam Ramesh
Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Ministry of Environment and Forests
CGO Complex
Lodi Road,
NEW DELHI
Sub: YJA - Congratulations, but the road to national ecological security is long.....
Respected Sir,
Greetings from Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, a consortium of NGOs and individuals in the city who came together more than two years back for the revival of the city’s life-line river Yamuna.
Sir, we have followed with great interest and growing admiration your statements made and actions taken since taking over the charge of a union Ministry looking after the destiny of natural India.
Your recent timely actions notably the sacking of Sri P Abraham as the Chairman of an EAC (resulting from a blatant and shameless case of 'conflict of interest' in his role) and inquiry into illegal and blatant misuse of government machinery and public money in NOIDA by the current Chief Minister of UP are few examples that fills one with hope for a secure future of natural India under your stewardship of the MOEF.
Sir, lots of people within and outside of your Ministry must have already suggested a number of agenda points for your kind attention. Allow us to add the following few to the said list based on our experiences gained from the campaign (Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan) and related activities:
a) It is urgent that the yet pending move to notify a River Regulation Zone (RRZ) on the lines of CRZ for the country, which the ministry had initiated way back in 2001 - 2002 be revived. This is because in our land where laws abound, our rivers as an ecological entity in its own right enjoy no legal protection whatsoever. For this to happen, while on one hand the NRCD in the Ministry would need an almost redefinition of its mandate and role, on the other an expert group may help revive the RRZ.
b) That there is a serious problem with the definition and execution of the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) mechanism in the Ministry is no longer any secret. So much so that an instrument created to safeguard the nation’s natural environment has in instances proved to become the very basis of its devastation. As regards the working of the NEAA (Environmental Appellate) lesser said is better. Under the circumstances we request that let an independent expert body thoroughly re examine the entire EIA mechanism in the country, in particular the merits and demerits of the EIA Notification of September 2006, so that the shaken public confidence in the EIA system in the country is redeemed.
One example of ‘faulty’ EIA norms may suffice to highlight the loop holes and risky provisions in the EIA Notification of 2006.
Section 8 in the Schedule to the Notification dealing with Building /Construction projects/Area Development projects and Townships sets a standard norm for the entire country without making a distinction (Except as a limited 'general condition') based on the location of the project, which is a highly irresponsible act on the part of MOEF to say the least. Resultantly any such project located either on the coast, islands, river beds / flood plains, steep hills, forests, or vulnerable Seismic Zone shall be treated at par with a project proposed in the secure plains. Worse is when any project, wherever coming up, and below the built up covered area of 20,000 sq m and less than 50 ha shall not even qualify for assessment? Additionally the fact that a Railways Project has no environmental impact (and hence needs no environmental impact assessment) takes the cake in the Notification.
Sir, we hope that our suggestions as made above would merit serious consideration by your honour.
Wishing god speed to all your initiatives
Warm regards,
Manoj Misra
Convenor
CC:
Chairman, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 – For your kind information please.
No fly ash for construction on Yamuna riverbed, DDA told (Indian Express- Jul 18, 2009)
Neha Sinha
New Delhi : The Lieutenant-Governor’s Office has directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to stop dumping fly ash on the Yamuna floodplain with immediate effect. Newsline had reported how the DDA was using toxic fly ash to level the Yamuna floodplain at the site of a flyover coming up in front of the Commonwealth Games Village.
A Government of India notification on fly ash — a byproduct of thermal power production - makes a case for the use of fly ash at construction sites. However, fly ash, which contains several trace metals, can severely contaminate water sources as well as groundwater. The notification is, however, silent on the use of fly ash on river beds.
On November 23, 2007, the L-G, who also chairs the Prime Minister-appointed Yamuna River Development Authority, sent a letter specifying a ban on the use of toxic fly ash on the Yamuna floodplain. This was a response to concerns raised by environmentalists regarding the Yamuna floodplain, where the water table is high and contamination can thus reach the groundwater or even the river channel more easily than at other places. The problem is heightened during rainfall.
The letter was at that time directed to the Delhi Metro, which was using fly ash for the construction of the Yamuna depot, with copies sent to the DDA which was building the Games village. But the violations are now back in place. Last week, Newsline visited the spot to find large amounts of fly ash being used at the site for construction of the flyover in front of the Games Village.
Raj Niwas has now instructed the DDA to stop using fly ash with immediate effect. “The DDA has been told to immediately stop using fly ash on the Yamuna riverbed. They have also been instructed to remove as much fly ash as is possible,” Ranjan Mukherjee, Officer on Special Duty to the L-G, said.
The DDA, meanwhile, admits to using fly ash. “We have been following the norm of using fly ash at construction sites. At this particular site, we have used fly ash after jacketing it with earth. However, if the L-G’s office so instructs, we will cease to use fly ash,” DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar said.
Experts say fly ash should be used with extreme caution, and never on a riverbed. “Fly ash is a toxic material. If used for landfilling, it should be used only after casing and topping with concrete. It should never be used near a water source as it can contaminate the water easily. At the Yamuna floodplain, water is found at a depth of merely 16 feet. Once groundwater is contaminated, there is no way to purify it. Thermal power plant by-products are extremely unhealthy for humans. At the IP power station, 60 per cent of workers were found to be suffering from lung ailments,” Dr Amit Love, a fly ash specialist, said.
“In 2007, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had specifically asked for only sand to be used for filling at the Commonwealth Games Village site. The fact that the Village is coming up on the Yamuna floodplain is itself regrettable, but the DDA should at least follow basic environmental norms,” Manoj Misra from NGO Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan said.
It is, however, likely that environmental violations might continue on the floodplain till the area is given legal sanctity. Currently, there is no demarcation of the geographical floodplain on the ground.
Effects of fly ash
Fly ash, a grey-coloured ash created from thermal power production, is a toxic material typically containing arsenic, cadmium and lead. Cadmium is carcinogenic. Even one part per million of cadmium in living tissue of plants and animals may cause serious damage. Fly ash also negatively alters the DNA of plants. Plants have been found to undergo anatomical changes when grown on fly ash.
New Delhi : The Lieutenant-Governor’s Office has directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to stop dumping fly ash on the Yamuna floodplain with immediate effect. Newsline had reported how the DDA was using toxic fly ash to level the Yamuna floodplain at the site of a flyover coming up in front of the Commonwealth Games Village.
A Government of India notification on fly ash — a byproduct of thermal power production - makes a case for the use of fly ash at construction sites. However, fly ash, which contains several trace metals, can severely contaminate water sources as well as groundwater. The notification is, however, silent on the use of fly ash on river beds.
On November 23, 2007, the L-G, who also chairs the Prime Minister-appointed Yamuna River Development Authority, sent a letter specifying a ban on the use of toxic fly ash on the Yamuna floodplain. This was a response to concerns raised by environmentalists regarding the Yamuna floodplain, where the water table is high and contamination can thus reach the groundwater or even the river channel more easily than at other places. The problem is heightened during rainfall.
The letter was at that time directed to the Delhi Metro, which was using fly ash for the construction of the Yamuna depot, with copies sent to the DDA which was building the Games village. But the violations are now back in place. Last week, Newsline visited the spot to find large amounts of fly ash being used at the site for construction of the flyover in front of the Games Village.
Raj Niwas has now instructed the DDA to stop using fly ash with immediate effect. “The DDA has been told to immediately stop using fly ash on the Yamuna riverbed. They have also been instructed to remove as much fly ash as is possible,” Ranjan Mukherjee, Officer on Special Duty to the L-G, said.
The DDA, meanwhile, admits to using fly ash. “We have been following the norm of using fly ash at construction sites. At this particular site, we have used fly ash after jacketing it with earth. However, if the L-G’s office so instructs, we will cease to use fly ash,” DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar said.
Experts say fly ash should be used with extreme caution, and never on a riverbed. “Fly ash is a toxic material. If used for landfilling, it should be used only after casing and topping with concrete. It should never be used near a water source as it can contaminate the water easily. At the Yamuna floodplain, water is found at a depth of merely 16 feet. Once groundwater is contaminated, there is no way to purify it. Thermal power plant by-products are extremely unhealthy for humans. At the IP power station, 60 per cent of workers were found to be suffering from lung ailments,” Dr Amit Love, a fly ash specialist, said.
“In 2007, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had specifically asked for only sand to be used for filling at the Commonwealth Games Village site. The fact that the Village is coming up on the Yamuna floodplain is itself regrettable, but the DDA should at least follow basic environmental norms,” Manoj Misra from NGO Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan said.
It is, however, likely that environmental violations might continue on the floodplain till the area is given legal sanctity. Currently, there is no demarcation of the geographical floodplain on the ground.
Effects of fly ash
Fly ash, a grey-coloured ash created from thermal power production, is a toxic material typically containing arsenic, cadmium and lead. Cadmium is carcinogenic. Even one part per million of cadmium in living tissue of plants and animals may cause serious damage. Fly ash also negatively alters the DNA of plants. Plants have been found to undergo anatomical changes when grown on fly ash.
Munak Canal project to offer no respite this summer(Geeta Gupta, Jul 12, 2009)
New Delhi : With the monsoon shying away from the city, Delhi’s water problems are unlikely to be resolved any time soon.
While the Delhi Jal Board was slated to get an additional 80 million gallons of water per day (MGD) with the concretisation of the Munak Canal, the Rs 315-crore project has missed yet another deadline, that of July 2009. The new deadline for the project has now been set to December.
The construction of the pukka canal, between Munak on the Haryana border and Haiderpur in Delhi, was to be completed in 2006 initially. “Some 600 metres of the channel are still under construction and Haryana officials have said it will be finished by October,” Delhi Jal Board CEO Ramesh Negi said.
All construction work will have to be stopped due to the arrival of the monsoon, he said. “We expect the construction to be completed by October but it has been decided that the project will be commissioned by December,” he said.
While Delhi’s daily water demand has been pegged at 1,200 MGD during the peak of summer, the DJB is equipped to supply not more than 850 MGD.
The construction of the canal was proposed in 2003. It is a key project of the Sheila Dikshit government and is aimed at augmenting the city’s water supply by 80 MGD. The concrete canal would help save 50 per cent of water otherwise lost to seepage and evaporation in transit from Haryana to Delhi. The additional water will help run the 20-MGD water treatment plants at Okhla and Bawana and the 50-MGD plant at Dwarka, it has been proposed.
After it missed the 2006 deadline, the project’s completion date was pushed to October 2008, with Haryana citing land-related problems. Earlier this year, Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta announced the project would be completed well in time to tackle the city’s summer water issues.
Parched City
The city faces a water shortage every summer. The construction of the pukka canal, between Munak on the Haryana border and Haiderpur in Delhi, is aimed at augmenting the city’s water supply by 80 MGD. The project was to be completed in 2006 initially.
While the Delhi Jal Board was slated to get an additional 80 million gallons of water per day (MGD) with the concretisation of the Munak Canal, the Rs 315-crore project has missed yet another deadline, that of July 2009. The new deadline for the project has now been set to December.
The construction of the pukka canal, between Munak on the Haryana border and Haiderpur in Delhi, was to be completed in 2006 initially. “Some 600 metres of the channel are still under construction and Haryana officials have said it will be finished by October,” Delhi Jal Board CEO Ramesh Negi said.
All construction work will have to be stopped due to the arrival of the monsoon, he said. “We expect the construction to be completed by October but it has been decided that the project will be commissioned by December,” he said.
While Delhi’s daily water demand has been pegged at 1,200 MGD during the peak of summer, the DJB is equipped to supply not more than 850 MGD.
The construction of the canal was proposed in 2003. It is a key project of the Sheila Dikshit government and is aimed at augmenting the city’s water supply by 80 MGD. The concrete canal would help save 50 per cent of water otherwise lost to seepage and evaporation in transit from Haryana to Delhi. The additional water will help run the 20-MGD water treatment plants at Okhla and Bawana and the 50-MGD plant at Dwarka, it has been proposed.
After it missed the 2006 deadline, the project’s completion date was pushed to October 2008, with Haryana citing land-related problems. Earlier this year, Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta announced the project would be completed well in time to tackle the city’s summer water issues.
Parched City
The city faces a water shortage every summer. The construction of the pukka canal, between Munak on the Haryana border and Haiderpur in Delhi, is aimed at augmenting the city’s water supply by 80 MGD. The project was to be completed in 2006 initially.
Water runs on roads, homes go dry (Jul 14, 2009)
For second day in a row, the residents of Zamrudpur faced acute water scarcity caused due to the Delhi Jal Board pipe bursting on Sunday, after the launching girder at the Metro construction site crashed. Pawan Bhati, a resident said: “We went to the DJB office on Monday to demand water tankers, however, they sent just one for a colony of about 30,000 people. It finished in half-an-hour.” Another resident, Sunita Singh said: “We have been told that the water won’t be restored for next two days. What will we do?” She added that they had to call for a water tanker that charged them Rs 700.
Rajasthan seeks release of its water share from Punjab(The Hindu-12 July 2009)
Special Correspondent
JAIPUR: With the monsoon rains in Rajasthan getting delayed, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has once again asked neighbouring Punjab to release forthwith the desert State’s full share in the Ravi-Beas waters from the Harike barrage following the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) allocating 7,918 cusecs of water to Rajasthan.
Shortage of drinking water
In his third letter written to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the past three weeks, Mr. Gehlot said Punjab was still releasing only 5,400 cusecs of water from the Harike barrage to Rajasthan and this had caused a severe shortage of drinking water.
Mr. Gehlot reminded Mr. Badal of his telephonic conversation with him on July 1 and requested him to immediately act on his assurance to release Rajasthan’s full share.
The BBMB is unable to ensure release of the full quantity of water allocated by it to the States because of Punjab exercising control over the Ranjit Sagar dam and the Harike barrage. The matter pertaining to handing over the control of headworks to the BBMB has been pending before the Supreme Court.
JAIPUR: With the monsoon rains in Rajasthan getting delayed, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has once again asked neighbouring Punjab to release forthwith the desert State’s full share in the Ravi-Beas waters from the Harike barrage following the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) allocating 7,918 cusecs of water to Rajasthan.
Shortage of drinking water
In his third letter written to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the past three weeks, Mr. Gehlot said Punjab was still releasing only 5,400 cusecs of water from the Harike barrage to Rajasthan and this had caused a severe shortage of drinking water.
Mr. Gehlot reminded Mr. Badal of his telephonic conversation with him on July 1 and requested him to immediately act on his assurance to release Rajasthan’s full share.
The BBMB is unable to ensure release of the full quantity of water allocated by it to the States because of Punjab exercising control over the Ranjit Sagar dam and the Harike barrage. The matter pertaining to handing over the control of headworks to the BBMB has been pending before the Supreme Court.
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