Relevance of IWRM IN POLLUTION-WORKSHOP-I-RAJAGOPAL

Industrialization is central to generating job opportunities, reducing regional income disparities and enabling poverty eradication in developing countries like India. Goal-9 of the Sustainable Development Goals resonates to this end by stressing on the achievement of inclusive and sustainable industrialization, promoting innovation and resilient infrastructure. This has far-reaching implications in terms of achieving water security for the highly industrially developed, but naturally water scarce and drought-prone state of Gujarat, located in the western part of India. The objective of this paper is to review water pollution abatement strategies undertaken through various policies in the Gujarat state. This has been attempted within the background of federal water legislation/laws to protect water resources.T he issue of irreversibility in the quality of surface and groundwater resource of the state, already degraded by water pollution has been addressed. During the last decade the state has made commendable progress in augmenting water supplies by investing in a comprehensive schema of water works - the Narmada canal network under the Sardar Sarovar Dam, creation of water harvesting structures, construction of check dams with people’s participation etc. Water resource managers of the state, however, point out that the next important challenge for the state is to manage its deteriorating water quality. In 2015, the Central Pollution Board (CPCB) of India reported that out of the 275 critically polluted rivers, 20 flow in Gujarat. An estimated 800 large scale and 453,339 micro, small and medium industries dot Gujarat’s industrial landscape. A majority of these industries manufacturing chemicals, bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals, dye and dye intermediates, textiles are immensely water polluting. Lack of stringent regulatory environment, poor effluent treatment infrastructure and insufficient financial incentives to adopt water-saving technologies for industries have contributed to water pollution in the state. In 2010, the then Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India issued a moratorium on six of the critically polluted industrial clusters of the state. The State Pollution Control Board in Gujarat incurred heavy costs for the “clean up” in the form of investments in pollution control technology and updating of monitoring mechanisms in the state. For industries, it led to rising costs leading to greater “regulatory risks” due to water regulation reducing the attractiveness and eventually competitiveness of business. As pollution load from effluent treatment plants fell, the ban on the industrial clusters were lifted eventually. The comprehensive appraisal of the industrial clusters for water pollution, however did not include any concerted “clean up” of the already degraded water bodies. Sustainable industrialization has a critical role to play in water conservation. The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change 2014 highlights how industrial symbiosis within SEZ and clusters could be an effective breeding ground of innovative and effective pollution mitigation strategies. To this end, new alternatives using economic instruments such as effluents trading to combat water pollution from industries in India in general and Gujarat in particular has been explored.

2019

The water quality of the Mahanadi and its tributaries goes downwards owing to discharge of municipal wastes and human intervention. The chemical compounds in industrial wastes and sewage are so toxic that it has long term impact on a river's ecological balance. The crazy drive for establishing coal -fired power plants has put the river to severe strain. The waste disposals of fertilizer plants are detrimental to the environment, as it promotes algae growth. Industrial wastes are not treated properly before these are disposed into the water bodies owing to weak Government legislations.

Around the world as countries are struggling to arrive at an effective regulatory regime to control the discharge of industrial effluents into their ecosystems, Indian economy holds a double edged sword of economic growth and ecosystem collapse. This situation if mishandled can cause irreparable ecological harm in the long term well masked by short term economic prosperity. Considering that Industries comply with environmental regulations based on the level of enforcement and their ability to spend for waste treatment, this paper endeavours to sketch probable industrial effluent discharge scenarios under various market-enforcement conditions and proposes possible strategies for effective regulatory regime in India. The authors point out that as India moves towards stricter regulation of industrial effluents to control water pollution greater efforts are required to reduce the risk to public health as toxic pollutants which are mainly colourless and odourless can be expected to be released into the ecosystems. Examples of emerging cases like Tiruppur and Plachimada are presented to assert that ecosystem specific discharge standards is the solution and local communities are ready to participate in environmental decision making to safeguard their resources. (T. Rajaram). 1 A total maximum daily load (TMDL) is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still meet water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources.

Economic and Political Weekly, 2006

journal Pollution Under Control In India, 2024

Pollution in India has become a critical issue over the past few decades, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and population growth. This paper investigates the status of pollution control measures implemented across India, focusing on air, water, and land pollution. Despite significant efforts by the government and various environmental organizations, pollution levels remain alarming in several urban and rural areas. The study analyzes key legislative frameworks such as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and their amendments, along with the role of regulatory bodies like the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Special emphasis is placed on the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and its progress in mitigating air pollution, particularly in metropolitan cities.

Introduction The quality of the environment has been deteriorating steadily over the past few decades as a result of rapid industrialization and parallel growth in urbanization. Ambient standards of air, water and soil pollution are routinely exceeded with potentially disastrous consequences. India being a developing country, this problem tends to become more severe everyday with the ever increasing number of industries. In India, as in the rest of the world, the past two decades have witnessed a dramatic rise in environmental concern. The Government of India has adopted various measures for conservation, upgradation and protection of the environment. India is an original signatory to the solemn declaration of the United Nations conference held in Stockholm on 'Human Environment' in the year 1972. This 'Declaration' acts as an eye-opener to mankind and the people of the world on the essential and imperative need to protect the environment. The issue of protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources has received due attention in our planning process in the early seventies. The Fourth Five Year Plan (1968-73) gave explicit recognition for integrating environmental dimensions into the planning and development processes. A full-fledged Ministry of Environment & Forests was constituted in 1985 to oversee these functions at the National level. The steps taken up by the Government to curb the pollution problem in India have been discussed in this section.

ResearchGate, 2024

There is direct relationship between environment and economic development. Economic development without environmental considerations can cause serious environmental damage in turn impairing the quality of life of present and future generations. In the process of economic development, the environmental problems have been ignored or less concentrated. Any country's environmental problems are related to the level of its economic development, the availability of natural resources and the lifestyle of its population. Environment plays a vital role in human civilization. Human beings have close relations with the biosphere in which they live. Today, the environmental crisis is a tremendous problem for the whole world. Developing countries and developed countries are all suffering from environmental problems. Therefore, today environmental problems have been the object of discussion throughout the world.

The Journal of Environment & Development, 2008

Since India gained Independence, the Krishna basin has seen an increasing mobilization of its water resources. Warnings of basin closure (minimal flow to the ocean) emerge during dry periods. Basin water development and local rural dynamics have led to a degradation of downstream ecosystems manifesting itself by salinizing soil and groundwater, increasing pollution, making mangroves disappear, and desiccating wetlands. Reversing this evolution requires the formal recognition of the environment as a water user in its own right and the implementation of an environmental water provision. This provision should be based on a two-tier allocation system with assured discharges in the irrigation canals of the delta and to the ocean. This will lead to further commitment of water resources, but this is needed to reconcile the social, economic, and environmental objectives of sustainable development. Other measures facilitating integrated natural resources management from the local to the basin level are needed too.

Rivers as natural resources have been at the center of the development debates across the world for decades. The purpose of water as a resource in the development of industries, daily use resource for people, livelihood in basin areas and opportunities for the government to harvest it for energy and other purposes has been significant. Since independence the policy leanings have been over use of water as a source of power and irrigation for the nation. This was reflected in subsequent 5 year plans of the Government of India which led to the building off the ‘Temples of Modern India’ – Bhakra Nangal Dam, Hirakud Dam in the initial phase; Tehri Dam in the later phase. The proliferation of the pharmaceutical industries, the traditional socio religious engagements of the people around the rivers in these districts, waste disposal in urban areas have had an impact of the ecology, environment, livelihood and lifestyle. The rise in population and unabated construction is posing serious risks. The role of people in occupying areas along the river flood basins is also a challenge. The high population led to a drastic rise in the waste generated which is disposed in the river tributaries across the districts. The Paper attempts to be in line with the National Water Mission – Tata Institute of Social Sciences goals of Convergence of activities among citizenry and the state actors at the River Basin Level working on Water Conservation, Preservation and Augmentation on the basis of Equity, Environmental and Social Justice and Wellbeing.

2009