Activists demand ‘right to life for rivers’

The second Odisha River Conference organised on April 22 and 23 by the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) and the Mahanadi River Waterkeeper, along with about 25 partner organisations, concluded with asking the Governments to recognise the rivers’ right to life in line with that enjoyed by Indian citizens and help them flow freely in healthy conditions.

The conference also demanded that the Governments help cater to the needs of riparian communities, maintain biodiversity and other priorities in a sustainable manner.

Participated by about 150 people, including basin communities from both Odisha and Chhattisgarh, civil society representatives, academics, researchers, water experts and activists from across the country, the conference raised concerns over the dying state of our rivers as well as the way conflicts between States are getting murkier.

The speakers said that tribunals alone can’t save the ill-fated rivers and resolve the conflicts over them. Riparian States must keep the door open for peaceful dialogues and work jointly for rejuvenation of the river basins in ecological approaches with participation of communities and their institutions such as the Gram Sabhas.

They urged upon Odisha and Chhattisgarh to start a regular dialogue process led by Chief Ministers of both the States.

The meet resolved to push for a ‘Rivers Rights Act’ at the national level that will not only give the rivers the right to survive with similar rights enjoyed by human beings, but also recognise rights of the basin communities such as farmers, fisher folks, forest communities and indigenous communities over water on first priority and ensure the role of Gram Sabhas in decision making.