‘Waterman of India’ and Ramon Magsaysay award-winner Rajendra Singh has appealed to the governments to take up rejuvenation of rivers, particularly the Godavari, which is on “deathbed.”
Inaugurating the two-day national convention on ‘Rejuvenation of river Godavari’ here on Saturday, he said no single river had been rejuvenated by any government in the last 50 years.
Three challenges
Asking people to realise their responsibility on this count, Dr. Rajendra Singh said rivers were facing three challenges – encroachment, pollution, and over extraction of water.
Stating that no river water was clean and safe for drinking purpose, he said the future generations would not get potable water from the rivers if industries and civic bodies did not stop letting out sewage into them.
The Rashtriya Jal Biradari, a people’s movement Dr. Rajendra Singh had launched, rejuvenated 12 rivers in the country, and was ready to take up rejuvenation of the Godavari.
“All the governments since Independence have been friendly either to the corporates or the contractors, and neglected the rivers,” he charged.
Sectoral approach
a bane: IYR
Former Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who was present, said sectoral approach towards the rivers had turned out to be their bane.
“Engineers confine themselves to technicalities. Contractors are keen only on installing pipes to lift water and earning a quick buck. Politicians make false promises on completing dams. Industrialists release pollutants into the rivers,” Mr. Rao said, and suggested long-term sustainable model for construction of dams across the rivers.
In his address, former Vice-Chancellor of JNTUK Allam Apparao said governments were not sensitive to the issue of rejuvenation of rivers.
Sand mafia
“ Sand mafia has turned out to be a threat to the very existence of the rivers,” he added.
Vijay Paranjpye, an expert on Godavari basin, called for protecting the river beyond the borders. “Fifty percent of the river flows in Maharashtra, which is completely polluted,” said Prof. Vijay, and suggested construction of reservoirs across the river.