1

Future of Yamuna: Trends and crystal gazing

Can we advertise for a river saviour?

2

Dakpathar barrage on Yamuna and Dhakrani & Dhalpur HEPs

Dhalipur PH, Ahsan Barrage, Kulhal PH

3

Tons River: Ichari barrage, Chibro & Khodri PH

Hydro generation in Yamuna HEPs

3

4

5

6

7

1986-87

1987-88

1988-89

1989-90

1990-91

1991-92

1992-93

1993-94

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10Year

Dhakrani

3

4

5

6

1986

-87

1987

-88

1988

-89

1989

-90

1990

-91

1991

-92

1992

-93

1993

-94

1994

-95

1995

-96

1996

-97

1997

-98

1998

-99

1999

-00

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

Year

MU

/MW

Dhalipur

4

Hydro generation from Asan HEPs

3

4

5

6

1993-94

1994-95

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

Year

Khara

5.14

4.59

5.12

5.09

6.01

4.74 4.84 5.

08

4.55 4.

73

4.73

5.27

4.53

4.44

4.13

5.5

5.13

4.3

5.37

4.97

5 5.03

3.77

6.13

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

1986

-87

1987

-88

1988

-89

1989

-90

1990

-91

1991

-92

1992

-93

1993

-94

1994

-95

1995

-96

1996

-97

1997

-98

1998

-99

1999

-00

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

Year

MU

/MW

Khulal

Hydro generation in Tons HEPs

2

3

4

5

1985

-86

1986

-87

1987

-88

1988

-89

1989

-90

1990

-91

1991

-92

1992

-93

1993

-94

1994

-95

1995

-96

1996

-97

1997

-98

1998

-99

1999

-00

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

Year

MU

/MW

Khodri

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

1985

-86

1986

-87

1987

-88

1988

-89

1989

-90

1990

-91

1991

-92

1992

-93

1993

-94

1994

-95

1995

-96

1996

-97

1997

-98

1998

-99

1999

-00

2000

-01

2001

-02

2002

-03

2003

-04

2004

-05

2005

-06

2006

-07

2007

-08

2008

-09

2009

-10

Year

MU

/MW

Chibro

5

Hydropower generation in WYC HEP

5.56

4.89

5.1

4.81 4.85

5.56

5.19

5.56

5.04 5.08

4.83 5.

08 5.33

4.65

4.15 4.1 4.33 4.

523.

77

5.81

4.67

3.5

4.5

5.5

1989

-90

1991

-92

1993

-94

1995

-96

1997

-98

1999

-00

2001

-02

2003

-04

2005

-06

2007

-08

2009

-10

Year

MU

/MW

West Yamuna Canal

Declining generation of Yamuna basin HEPsYamuna River Basin

3.74

4.17

3.64

3.35

4.13

4.88

4.01

3.94 3.98 4.05 4.

263.

664.

274.

773.

743.

593.

443.

933.

893.

153.

773.

493.

123.

82.

55

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

1985

-86

1987

-88

1989

-90

1991

-92

1993

-94

1995

-96

1997

-98

1999

-200

0

2001

-02

2003

-04

2005

-06

2007

-08

2009

-10

Year

MU/

MW

6

What is the Problem in Delhi?• Does Delhi lack financial resources?• Does Delhi lack technology?• Is the Science unknown?• Is there lack of media attention?• Is there lack of judicial oversight?• Are there too few institutions? • Insufficient laws? • Is it insufficient freshwater? NO:

Lucky to get water from Ganga, Sutlej and glaciers

• Lack of infrastructure? Not really• Credible/ democratic/ transparent/

accountable/ participatory governance?

Threats to the Future of Yamuna

• Dams, Barrages, ILR• Hydropower projects• Diversions• Deforestation• Pollution• Urbanisation• Development Model

7

Threats to Yamuna continued…• Floodplain encroachment• Climate Change, NAPCC, false

solutions• Groundwater Extraction• Destruction of local water systems,

wetlands• Lack of credible/ democratic/

accountable/ transparent/ participatory governance

• No role for people in governance of the river/ dams/ forests/ hydropower projects/ planning (continues today, see: NGBRA)

Threats to the Future of Rivers• There is no law to protect freshwater flow in rivers• The agencies (e.g. MWR, CWC, WQAA, NRCA, NGRBA, other

basin authorities, state and central govts) that are supposed to ensure sustained existence of rivers see it only either as a resource to be exploited completely or as a dumping sites

• Market, out god, has no use of rivers• MEF that has the mandate to ensure sustained existence of

rivers has shown no inclination or will. Its NRCP is in doldrums, Water Pollution Control Act, the EAC on RVPs, CPCB etc have shown even a vision for rivers.

• The New Wetlands protection Rules (notified on 021210) excludes rivers!

• The only state govt that has notified sustained flow in damned rivers has shown no will to implement it.

• The neglect starts Right from the TOP: PM downwards…• We need a trend breakers.. • And then see what happens break ke baad…

8

But there are also some hopes…• Report of the World Commission on Dams• Techniques like System of Rice Intensification• Compulsions of Climate Change• Increasing awareness and activism of the

people, communities and citizen groups • Which also leads to legislations like the RTI Act

Yamunaji यमुनाजीmaili बरबादhui हु ईDelhi द हtere तेरेliye लये

9

THANK YOU

We publish Dams, Rivers and People• www.sandrp.in• cwaterp@vsnl.comDecember 12, 2010