Scientific management of the glacial rivers and lakes of the Himalayas is the only way to take care of the irrigation and drinking water needs of millions of people in the Gangetic plains. There is no traditional or spiritual method available to us to meet the 21st century demands for water and power. Pouring milk and dumping bodies would not bring purity to any river.
Some religious persons have expressed concern that the Gangotri glacier is receding, and Ma Ganga would disappear like the ancient river Saraswati. In the Harappan Age of the river Saraswati, geological faults were not known. Today, with the advancement in science, we are in a position to know about the natural changes likely to occur in the future. Geological and hydrological knowledge makes it possible to manage the sustainability of natural resources. We cannot control natural forces but we can plan and prepare for their better management. With the projects under construction, we can achieve 50,000 MW hydropower within the next five years. Such a futuristic developmental policy would certainly provide jobs to thousands of unemployed youth and encourage industry, and engineers, doctors and teachers to go to the rural areas. Completion of the dams and other development projects calls for the collective will and cooperation of all political parties and the citizens.
Today, “pollution” is a looming issue and only scientific methods would restore purity of the mighty Ganga. To believe that any water would wash away your sins is not consistent with science. Nowhere in the Vedas or the Upanishads or in the dharma-shastra texts has it been said that any river can undercut the Law of Karma. The Manusmriti says that “Not by blind faith, but only by application of logical reasoning (tarka) one can know what right action (dharma) is. (yastarken anusandhate sa dharmam ved netarah).
All those dharmacharyas who are agitating and fasting for the honour of Ma Ganga are requested to consider the imperative of utilising the great potential of Himalayan water and hydropower for the benefit of the future generations.
There is an estimated 200,000 MW energy stored in the frozen icy waters of the Himalayas. Geological, hydrological and seismological studies of the glaciers have enhanced our capability to take care of Ma Ganga and provide life-saving drinking water and essential civic facilities to ever-rising populations. Apart from the polar caps of the North and South Poles, the Himalaya is the largest ice water body on Planet Earth.
The Kailash-Manasarovar, for example, is the largest ice water ocean situated at a safe height of thousands of metres above the sea level. According to a recent study of the glaciers by Prof. Stephan Harrison of Exeter University, U.K., published in Nature Geoscience, the Himalayan glaciers gained 0.11 to 0.22 metres (0.36 to 0.72 feet) per year between 1999 and 2008. Scientific studies have concluded that the small ice mass increase is indicative that the Himalayan glaciers do not follow the global trend of warming like the North and South Poles.
Today, with advanced river water management we can bridge the gap between rural and urban living. Scientific knowledge gives us the confidence for corrections and construction of water storage facilities and hydropower generation, without damaging environment.
With the scientific and technical experience gathered from dam constructions and river water management in the mountain regions of Russia, Canada, the U.S. and the northernmost region of Finland — some 200 high constructions around the world — including the great Nile (Egypt), Volga (Russia), and Missouri, (U.S.), we are in a commanding position to build strong and safe dams with sustainable development strategies in the Himalayas. The Chinese have completed more than a hundred small and big hydropower facilities with irrigation and drinking water supply in the Tibetan autonomous region.
Uttarakhand is at the crossroads of development that cannot be achieved by washing our sins in the holy river. Our saints and dharmacharyas can help the nation by reforming the age-old belief systems. Why has no saint condemned the sacrifice of innocent animals in temples? Why have they not raised their voice against the killing of female foetus? I appeal to our dharmgurus and acharyas to resist the temptation to arouse emotions against scientific development projects.
We must bridge the rural-urban divides. Due to a lack of essential civic amenities in rural sectors, doctors, teachers and engineers are not willing to work away from the cities. When there is an acute shortage of qualified and trained professionals in the social-economic and industrial sectors, when thousands of our youth are jobless, and the villagers in higher regions are facing natural fury, without food and shelter, what is the meaning of our fasting in the name of saving rivers?
Today, we are in the Knowledge Age, exploring the Moon and the Mars, the cosmos and galaxies beyond. All socio-economic, industrial, educational and professional activities are dependent on uninterrupted supply of water and power.
If the high-rise houses in New York and Chicago enjoy uninterrupted water and power supply 365 days of the year, why cannot we provide clean drinking water to our citizens? In the 21st century, it is not necessary for our mothers and sisters to go miles to collect water.
(The writer belongs to the Centre for Science Policy/Concerned Scientists & Philosophers, Dehra Dun. Email: dhiren.sharma32@gmail.com)
Keywords: river ganga
Being an electrical engineer myself i can state that the proposed dams
on the river may be passed of as environmentally friendly (run-of-the-
river projects) by the govts. of uttrakhand and india but run-of-the-
river projects have an anomaly where in some cases large amounts of
water is diverted .
The whole Indo-Gangetic Plain is dependent upon the rivers from the
Himalayas to carry down the necessary slit that replenishes and keeps
the indian gangetic plain fertile. Any diversion of such waters will
only lead to catastrophic results for the whole .
This is an excellent article about Ma Ganga.
It is in our hands to protect Sacred River and need of the hour is to make awareness in the people.
The author in the article comes out as an ardent supporter of building
large dams. The damage caused by the dams around the world is a proven
fact and its ill effect on the long term sustainability of the river
itself has been highlighted at different water forums. Authors
examples of Nile and Volga have not taken into consideration on the
damage done to the ecology in both these regions. In fact both these
rivers today hardly reach the ocean. Please read the book "When rivers
run dry" by Fred Pearce. He covers almost every important rivers
around the world and the damage that large dams have caused to the
overall ecology and ultimately decimation of many seas. A well known
example is the demise of Aral sea.
congrats dhirendra ji for your bold and scientific approach upon ganga. it is truely in the hindu tradition. the bhagavata purana narrates to us how in the begining of th creation sri krishna tells brahma the creator that only those knowledge systems are useful which can be understood synoptically with science! jnanam param guhyam me yad vijnana samanvitam. most of our contemporary problems are due to this disconnect between traditional knowledge systems and science. how? tells bhagavata again:
at the time of ganga's descent on to the earth the river hesitated to do so for two reasons. one, who will contain my force and two, who will cleanse me of the sins-dirt washed into her? for the first the answer was the locks of siva (the trees and vegetations of himalayas). as for the dirt the lord assured ganga that there will always be a bhakta ( a servant of ganga) who will take ganga's sins-dirt away. true we had them in bahugunas like. its a mutual seva: ganga cleans us we clean her.
During my visit in Benaras (March 2006), I have seen the Ganga water is
polluted and in green colour. The( water) boats are parked in the river
irregularly. I have also heard that the half burnt dead bodies are
thrown into the river under the wrong impression of the ATHMA reaching
the heaven. This practice was followed from several centuries.This may
be stopped forthwith by creating a separate water channel.
It is our prime duty to have clean river in order to have clean water.
Really a disappointing article which questions the belief of people in
Ganga. Let us not talk about the belief and superstition. Worshipping
nature has a proven benefit in biodiversity conservation. We are aware
of the fact that many people who are protesting the illegal and
polluting effluent disposal in Ganga are the ones who worship it. Its
good to have the faith forever. And please do not deny the fact that
Global warming has some effect on Himalaya. Scientists have observed
that all other glaciers are melting except the ones in Karakoram
range. That constitutes half of the glaciers in Himalaya.Reason of
thickening in Karakoram range is still doubtful but please do not
convey a message which tries to lower down the concern about global
warming.
Very good Mr Sharma. Babus cannot listen and act--they have lost all their abilities
since they got recruited and trained.
The so-called-swamis and babas are opening ashrams abroad--they are in the same
boat. Both of the above categories do not drink water from ganga--they are into
bottled water for long. Same for MPs and other dramatists.
Scientists are unwanted--the new untouchables in this society.
Long live cine-cricket stars!
I agree with the author on the need to adapt to change in climate and economy,
being a student of Remote Sensing myself (vegetation study from satellite
observations). However, what seriously concerns me is the possibility of our
politicians using this pretext to loot the nation and deprive people. I would be a
staunch supporter of the project (if possible, by providing scientific assistance) if
transparency is ensured.
An excellent article about the importance of one of the important natural river and resource. Mr Sharma's "Completion of the dams and other development projects calls for the collective will and cooperation of all political parties and the citizens. " - might have been in bold or italics. Anyways, every citizen should think scientifically and act promptly in this modern world.
Ma Ganga is reverred and abused by human activity. The most reverred river has been
polluted by people and commercial centers to the extend, if the river dries up , it will only be
a karmic outcome! It is a shameful thing to see the neglect by the Govermental authorities
and people alike. Fatalism will not save the river and offer safe water to the people, proper
planning will !
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