/ground-report/media/post_banners/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Source-Canva-27.jpg)
The government's Tawi river bank development project in Jammu and Kashmir has raised concerns among environmental activists, who cite potential risks to the environment amid the growing impacts of climate change.
The project aims to revitalize groundwater sources by creating an artificial lake and roadside amenities to boost tourism, with a budget of INR 530 crore. However, advocacy groups and citizens have been resisting the project due to concerns about its ecological implications.
Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, laid the cornerstone of the ambitious riverside development project last year. The project had faced multiple delays in the last 13 years.
Sinha stated during an inspection visit in March 2023 that the vibrant riverfront would ensure sustainable urban infrastructure, unique business opportunities, and a better quality of life for citizens. The project is inspired by the Sabarmati riverfront development in Gujarat.
Tawi River development raises concerns
The Tawi River, a major left bank tributary of the Chenab River, flows through the city of Jammu and is of significant historical and religious importance. It serves as the main source of drinking water for the old city and is considered sacred in Hinduism. However, the discharge of raw sewage has severely polluted the river, exacerbating concerns about deteriorating water flow in recent years.
The Friends of River Tawi (FORT), a youth group, is leading the charge against river development, expressing concern about its potential negative environmental consequences.
On March 7, young adults collaborated with the youth-led climate change awareness organization, Climate Front Jammu, to clean up 12 sacks of garbage from the vicinity of Tawi bridge in Gujjar Nagar.
Back in 2009, the UT government initiated the Tawi beautification project, investing significant funds to create an artificial Tawi lake to attract tourists. However, the project has faced multiple delays, and as a result, trash continues to accumulate in the Tawi river.
The research study entitled "Ritual Practices and River Pollution: A Case Study of River Tawi in Jammu District" selected the two busiest Ghats on the River Tawi, namely Har Ki Poodhi Ghat and Bikram Chowk Ghat, as focal points for the investigation.
The researchers chose the city of Jammu, known as the "City of Temples", as the study area. The main respondents in this study were temple authorities, devotees, an NGO dedicated to combating pollution in Tawi for the past five years, officials from the Jammu Municipal Corporation, and authorities from the pollution control board in Jammu.
River's flow control and impacts
The Tawi River flood incidents in 2013 and 2020 caused significant damage to adjacent areas and infrastructure. Environmentalists like Bhushan Parimoo stress that controlling the river's flow could further affect already declining aquatic life. Before 1947, the river was home to more than 60 species of aquatic life, but neglect of its ecological status has led to the extinction of most species.
Local residents fear that the riverbank project may adversely affect nearby notified wetlands, such as the Gharana wetland, as authorities artificially regulate the flow of water. Additionally, the 2016 amendment to the order allows authorities to extract minor minerals from Tawi, thereby raising concerns about riverbed disturbance and habitat degradation.
Citizens and environmentalists hope that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will heed the concerns raised and stop what they see as an ill-conceived “smart city Jammu lung removal”. The project's clash with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro-environment initiatives during the 26th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP26) further added to their angst.
Pollution wide-ranging impacts
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) serves as a crucial indicator of water contamination, representing the amount of oxygen required per liter of water to break down dissolved organic matter. In India, the Central Pollution Control Board has set a BOD standard of less than 3 milligrams per liter for water to be considered fit for bathing, a goal the River Rejuvenation Committee aimed to achieve in Jammu and Kashmir.
In 2018, India's National Water Quality Monitoring Program identified nine river sections in Jammu and Kashmir with high BOD levels: Devika River (3.4-22 mg/l), Banganga (6-14 mg/l) , Jhelum (3.2-5.5 mg/l), Chenab (5 mg/l), Basantar (5-6 mg/l), Chunt Kol (14.5 mg/l), Gawkadal (9 mg/l), Sindh ( 3.7 mg/l) and Tawi (5-8.3 mg/l).
Two years later, in 2020, the Tawi area around Bhagwati Nagar exhibited the highest BOD levels, often exceeding 5 mg/l and reaching 8.5 mg/l in February. A study by researchers from Jamia Millia Islamia University pointed to improper waste management, particularly solid waste dumps in Bhagwati Nagar, as the cause of the serious damage to the river's health.
Leading foresters and citizens assert that the preservation of this well-kept, biodiverse park should take precedence over commercial real estate development plans, as the Tawi Front Park in Jammu has drawn attention for its exceptional biodiversity in addition to the riverfront controversy.
Raw sewage poses a significant threat to the Tawi River in addition to solid waste. Data from 2018 indicates that the city discharges 75 million litres per day of raw wastewater into the river.
Although there was an action plan that called for functional wastewater treatment plants (STPs) by December 2019, progress remains slow. The ineffective drainage system continues to contribute to the pollution of the river, with plastic debris exacerbating the issue.
Keep Reading
Follow Ground Report for Climate Change and Under-Reported issues in India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected].
