NEW DELHI: Despite fears that the flow of the Bhagirathi, the main tributary of the Ganga, is falling in volume, the government has said there is no such threat to the river and the "natural" receding of the Gangotri glacier does not require any corrective measures.
"Gomukh is the ice cave of Gangotri glacier through which the river Bhagirathi emerges from the glacier. Therefore, the question of Ganga going far away from the main source does not arise," earth sciences minister Kapil Sibal informed the Parliament.
According to Geological Survey of India data, between 1935 and 1996, Gangotri glacier receded at an average 18.80 metres per year. Studies by other institutions show that yearly recession dropped to 17.5 metres during 1971-2004 and further to 12.10 metres in 2004-05.
In view of the "rapid melting" of the Himalayan glaciers, the Uttarakhand government recently decided to regulate the flow of tourists to protected areas of the Gangotri National Park, including Gomukh, where only 150 travellers are now allowed daily. It also banned entry of mules and horses to Gangotri, besides raising the tourist entry fee to the area, frequented by thousands of 'kanwariyas' (Shiva devotees) in July-August.
But the central government said since Ganga (Bhagirathi) still emanates from Gomukh ice cave of Gangotri glacier, no steps were needed for bringing back the flow of Ganga.
"As far as the recession of the glacier is concerned, it is a part of natural phenomenon and cannot be stopped by using short-term artificial measures," Sibal said. Recent Google Earth pictures had shown that an eight-km stretch of Bhagirathi was drying up, and so were other tributaries of Ganga like Bhilangana, Assi Ganga and Alaknanda. The Ganga travels 2,510 km before meeting the sea.
The Supreme Court is hearing a PIL over the problems facing the Ganga. The petitioner, Sureshwar Sinha*, recently filed an additional affidavit charging that the construction of four dams — Pala Maneri, Maneri-Bahli, Lohari Nagpala and Bhairon Ghate — had led to the drying up of the Bhagirathi. He is also understood to have shown the photographs to the apex court judges. Although the government has admitted to the recession of the Gangotri glacier, it has not conducted any specific study to point out the factors leading to it and if it had any connection with global warming.
A survey by the Almora-based GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development found that the slowdown in the glacier's recession rate during 2004-05 could be due to high and frequent snowfall in that area during the 2004 winter. The maximum recession took place along the centreline, followed by the northern portion of the snout, while the southern part of the snout was retreating at a much lower rate.
*Mr. Sinha Please contact us as soon as possible
Sursari Devi’s comments on the above news item:
Antim Sanskar of the Ganga
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand performed the Antim Sanskar of the upper Ganga on 3rd of May 2008 taking much pride in the production of 1566 million unit of electricity. Whole Bhagirathi valley is ruined by the government by cutting forest and digging tunnels.....and CM wants to save the glacier by limiting the number of tourist to 150 per day to the glacier. It is a mockery of nature and us people who elect these politicians.
Please pay attention to the following:
The news item in Times of India on Gangotri Glacier written by Ashish Sinha on 30th April is not addressing the real issue. Ganga is dried between the Glacier and Tehri because it is put into tunnels at various places and the dry bed of the Ganga is plundered by the contractors and the locals. Please see all these pictures given in this blog.
Our committee has already sent TOI a file containing pictures. But the leading Newspaper could not care less to establish the truth. We are also in the process of filing a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court. We request the prestigious persons in media to investigate properly the matter by your own correspondents. We have heard that money has changed hands and Ganga is sold to the private sector by the present BJP government. It is interesting that BJP is making much fuss and public movement all over India on Rama Setu issue, whereas, it is BJP who is responsible for the death of the Ganga in the upper Himalayas. It is indeed a hypocritical attitude of the Bhartiya Janata Party. Our committee sought an appointment with Mr. L. K. Advani but we were refused. The present BJP government in Uttarakhanda is taking pride in the production of the Electricity after destroying Ganga. Here is a one page advertisement. of the Uttarakhanda Chief Minister in Times of India dated 3.05.08.
Ganga ma Bhagirathi ka Antim Sanskar
Performing the last rights of mother Ganges
Union Minister Kapil Sibil’s statement has no value in the present context. 'Recession of the Glacier is natural' but it is related to the Global warming. We want to draw the attention to the destruction of the forest for building another dam only 40 Km downstream from Glacier. This is contributing to the climate change in the area. Ganga is being put in another Tunnel at this place. Considering all the destruction what the government is doing in this area, Uttarakhand’s CM’s statement of limiting the number of tourists to the Glacier sounds like a mockery.
We very much hope to have the help of the media to spread the message of our government’s cruelties on nature and its participation to the global warming, climate change in our area and its effect on the local population. Our aim is to get back the flow of Ganga on its normal bed and stop the manipulation of nature for the private profits of the politicians and multinational companies. WE, the people of India have a right to live calmly and peacefully in our homes and we want our normal water and weather conditions.
Sursari Devi, Uttarakhand
ayurvedavv@gmail.com
Desh Bachao Ganga Bachao Andolan
(Save the Country, Save the Ganga Movement)
http://www.save-ganga.blogspot.com/
http://www.save-sacred-ganga.blogspot.com/
Sounds of Ganga Lovers from Abroad
Australia
TO: The Chief Justice Of India,
Supreme Court,
New Delhi.
Dear Sir. 21/04/2008.
Although I am not directly involved with the Ganga dams project, I am dismayed at the devastation that this project will certainly have on the culture, people and environment of India.
I am indirectly involved in that I have fortunately been able to share in some of the wisdom and knowledge of the Vedas.
This has enabled me to respect and fully endorse the powerful strength of these teachings.
Within these teachings the reverence for this beautiful world and our connection with it is began in the history and the waters of the Great Ganga. India is her history her culture and her beloved people.
How can environmental impact statements be believed when there is already devastation of the environment and ecology fractures in the valleys and river courses, with deforestation and substandard engineering subsidence is already occuring and claiming homes and livelihoods of many people. It is also reported that these dams are to be constructed on fault lines------Why is the preservation of this beautiful natural area not a priority? Why is there disregard for the sacred history and sacred future of the people of India?
The British plundered the natural resources of India with the construction of the first dam, India itself is promoting and expanding this sad history.
There are other ways to produce electricity and there are ways to enforce the cleaning up of the Ganga downstream. India is claiming more knowledge and wisdom than the Vedas. Is she right? Is she taking the quick way for short term gain? Is the sacrifice to all that is sacred worth it?
Yours faithfully,
P Conwell.
Arundel Farm Estate.
Arundel Rd.,
Keilor. Vic. 3036.
Australia.
France
To the Supreme Court of India,
Dear Sirs,
I write you to express my deep concern and sadness regarding the abominable project of dam on Ganga which is according to me a severe and criminal attempt to Indian (and humanity's) natural, cultural and spiritual treasure.
India is a leading country of the present and the future. As such, it must be proud to act as a leader, an example to the world in the way to combine respect of traditions and economical progress. India is full of inventive brains who are willling to invent and develop eco friendly technics to supply energy and sustain the growth of the country on a fair basis for all the creatures, as well as for the Creation.
Please don't let Ganga die. Please hear our plead and support our claim to stop that awful project which will have terrible consequences on people's life, on nature. So many people from all over India, and from all over the world come alongside Ganga to find peace, to learn and keep vedic traditions alive... where will they go now ?? We are all children of Ganga, please support us. Please support the call of the lovers of the Himalayas, please support all the shyshias of the vedic traditions.
Anne VANACKERE
FRANCE
1 comment:
Very Nice blog..... keep it up!!
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