YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES A river sings a holy song… conveying the truth that we are a river. If we are ignorant of this natural law… then we are lost!

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES – Research, Documentation and Publications - Letters, Appeals, Suggestions - Presentations, Meetings, Events - Satyagrah and mass mobilisation - Online outreach and networking - Legal Action - Yatra and Vigil - Focussed projects

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES

‘Free’ and ‘blue’ river Yamuna at Kharadi 40 km downstream of Yamunotri

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Today ‘greed’ has turned a perennial river into seasonal. But it wasn’t like this always. Till the nineteen seventies the river was alive. So what happened?

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES WYC HATHNIKUND BARRAGE EYC 9 August 2009

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES DECADAL FLOW IN THE RIVER DOWNSTREAM OF TAJEWALA / HATHNIKUND ( Source: RTI response Oct 2008 from Haryana Irrigation Deptt )

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Technology Vs Ecology Karnal April 2010 Panipat Sonepat

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Clearly the water in the river in Delhi is 100% Delhi’s sewage since the river upstream is dry

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Shahdara drain in East Delhi that drains into the river Yamuna

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES

What led to all this? Out of sight is out of mind ( NEW DELHI is away from the river. Many MPs might never have visited the river in their 5 years tenure ) Widespread Ignorance ( River exists at Wazirabad, so problem is only in 22 km stretch in Delhi ) Shortsighted approaches ( Fix Delhi rest will follow )

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES

Bus depot as a river front

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Bus depot during Sep 2010 floods

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES 70 lives were lost due to greed and bad technology

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Lalita Park

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Reason why CWG 2010 almost did not happen!

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES River Yamuna bank at Vrindavan (UP) – Land of Lord Krishna

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES River Yamuna in the tourist capital of India, Agra (UP)

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Polluted and toxic waters of river Yamuna (on the left) polluting river Chambal as they meet at Bhareh (UP). Birds like Pelicans can be seen in river Chambal (right) but none in Yamuna.

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Yamuna at Allahabad

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Before we fiddle with a natural system like a ‘river’ let us be as careful as we often are … when we ourselves, or permit anyone else to, fiddle with our own person.

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES PRHI testing status NoGridStatusResultCommentCPCB (2007) DO –>6 1Kharadi (UtK)Underway --DO – 9.0 ( ) 2Katapathar (Utk)Tested.6 – Sick (Yellow)CatchmentDO – 9.8 ( ) 3Gojar/Khodri (HP)Tested.53 – Sick (Yellow)Catchment, QuantityDO – 8.5 ( ) 4Yamuna Nagar (Har)Tested.6 – Sick (Yellow)Quantity, QualityDO – 7.6 ( ) 5Ramra (UP)Tested.28 – Dying (Red)Quantity, QualityDO – 7.1 ( ) 6Amipur (Har)Tested.25 – Dying (Red)Quantity, QualityDO – 2.5 (0.0 – 12.1) 7Ovah (UP)Tested.52 – Sick (Yellow)QualityDO – 5.8 ( ) 8Gadaya (UP)Tested.45 – Sick (Yellow)QualityDO – 5.8 ( ) 9Bateshwar (UP)Underway --DO – 8.2 ( ) 10Pachnada (UP)Tested.5 – Sick (Yellow)QualityDO – 10.1 ( ) 11Hamir Pur (UP)Tested.54 – Sick (Yellow)QualityDO – 9.3 ( ) 12Raghopur (UP)Tested.8 – Healthy (Blue)RevivedDO - ? 13Mau (UP)Underway Bikar (UP)Tested.8 – Healthy (Blue)RevivedDO – 8.7 ( ) RIVER.53 – SICKREVIVABLEDO – 7.2

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Magical properties of the river at Batesar

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES River is -Ecological entity (unique ecosystem) -Economic entity (irrigation, groundwater, livelihoods) -Social and cultural entity (Kumbh, religious ceremonies) -Essential link in hydrologic cycle just like the role of arteries in human circulatory system -Controller of thermal currents in mega cities just like the role of blood in human thermal balance A river stretch doesn’t exist in isolation

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Why dam the tributaries (Giri and Tons) of river Yamuna? It is wrong to think in terms of water in the river ever going waste! Monsoon water is far better stored in hilly catchments (true ecological dams) and underground then behind (technological) dams which in any case have a finite life. Tajewala barrage became history during the 2010 floods!

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES River Yamuna can be revived but not through mere technological actions in Delhi. It can be revived only 250 km upstream at Hathnikund. Haryana must revert to its water abstraction levels of pre Delhi must not demand water to meet its drinking water needs but for flow in the river. Haryana is compromising not just the future of the river but also its own people. River Flood plains must be protected by law and by people

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Technology is human - There is good and ‘bad’ technology… Ecology is divine - There never is ‘bad’ ecology…

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES Technology vs Ecology Technology with Ecology

YAMUNA – STORY IN PICTURES TECHNOLOGY – OFTEN KILLS LIFE TO CREATE LIFE LESS (Dams, roads, bridges, embankments, buildings, airports, canals etc) ECOLOGY – EVOLVES LIFE (plants, animals) THANK YOU