P ROPOSA

AL

G ANG
GA R IIVER B ASI N
M ANA
AGEMMENT P LA N

S UBM ITTED TO
T

Ministry off Environ

nment an
nd Fores
sts
Go
overnment of Ind
dia
New Dellhi

Indian In
nstitutes
s of Tech
hnology

IIT IIT IIT T

IIT IIT IIT IIT
Bombay Delhi Guwahhati Kanppur Kharragpur Madras
M Roorkee
R
 P REFACE

The river Ganga is of unique importance ascribed to reasons that are geographical,
historical, socio-cultural and economic, giving it the status of a National River. It
has been facing serious threat due to discharge of increasing quantities of sewage
effluents, trade effluents and other pollutants on account of rapid urbanization,
industrialization and agricultural growth. The challenge is compounded due to
competing demands for river water for irrigation, domestic purposes, industrial use
and power.

There is need to ensure effective abatement of pollution and conservation of the

river Ganga by adopting a river basin approach to promote inter-sectorial
coordination for comprehensive planning and management. It is equally important
to maintain minimum ecological flows in river Ganga with the aim of ensuring water
quality through environmentally sustainable development.

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 3 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government has
constituted National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) as a planning, financing,
monitoring and coordinating authority for strengthening the collective efforts of the
Central and State Government for effective abatement of pollution and conservation
of the river Ganga. One of the important functions of the NGRBA is to prepare and
implement a Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP).

It is proposed to develop the GRBMP based on scientific application of modern tools

and technologies combined with traditional wisdom. It has been decided that the
GRBMP be prepared jointly by the seven Indian Institutes Technology’s (IITs) namely
IITs at Kanpur, Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee. This will
help leverage the vast knowledge base and experience of IITs in various fields.

This document is a proposal to prepare Ganga River Basin Management Plan by the
IITs. This has been prepared based on workshops organized on various thematic
groups at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur, and several meetings/consultations with various
groups/people. Contribution of each and every one who participated in the
preparation of this document is highly appreciated. The seed grant provided by the
MoEF, and the trust and confidence put on IITs by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Hon’ble
Minister of State (Independent Charge) is gratefully acknowledged. Guidance,
support and cooperation received from Shri, Rajiv Gauba, IAS, Joint Secretary and
his colleagues from MoEF is highly appreciated.

June 30, 2010 Vinod Tare

 C ONTENTS
S No Page No
1 Prologue 1
2 Approach and Methodology 2
3 Data Requirement/Sources/Collection 4
4 Environmental Quality and Pollution 7
4.1 Preamble 7
4.2 Objective 7
4.3 Scope 7
4.4 Methodology 8
4.5 Data Required 20
4.6 Time Schedule 20
4.7 Deliverables 21
4.8 Work Plan 21
4.9 The Team 22

5 Water Resources Management 23

5.1 Preamble 23
5.2 Objective 26
5.3 Scope 26
5.4 Methodology 26
5.5 Data Required 28
5.6 Deliverables 29
5.7 Work Plan 30
5.8 Data Collection 31
5.9 The Team 31

6 Fluvial Geomorphology 33
6.1 Preamble 33
6.2 Major Objectives 34
6.3 Approach and Methodology 35
6.3.1 Mapping geomorphic condition and river dynamics of the river 35
6.3.2 Generation of stream power distribution pattern 36
6.3.3 Control of river energy and sediment supply on channel morphology 37
6.3.4 Hydrology – Geomorphology - Ecology relationship for the different
reaches of the Ganga River 37
6.3.5 Determination of Environment Flow and role of hydrology for
managing geomorphic condition 37
6.3.6 Data integration in River style framework 37
6.4 Data Requirements 38
6.5 Distribution of Work 38
6.6 Deliverables 39
6.7 Work Plan 40
6.8 The Team 40
6.9 References Cited 41

7 Ecology and Biodiversity 42

7.1 Preamble 42
7.2 Objectives 44
7.3 Methodology 44
7.4 Deliverables 50
7.5 Work Plan 50
7.6 The Team 51
7.7 References 51
S No Page No.
8 Socio-Economic-Cultural 52
8.1 Preamble 52
8.2 Objective 53
8.3 Tasks 53
8.4 The Team 55
8.5 Important Note 55

9 Policy, Law and Governance 56

9.1 Preamble 56
9.2 Objective 57
9.3 Methodology 57
9.4 Activities 57
9.5 Deliverables 58
9.6 The Team 60

10 Geo-Spatial Database Management 61

10.1 Preamble 61
10.2 Objectives 61
10.3 Scope 63
10.4 Types of Data 63
10.5 Methodology 64
10.6 Work Plan 65
10.7 Deliverables 65
10.8 The Team 65

11 Communication 66
11.1 Preamble 66
11.2 Roles and Responsibility 66
11.3 Typical Communication Plan 67
11.4 Work Packages 68
11.5 Work Plan 68
11.6 The Team 69

12 Deliverables 70
13 Execution 73
14 Financial 75
15 Time Schedule 77
16 The Team 78
1. P ROLOG
GUE

Conven
ntional wis
sdom sugg
gests that major
m enviironmental problems
s that have
e arisen
as a result of dev
velopment can only be
b tackled through adoption
a off technolog
gies for
on control or remediation of contaminax
pollutio c xted enviro
onmental media. Ho
owever,
imposing contro
ols on actiivities thatt lead to excessive pollution may ofte
en be a
better strategy for
f comba
ating envirronmental pollution. For exa
ample, two
o major
nmental problems
environ p o the twe
of entieth ce
entury, viz
z., eutroph
hication off water
bodies and dep
pletion of stratosph
heric ozon
ne layer, could be tackled through
t
imposition of controls
c o
on the causative agents, i..e., phosp
phate con
ntaining
ents and ozone
deterge o depleting subs
stances (ODS) respec
ctively. Advances in science
and te
echnology have pla
ayed a great
g role in identtifying and
d analyzing the
nmental prroblems. However, solution to such pro
environ oblems oftten lies in use of
techno
ologies witth minima
al environm
mental foo
otprint. Th
he vision of great leaders,
philoso
ophers and
d thinkers is often re
eflective of such a ph
hilosophy. Mahatma Gandhi
stated that, “therre is enough for eve
eryone’s need but no
ot sufficient for even one’s
greed”. Planet Earth from a distance
e is just a magic blue and whitte pearl where all
ople are th
life exists; all peo he citizens of the world; all peo
ople are de
ependent on
o each
other, rather all forms of life
l depend
dent on ea wing shlok
ach other. The follow ka from
the Brrahmanand
d Puranam
m outlines simple instruction
ns for com
mmon peo
ople to
protectt water bo
odies not only
o for hu
uman uses
s but for maintenanc
m ce of aqua
atic life,
and carries the sa
ame meaning.

Many such visio

onary state
ements/me
essages are
a often quoted
q in various forums.
f
However, the und
derlying message
m is rarely imb
bibed and implemented. We propose
p
to prep
pare the Ganga
G Rive
er Basin Managemen
M nt Plan based on scientific priinciples
and ap
pplication of
o modern
n tools/tec
chnologies but with traditional wisdom (e.g. as
outline e shloka). Further, th
ed in above he necessitty of adoptting practices that re
equire a
gm shift on use of la
paradig and, water and otherr natural re
esources in
n the Gang
ga Basin
for varrious purp
poses would be emp
phasized along
a with
h suggestio
ons for pllausible
alterna
ative app
proaches using innovative conceptts and state-of-
-the-art
techno
ologies/me
ethods.

  1 
2. A PPROACH AND M ETHODOLOGY

An integrated river basin management approach that focuses on “Maintenance and

restoration of wholesomeness of Ganga system and improvement of its ecological
health with due regard to conflict of interest in water uses in entire river basin” will
be adopted. This, entails preparation of plan that has adequate provision for soil,
water and energy in the Ganga Basin to accommodate growing population,
urbanization, industrialization and agriculture while ensuring that the fundamental
aspects of the river system, i.e. (i) river must continuously flow , (ii) river
must have longitudinal and lateral connectivity, (iii) river must have adequate space
for its various functions, (iv) river must function as an ecological entity, and (v) river
must be kept free from any kind of wastes ,, ,are protected. Achieving this
will require development of a framework for coordination whereby all
administrations and stakeholders can come together to formulate an agreed set of
policies and strategies to have a balanced and acceptable approach to land, water,
and natural resource management in the Ganga Basin.

The Ganga River Basin (GRM) is a multifaceted system and requires multi-
disciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. For integrated management of Ganga
River Basin several aspects need to be considered. It is proposed that the work
would broadly be undertaken through following broad themes by various teams. It
is expected that the teams working on each of the themes will closely interact.

a) Environmental Quality and Pollution

b) Water Resources Management
c) Fluvial Geomorphology
d) Ecology and Biodiversity
e) Socio-Economic and Cultural
f) Policy, Law and Governance
g) Geo-spatial Data Base Management
h) Communication

Objectives, scope, methodology, deliverables, work plan and the team involved for
various thematic groups are presented in Chapters 4 through 11. In general
following line of action will be followed.

a) Start-up meeting, collection of relevant data/reports from various agencies

including NRCD to assess present state-of-the-art and take lessons from the
past experience of Ganga Action Plan Phase I and II (GAP I and GAP II), Yamuna
Action Plan (YAP) and other River Action Plans (RAPs).

  2 
b) Delineation of basin water bodies and their status: Review of existing
programmes, plans and measures; Collation of data on water bodies;
Identification of sources and estimation of pollution loads; Analysis of existing
hydrological conditions including flow simulation using hydrological models;
Evaluation of impacts of dams/water resources projects; Assessment of existing
water quality status; Preparation of basin atlas; Preparation of tables and maps
(including GIS based maps); Description of basin characteristics, etc.

c) Modeling supportive and assimilative capacities – situation analysis: Select

appropriate simulation models; Model supportive and assimilative capacities,
and develop scenarios; Carryout iterations to firm-up programme of measures.

d) Establishing environmental objectives/principles of river basin planning

e) Evolve measures for improvement: Changes in mechanisms (policy, regulations,

enforcement, etc.); Maintaining desired water quality; Maintaining ecological/
environmental flows; Augmentation of river flow; Catchment area treatment
and floodplain protection; Sustainable river conservation, etc.

f) Public awareness and stakeholders’ consultation: Mapping of all stakeholders;

Review of completed/ongoing public awareness and consultation process;
Undertake public/stakeholders consultations; Develop programme for public
awareness, consultation and participation.

g) Institutional strengthening and capacity building: Review of existing policies

and regulations; Review of existing institutional arrangements and its capacity
assessment; Develop institutional strengthening and capacity building/training
plan, etc.

h) Evaluation and monitoring programme to facilitate mid course correction.

  3 
3. D ATA R EQUIREMENT /S OURCES /C OLLECTION

The timely collection of required data as available with various agencies, ULBs,
institutes etc. is the key for successful completion of the study within schedule. The
duration of river basin management plan preparation is 15-18 months, which could
only be completed by a highly professional, experienced and exclusively dedicated
team. However the crux of the study depends on planning and execution of a clear
strategy for collecting necessary data from various sources as the GRBMP would
essentially be developed mainly based on secondary data. The long-term data
generated in the past, as will be collected and compiled by the mission team, will be
randomly verified/ authenticated by conducting field survey and investigation but
the scope of such data collection would obviously be quite limited. We therefore
propose herein a clear strategy for collecting and analysing available data on
various attributes of the river basin. The key element of our data collection strategy
includes:

• Identification and establishing the range, depth and coverage of various data in
advance
• Determining 'essential' and 'desirable' data needs
• Identification of sources of data
• Allocating resources for data collection
• Allocating sufficient time for data collection in overall work plan
• Continuous review and monitoring the progress of data collection
• Soliciting active cooperation of NRCD for facilitating the mission team in
collecting data on time

The data and information to be collected shall include but are not limited to:

• Urban/rural water supply/sewage collection/sewage treatment facilities, their

volumes, organization of services, operation and maintenance, financial
conditions etc.;

• Socio-economic conditions (Administrative Division, Population, industries,

Agriculture etc.);
• Natural conditions (Topography, geology, hydrogeology, meteorology,
hydrology, environment, land use etc.);
• Water Quality, Biological, Hydrological, meteorological monitoring system;
• Topographical conditions (Topographical maps, hydrogeological maps, satellite
images etc);
• Present water use conditions, facilities and problems/issues;

  4 
• By sector - Irrigation, domestic water, industrial water etc.;
• By water resources- Surface water, Rain, Groundwater, treated/untreated
wastewater;
• Agriculture: Farm production, cropping pattern, use of agro chemicals,
irrigation system etc.;
• Conditions of water related hazards- Water quality and sediment disasters,
damages, casualties, etc.;
• Existing water control structures used in the basin and brief description;
• Identification and collection of basic data of hotspots in the river basin from
water quality considerations;
• Mapping of all relevant stakeholders involved in developing and managing the
water sector in the basin, including their roles, responsibilities, expectations
etc.;
• Existing environment laws of the Country/States/Local Bodies;
• Identification of environmental issues and trends of change.

The type of data and their source(s) are indicated in Table 3.1, which will be
further reviewed.

Table 3.1: Secondary Data Collection

Type of data Sources of Data

Physiographic Conditions • Survey of India
• NRSC
• Survey of India Toposheets and maps • Google
• Satellite imagery
Climate and Meteorology: • India Meteorological
Department
• Min-max temperature, relative humidity, • State Agriculture
rainfall, rainy days, evapotranspiration Departments
in different parts of the basin
Hydrological Conditions: • CGWD / NIC
• Central water commission
• Watershed Atlas • CGWD/ SGWBs
• River flow data
• Ground water data (quantity and
Quality)
Soil and Land use • Survey of India
• AISLUS
• Soil and landuse maps • State Agriculture
• District planning map series Departments
• satellite imagery • NRSC
Geology and Geomorphology • Survey of India
• Geological Survey of India
• Geological map series of GSI • AISLUS
• District planning map series • NRSC
• Satellite imagery
Table 3.1 continued to next page … … …..

  5 
Table 3.1 continued from previous page… … … …

Type of data Sources of Data

Water Quality • CPCB and SPCBs
• Surface water quality • ULBs
• Ground water quality • NRCD
• CWC
• CGWD and SGWBs
Status of Sewerage and Sanitation • ULBs
• Present sewerage infrastructure in cities • State Implementing Agencies
and towns • NRCD
• Present sanitation scenario in rural • MoUD
areas • MoRD
• Planned outgoing water supply, • CPCB and SPCBs
sewerage and sanitation projects
Ecological Environment • Fisheries Departments
• Aquatic Ecology • CPCB/SPCBs
Agriculture • State Agriculture
• Farm production, cropping pattern, use Departments
of agro chemicals, pesticides • State Irrigation Departments /
• Irrigation systems Water Resources Departments
• Survey of India
• AISLUS
• NRSC
Socio Economic Conditions • State Governments Press
• District Statistical Handbooks
• Census Handbooks
Grossly Polluted Industries • CPCB / SPCBs
• Type, locations / concentration of GPIs • Directorate of Industries
• Status of effluent treatment / discharge
Others • State of Environment Reports
• Citizens Reports Published
by CSE

  6 
4. E NVIRONMENTAL Q UALITY AND P OLLUTION

4.1 Preamble
There is an ongoing tussle over water resources in the Ganga River Basin amongst
various stakeholders. On one hand, there is an increasing demand for water for
irrigation, industrial and domestic uses and also for power generation. On the
other hand, there is an increasing demand for arresting the decline in groundwater
table and for maintaining an ‘Environmental Flow (E-Flow)’ in the rivers on the basis
of geo-morphological, socio-economic, socio-cultural, and ecological-biodiversity
considerations. The above conflict is further compounded by the increasing
pollution of groundwater and surface water resources in the Ganga River Basin
through the disposal of ever increasing pollution loads generated through
anthropogenic activity.

Considering the complicated scenario described above, the overall objective of the
proposed Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) is to devise a long-term
strategy for sustainable use of the water resources in the basin after giving due
considerations to the competing demands of the various stakeholders.

Environmental Quality and Pollution has been identified as one of the major
Thematic Areas for this comprehensive study.

4.2 Objective
The specific objective of the Environmental Quality and Pollution (EQP) component
of the GRBMP is to devise a strategy such that over the long-term, the quality of the
water resources available in the Ganga River Basin is maintained at a level
commensurate with the requirements of the various stakeholders.

4.3 Scope
The following is the scope of the present study:

a) Quantification of the current domestic and industrial pollution loads generated at

various locations in the Ganga River Basin through a district-wise survey of the
entire basin.

b) Assessment of future district-wise pollution loads in the Ganga River Basin

from domestic and industrial sources considering increasing levels of
population, urbanization and development activities. A variety of
statistical and predictive modeling techniques will be used for these
purposes.

  7 
c) Collation of river water quality data for all major rivers of the Ganga river
basin as obtained from various agencies. Reconciliation and statistical
analysis of the above data.

d) Risk assessment studies conducted based on river water quality data

collected above and expected river water quality in future. A variety of
models will be used for this purpose.

e) Modeling the river water quality of all major rivers in the Ganga River Basin
using the current pollution loads. Reconciliation of the modeling results
with existing river water quality data through model calibration, leading to
model parameter estimation.

f) Modeling the expected river water quality in future using projected

pollution loads. Multiple scenario generation using a variety of
intervention strategies that may be adopted.

g) Evaluation, selection and standardization of intervention strategies to be

adopted at various locations in the Ganga River Basin with special
emphasis on pollution ‘hot-spots’ like large urban centers and industrial
clusters.

h) Specification of a long term water quality surveillance strategy in the

Ganga river basin through (i) development of an online water quality
monitoring and management system, and (ii) developing the long-term
monitoring protocol for emerging pollutants like metals, pesticides,
endocrine disrupters, antibiotics, etc.

i) Integration of all the above components into an ‘Action Plan’, which will
essentially consist of a series of projects/activities to be taken up in a
specified chronological order, such that after the completion of the action
plan, the objectives of the ESE component of the GRBMP as stated earlier
are satisfied.

4.4 Methodology
The overall responsibility for the deliverables of the ESE component of GRBMP is
with the ESE theme coordinator, who will also represent the ESE group in the project
coordination committee. The tasks have been divided into six work packages
(WP1.1 – WP1.6) and a sub-theme coordinator(s) has been given the responsibility
for each work package. The sub-theme coordinator(s) of each work package will
lead the team researchers working on that package. The theme coordinator will
interact with the sub-theme coordinators to ensure that the work progresses
according to plans.

  8 
The work packages are as given below,

WP 1.1: District-wise inventorization of current and projected domestic and

industrial pollution load in Ganga basin and collection of river water
quality data.

WP 1.2: Current and future risk assessment associated with river water quality
in Ganga basin

WP 1.3: Modeling current and future river water quality: future scenarios
generation

WP 1.4: Evaluation, selection and standardization of intervention technologies

for domestic and industrial pollution sources

WP 1.5: Assessment of future water quality monitoring and surveillance needs:

sediment quality, metals, priority pollutants, pesticides, antibiotics,
etc.

WP 1.6: Action plan for improvement and surveillance of water quality in

Ganga river basin

The inter-linkages between the work packages are shown in Figure 4.1.

  9 
 Current Flow Data
(From WRM Group)

Current Pollution Water Quality

Load Inventory Model

Current Water
Model Output Current Risk
Quality

Model Calibration

Projected Pollution
Water Quality Model Future Water Quality
Load Inventory

Projected Flow Data Intervention

Future Risk
(from WRM Group) Strategies

Future Water Quality

Surveillance and
Monitoring Issues
Action Plan

WP1.1 WP1.4

WP1.2 WP1.5

WP1.3 WP1.6

Figure 4.1: Inter-Linkages between Work Packages

  10 
The detailed description of the methodology to be adopted for the completion of
each work package is given as follows.

WP 1.1: District-Wise Inventorization of Current and Projected Domestic

and Industrial Pollution Load in Ganga Basin and Collection of
River Water Quality Data.

In-charge: Prof. A. K. Mittal, IIT Delhi

As shown in Figure 4.2, Pollutants are generated in the Ganga River basin in a
variety of ways. The inventorization of the domestic and industrial pollution loads
and water quality data in Ganga river basin will mainly focus on data regarding
various common pollution parameters like organic carbon (BOD/COD), nutrients
and microbial concentrations, etc., data for which is available. Inventorization of
data concerning other pollutants, e.g., metals, priority pollutants, pesticides,
antibiotics, etc. (i.e., emerging molecules) will be taken up in WP1.5.

The methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.1 are described
below,

Step 1: Identification of pollution parameters and standardization of templates,

survey protocols, etc. for the determination of pollution loads.

Step 2: Collection and compilation of the water quality data of Ganga River
Basin available from various national and state agencies and
institutions.

Step 3: Identification of pollution hot spots, key pollutants and possible sources
of pollution.

Step 4: Estimation of the non-point water pollution. Theoretical approach using

applicable international and national case studies along with real time
satellite imaginaries shall be one of the alternatives. Land use pattern,
urbanization, population growth and patterns shall be used to arrive at
the non-point loads. Schematic representation of the sources of non-
point pollution is shown in Figure 4.3.

Step 5: Source inventory shall be carried out for the complete basin. Field work
could be outsourced if time becomes a constraint.

Step 6: Data from different stretches/districts shall be complied. It shall be

analyzed to obtain pre-defined indicators.

Step 7: Prediction of pollution loads into the future using statistical and
predictive modeling, taking due consideration of population increase,

  11 
 urbanization and increased industrial and other developmental
activities.

Step 8: Validation and report writing. A number of national workshops shall be

carried out so as to have a comprehensive pollution load inventory after
considering all sources. Various stakeholders shall participate in these
workshops.

Figure 4.2: Pathways of Pollutant Generation in Ganga River Basin

  12 
 Rain Event

Land use characteristics of Ganga River

Basin

Special Spots/Activities: Solid

Waste Dumping Sites, Bathing
Agricultural Forest Urbanized Area and Washing Activities,
Dumping of Un-burnt/ half Burnt
Dead Bodies, and Animal
Carcasses and Open Defecation

Slum,
Commercial and
resettlement Institutional Industrial
Residential
colonies

Poor Microbial
Poor Chemical
Quality urban
Quality Runoff
Runoff

Surface water, Ground Water Temporary flooding or

Ganga, Yamuna (Drinking Water Water Logging in Low
etc Source) Lying Areas

Figure 4.3: Schematic Representation of the Sources of Pollution Load Generation in

Ganga River Basin

  13 
WP 1.2: Risk Assessment Associated with Current and Future River Water
Quality
In-charge: Prof. A. K. Nema, IIT Delhi

The risk assessment described in this work package will mainly focus on risks
associated with various common pollution parameters like organic carbon
(BOD/COD), nutrients and microbial concentrations, etc. Risks associated with
other pollutants, e.g., metals, priority pollutants, pesticides, antibiotics, etc. will be
assessed in WP1.5.
The methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.2 are described
below,
Step 1: Identification of source Æ Pathway Æ Receptor Relationships at
selected pollution hot spots as determined in WP 1.1 with reference to
the selected parameters and key receptors

Step 2: Assessment of human health risk and vulnerability mapping.

Step 3: Assessment of risk associated with the possible technological and

policy level interventions.

Step 4: Identification of low risk high return interventions, minimum level of

intervention required to reduce the risk to acceptable level.

Step 5: Suggestions for strengthening the water quality monitoring network.

Suggestions on the framework for performance monitoring of possible
measures under river action plan.

An overview of the Risk Assessment Methodology is presented in Figure

4.4.
Identification of the Problem
(e.g. Analysis of the Specific Information on Key
Pollutants (Stressors) and Environmental
Components/Receptors)

Identification of the Effects Identification of the Extent of Exposure

(Using Field Reports Based on Monitoring, Survey Etc) (Using Field Reports Based on Monitoring, Survey Etc)

Identification of the Risk

(Comparison of Effects with the Extent of Exposure)

Risk Management/ Risk

(Management of Inputs/Alter practices)

Monitoring
(Use of Early Warning and Rapid Assessment Indicators)

Figure 4.4: Overview of the Risk Assessment Methodology

  14 
WP 1.3: Modeling Current and Future River Water Quality: Future Scenarios
Generation

In-charge: Prof. Himanshu Joshi, IIT Roorkee

A descriptive water quality model will be employed that predicts the response of the
receiving water body i.e. Ganga River and its tributaries in this case, to a set of
identifiable pollutant loadings, by way of simulating the processes within the river
system.

Prediction of receiving river water quality thus obtained as a function of loads will
be further utilized by desired translation of the information towards water quality
management.

The river water quality modeling activity will be harmoniously synchronized with the
Watershed and Hydrological (river flow) modeling activities of WRM group.

Starting from the simple DO-BOD relationship, subsequent developments in

understanding and mathematical representation of the processes representing
transformation and fate of various constituents have enriched the spectrum of river
water quality model application today. However, in the present project, the model
application would be limited to consideration of organic constituents, nutrients,
bacteria and related parameters.

The methodology is proposed in the following steps:

Step 1: Identification of stretches for application of water quality models on the

basis of inputs received from WP 1.1. Attention will primarily be focused
on those stretches, which display large violations in quality requirements
with respect to the prevalent and projected water use.

Step 2: Selection of model. Considering the time frame and the ease of
application, a model will be selected which is available as a freeware (not
proprietary) and has a demonstrated capability of universal application.
Also, considering the field realities in respect of hydrology and
topography, the model will probably need to be used in different
configurations (one or more dimensions, steady or unsteady state, etc.).
In this light, it will be advisable that the selected model is rich in
structure and may allow a number of configurations. However, the
complexity of river system and the need of data generation will also play
a very important role in the selection. Further, smooth integration with
the watershed and river hydrological models will also be an important
criterion in this regard.

  15 
Step 3: Data collection and field/lab experiments. The data available from the
existing monitoring networks (run by CPCB, SPCB or CWC etc.) may not
be adequate for the purpose of modeling due to factors like inadequate
spatial and temporal distribution of generated data, non-availability of
hydraulic parameters alongwith the water quality data, etc. This may
result in a requirement of additional data generation/collection at the
primary level. Further, it may also be desirable to conduct specific
field/lab experimentation for estimation of few parameters like
dispersion coefficient, Benthic release rates, etc.

Step 4: Model application. Model application protocol will be followed employing

steps of Calibration, Validation and Sensitivity/Uncertainty analysis.
Different sets of data will be used for calibration and validation steps.
Accuracy of prediction will be evaluated through established statistical
measures.

Step 5: Scenario generation for waste load allocation and water quality
management. On the basis of inputs of projected future point/non-point
loads, associated risks and intervention options available from WP 1.2
and 1.4 , future scenarios will be generated keeping in view the waste
load allocation possibilities to achieve sound water quality management.
Above steps are elaborated graphically in Figure 4.5.

Identification of
WP 1.1 WP 1.3
Stretches/hotspots

Selection of Model

Data Collection and

Experiments

Model Applications
• Calibration
• Validation
• Sensitivity Analysis

WP 1.4 Scenario Generation WP 1.5

Figure 4.5: The River water Quality Modeling Process

  16 
WP 1.4: Evaluation, Selection and Standardization of Intervention
Technologies for Domestic and Industrial Pollution Sources

In-charge: Prof. Ligy Philip, IIT Madras

The broad methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.4 are
described below,

Step 1: Evaluation of existing major domestic and industrial wastewater

treatment systems in Ganga River basin: Based on the data available on
the influent and effluent characteristics of existing treatment plants and
various study reports, the performances of the treatment plants will be
evaluated. If necessary, possible remedial measures will be suggested.
GAP-1 and GAP-2 reports will be studied in depth to learn lesson for the
future.

Step 2: Comparative analysis of various available, emerging and innovative

wastewater (both domestic and industrial) treatment technologies to
achieve prescribed effluent standards: Various domestic wastewater
treatment technologies will be evaluated based on efficiency, operation
and maintenance cost, ease of operation, sustainability, land and energy
requirement and life cycle analysis. The best available technology (BAT)
for treatment of wastewater from various types of industries, in the
Ganga Basin will be specified.

Step 3: Standardize the design of various domestic and industrial wastewater

treatment technologies: Based on the quality and quantity of wastewater
to be treated and the required effluent quality to meet the
disposal/reuse/recycling requirements, the land requirement, the capital
and operation and maintenance costs of various treatment technologies
will be standardized.

Step 4: Prescribe suitable waste management options for various urban centers
in Ganga river basin: Based on the pollution characteristics and pollution
load, treatment systems will be suggested for various urban centers. The
feasibility of the prevention of the discharge of partially treated or
untreated wastewater to rivers in Ganga river basin will be explored. The
issue of wastewater disinfection before discharge will be considered
carefully. The feasibility of reuse of treated domestic wastewater and
recycling of industrial effluent will be explored. Feasibility of adopting
decentralized and community level wastewater treatment systems will be
explored as an alternative to centralized systems. The areas requiring
sewer networking will be identified. The issue of sanitation, especially in
areas without sewers will be explored. The prevalence of polluting
practices, such as disposal of garbage, dead human and animal carcasses

  17 
 and other solid wastes in the rivers, open defecation on river banks, use
of pesticides in river bed cultivation, etc. will be considered and
alternative practices recommended.

WP 1.5: Assessment of Future Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance Needs:

Sediment Quality, Metals, Priority Pollutants, Pesticides, Antibiotics, etc.

In-charge: Prof. Sudha Goel, IIT Kharagpur, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, NEERI

Detailed data about pollution loads and river water quality in the Ganga river basin
is available only for a few pollutants like organic carbon (BOD/COD), nutrients (N
and P) and microbial (i.e., coliform) concentrations. Hence any action plan for
improvement of water quality in the Ganga basin prepared at the present time can
only be based on the information about the above pollutants.

Aqueous and sediment phase concentrations of other pollutants of concern, e.g.,

metals, pesticides, antibiotics and other priority pollutants in the Ganga river basin
have not been monitored extensively. Data about many such pollutants is either
not available or available for limited time-span and only at few locations. Yet many
of these pollutants may already have widespread presence and high concentrations
in the environmental media (i.e., water and soil) of the Ganga river basin and hence
may pose a significant ecological and human health risk. Other such pollutants
may become a cause of concern in the future as anthropogenic activity intensifies in
the Ganga river basin.

Considering the lack of a comprehensive data base regarding these pollutants, no

action plan can be recommended vis-à-vis these pollutants at the present time.
Nonetheless, a comprehensive river water and sediment monitoring and surveillance
plan must be developed for generating the database and risk data regarding these
pollutants. This database will provide a basis for future action regarding the
elimination of risks associated with such pollutants.

The broad methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.5 are
described below,

Step 1: Review and summarize all studies in Ganga river basin concerning the
monitoring of metals, pesticides, antibiotics and other priority pollutants
in various environmental media (i.e., water and sediment/soil).

Step 2: Interlink the available monitoring data with possible natural and
anthropogenic (both point and non-point/distributed) sources for such
pollution.

  18 
Step 3: Organize a workshop with all concerned stakeholders to prepare a list of
pollutants to be flagged for further investigation as the cause for long-
term risk to the water quality in the Ganga river basin.

Step 4: Review and summarize the available fate, transport and human and
ecological risk information available for the above list of pollutants.

Step 5: Propose a long-term monitoring framework for presence/absence

studies and quantification of the concerned pollutants in various
environmental media all across the Ganga river basin, giving due
consideration to intervention strategies proposed under the GRBMP.

WP 1.6: Action Plan for Monitoring, Surveillance and Improvement of Water

Quality in Ganga River Basin

In-charge: Prof. Purnendu Bose, IIT Kanpur

Inputs obtained from the WP1.2, WP1.3, WP1.4 and WP1.5 will be used for
formulating the ‘Action Plan(s)’ for improvement and maintenance of the long-term
water quality in the Ganga river basin.

The broad strategy shall be as follows. Based on inputs on intervention strategies

suggested in WP1.4, various water quality scenarios in the Ganga river basin will be
generated through water quality modelling in WP1.3. These scenarios will be
further examined through WP1.2 for determination of the associated risks. Thus,
based on the combined inputs from WP1.2, WP1.3 and WP1.4, a few scenarios which
ensure acceptable long term water quality in the Ganga river basin will be selected.

It must however be realized that scenarios selected above only consider risks
associated with a few pollutants, i.e., organic carbon (BOD/COD), nutrients and
microbial contamination. Risks associated with other pollutants, i.e., those studied
in WP1.5, will not considered in the above scenario development. The study
outlined in WP1.5 is nonetheless very important, since it will clearly identify the
pollutants which may already pose a substantial risk, or may do so in the future.
Such pollutants will be flagged for extensive monitoring in the Ganga river basin,
such that sufficient data for the calculation of the associated risks may be
generated for future action.

The broad methodology to be adopted for fulfilling the objectives of WP 1.6 are
described below,

Step 1: Identification of acceptable scenarios regarding the long-term water

quality in the Ganga river basin. The ‘Action Plan(s)’ corresponding to
these scenarios will be developed.

  19 
 Step 2: Chronological listing of infrastructure projects, e,g., sanitation, sewer
networks, wastewater treatment, etc. to be undertaken in the Ganga
river basin in the future corresponding to each ‘Action Plan’.

Step 3: Clear enunciation of the impact of successful completion of each

infrastructure project on the water quality in the Ganga river basin for
every ‘Action Plan’.

Step 4: Listing of the future water quality surveillance and monitoring needs,
both with respect to the primary pollutants and pollutants flagged for
extensive surveillance based on conclusions of WP1.5, followed by the
preparation of comprehensive and long-term water quality
surveillance and monitoring plan for the entire Ganga river basin.

4.5 Data Required

A visit is planned to all districts in the Ganga River Basin for on-site assessment of
pollution loads, industrial and other associated development potential, urbanization
prospects other relevant details. Other than this visit for primary data collection,
the study will primarily depend on secondary data. Such data shall be collected
from a variety of sources, some of which are listed as follows.

• Master plans
• Basin identification documents
• Monitoring networks
• Environmental management plans
• Inventory of existing treatment facilities
• Socioeconomic data documents of Development Authorities
• Published/online water quality data and water quality standards
• Hydro meteorological data reports
• Census data reports
• published documents on water regulatory structures
• Available records about industrial water demand and waste generation
• Documents/Handbooks about data related to agriculture
• Data about toxicology from existing reports (including reports from ICMR)

4.6 Time Schedule

The total time for the study shall be 18 months, provided that data on current and
future flows in various rivers in the Ganga River Basin is obtained within 4 months
of project commencement. Detailed work plan is given below. The in-charges of
various work packages are required to strictly adhere to the published work plan.

  20 
4.7 Deliverables
A comprehensive report containing all details of the methodology adopted, studies
undertaken, results obtained, conclusions drawn and recommendations made will
be prepared and submitted. However, the main deliverables of the ESE component
of the project shall be the following,

• Map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) pollution load
generation from domestic and industrial sources and other related information
(i.e., population, drainage pattern, sanitation levels, etc.) for each district in the
Ganga River Basin
• Maps and associated GIS representations showing estimated pollution
generation and other related information in all districts of the Ganga River Basin
from 2015-2055 at 10 year increments.
• A map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) water quality
parameters and associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin.
• Maps and associated GIS representations showing water quality parameters and
associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin in 10 year
increments from 2015 – 2055, assuming that the recommended action plan is
implemented.
• ‘Action Plan(s)’, consisting of a series of projects (including infrastructure
and water quality monitoring and surveillance projects) to be taken up in a
specified chronological order, such that the water quality objectives of the
GRBMP are achieved.

4.8 Work Plan

0-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15 16-18

Activity
Months Months Months Months Months Months
Work Package 1

Work Package 2

Work Package 3

Work Package 4

Work Package 5

Work Package 6

  21 
4.9 The Team
S No Name Affiliations Role
1 Shyam Asolekar IIT Bombay Member
2 Suparna Mukherji IIT Bombay Member
3 Sumathi Suresh IIT Bombay Member
4 A K Nema IIT Delhi Member
5 Arun Kumar IIT Delhi Member
6 Atul K Mittal IIT Delhi Member
7 B J Alappat IIT Delhi Member
8 Gazala Habib IIT Delhi Member
9 T R Sreekrishnan IIT Delhi Member
10 Ajay Kalamdhad IIT Guwahati Member
11 Purnendu Bose IIT Kanpur Member
12 Saumyen Guha IIT Kanpur Member
13 Vinod Tare IIT Kanpur Leader
14 A K Gupta IIT Kharagpur Member
15 M M Ghangrekar IIT Kharagpur Member
16 Sudha Goel IIT Kharagpur Member
17 Ligy Philip IIT Madras Member
18 Mukesh Doble IIT Madras Member
19 Ravi Krishna IIT Madras Member
20 Shiva Nagendra IIT Madras Member
21 A A Kazmi IIT Roorkee Member
22 B Prasad IIT Roorkee Member
23 C B Majumder IIT Roorkee Member
24 G J Chakrapani IIT Roorkee Member
25 Himanshu Joshi IIT Roorkee Member
26 I D Mall IIT Roorkee Member
27 I M Mishra IIT Roorkee Member
28 Indu Mehrotra IIT Roorkee Member
29 P Mondal IIT Roorkee Member
30 Pradeep Kumar IIT Roorkee Member
31 V C Srivastav IIT Roorkee Member
32 Vivek Kumar IIT Roorkee Member
33 Prabhat Singh IT BHU Member
34 C V Chalapati Rao NEERI, Nagpur Member
35 J K Bassin NEERI, Delhi Member
36 Rakesh Kumar NEERI, Mumbai Member
37 Anju Singh NITIE, Mumbai Member

  22 
5. W ATER R ESOURCES M ANAGEMENT

5.1 Preamble
United Nations sponsored the International Hydrologic Decade from 1965 to 1974.
The primary benefit of this programme was increasing consciousness about
regional and global scale problems and about human impact on the Hydrologic
Cycle. The evolution, from classical viewpoint (Figure 5.1) to the ‘contemporary’
viewpoint (Figure 5.2), of the realisation about interconnectedness of nature and the
changes being brought by humans, may be depicted as follows.

(a) Classical viewpoint:

Atmosphere Earth Surface Man

Figure 5.1: Classical Viewpoint of Man’s Role in the Hydrologic Cycle

(b) Contemporary viewpoint:

Natural Processes

Atmosphere Earth Surface Man

Anthropogenic Process

Figure 5.2: Contemporary Viewpoint of Man’s Role in the Hydrologic Cycle

A river basin is a natural unit for integrated water resources planning and
management, and its integrated hydrologic-environmental-socio-political-
economic model combines an understanding of the dynamics of natural resources
system in terms of the intrinsic intra-component inter-linkages and its evolution,
as a whole, in response to a wide spectrum of external anthropogenic stimuli. Some
of these anthropogenic stimuli are in terms of water use in an environment of
competition between uses and, indeed, amongst various users. As an added
complexity, these are also temporally and spatially distributed.

The interwoven nature of the natural Bio-Physical System, Hydrologic System,

Socio-economic System, anthropogenic Branch Cycle System and the designed
Decision Support Systems & Models is illustrated in Figure 5.3 below:

  23 
 Socio
Man-made Physical Socio
Economic
System Economic
Impact of
System of
[Reservoirs, Dams, WRM
Man
Dykes, Irrigation +/-
Schemes]

Observing System
Models of Physical Water Resource
Systems Management
Physical System of [WRM]
Nature
Decision
[Climate and the Models [Decisions]
Hydrological Cycle]

Figure 5.3: Interdependencies between the Natural Bio-Physical System, Hydrologic Cycle,
Anthropogenic Influences and Decision Systems and Models.

This is further illustrated in Figure 5.4 given below and depicts the all
encompassing context of the Bio-Physical Cycle-Hydrologic Cycle-Branch Cycle
System.
Water Resources Use

Cycle of Erosion
Population & Sedimentation
Growth

Hydrologic Cycle

Economic
Biochemical
Development
Cycles

Change of Geosystems

Figure 5.4: Context of Study of the Bio-Physical Cycle-Hydrologic Cycle-Branch Cycle

System.

The illustration identifies increasing human habitations, irrigated agriculture,

industrialization, urbanisation and deforestation as the main anthropogenic
processes which interfere directly with the natural water cycle. For example,
creation of permanent irrigation systems involve storages and diversion of water for
agriculture which not only reduces the water available for similar end use
downstream, it also reduces the water available for other uses and alters the

  24 
original eco-system besides having a direct impact on the water quality regime.
Changes in biochemical cycles, reflected, for instance, by changes in the regime of
biological and chemical indicators and their linkages with soil and water quality
and, importantly, with diversity in flora and fauna, are profound phenomena that,
along with changes in greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere, are shown to
impinge on the global and regional climate and, thus, on hydrologic and other
water related cycles. These climatic and anthropogenic processes have evolved in
time and space at fluctuating rates. Therefore, the magnitude of impact, of changes
in these influences, on the water cycle of the river basin would reflect such temporal
and spatial fluctuations.

A preferable concept of introducing ecological requirements, as depicted in Figure

3.4, must be based, for objectivity, on those ecological quality goals that are
congruous with societal aspirations at various levels. If these are derived from
functional ecosystem principles, and if holistic objects of protection are discussed,
a big step towards sustainable management strategies can be taken along the lines
as suggested below in Figure 5.5.

Sustainable Ecological Development

Integrity

Structure Economic
Conservation Utility

Figure 5.5: Synergy between Ecological Conservation and Sustainable Development

These aforementioned ideas establish a framework for the proposed study of the
Ganga River Basin. Water is the basic crucible that has the potential to yield a
valuable insight not just into the diagnosis of the state of health of a river basin but
also into its future prognosis. Accordingly, therefore, Water Resources Management
is identified as one of the major Thematic Areas for this comprehensive study. The
study includes not just the natural water cycle but also the external, spatially
distributed, epicycles of anthropogenic interventions for control and use of water
resources and their impacts, both individual as well as integrated, on the bio-
chemical cycles that characterize the spatially varied terrestrial and aquatic eco-
systems of the Ganga River Basin.

The study will also focus on the cycles of erosion and sedimentation both as
causative agents that shape the geo-morphologic response of the river basin as
well as an evolutionary process with its etiological basis firmly interlinked with the
hydrodynamic aspect of the hydrologic cycle.

  25 
5.2 Objective
The objective of this segment is to identify the work elements of the Water
Resources Management component of the GRBMP study being undertaken. A
comprehensive water balance study shall be undertaken to help formulate river
basin plan for Ganga system.

5.3 Scope
The following is the scope of the present study:
a) Quantification of available water resources (Surface and Subsurface) in the
Ganga System using hydrological modelling.
b) Assessment of present and future water needs of the system (say 2051) for
irrigation, domestic, industries, power generation, salinity, inland navigation,
fisheries, pollution dispersion, ecological balance, social and religious needs
and all other relevant needs for a sustainable development of the system.
c) Assessment of water quality through hydrological modelling for point and
non-point source loads.
d) Simulation of baseline conditions to validate the hydrological model for
quantity and quality.
e) Groundwater flow modelling, stream aquifer interaction and GW pollution
transport modelling.
f) Hydrodynamic simulation of all the major tributaries of Ganga to generate
information required for geomorphological, flood propagation and ecological
studies.
g) Scenario generation for assessment of impacts on account of: present
interventions, ongoing development, and proposed development.
h) Integration of all the above components and the outputs of other theme
groups
i) Sustainability studies of the development paths

5.4 Methodology
On the basis of the foregoing discussion, mathematical simulation models, within
the frame work of a macro-scale water balance for Ganga River Basin, are proposed
to be used for the study being reported herein. The underlying significance of the
basin scale water balance for the overall solution to the problem of flow simulation
of base line conditions is recognised and follows in the wake of the keynote address
by Prof. J.C.I. Dooge who proclaimed ‘Enough is enough - our task is constantly to
seek better solutions to the water balance equation’. He further stated ‘... business
of hydrology is to solve the water balance equation’.

  26 
In the study of Water Resources of Ganga River Basin, there is, therefore, a need to
develop procedures that enable a differential quantification of impact of
anthropogenic as well as natural climatic factors on the basin’s hydrologic cycle
and, in the process, be able to distinguish between the effects of human activities
and climatic variability on hydrologic state variables. These issues assume criticality
where there are competing users and conflicting demands as well as a natural
hydrologic cycle which is facing high levels of unsustainable exploitation.

The keystone concept is the degree to which the study is able to maintain the
integrity of the overall water balance within the region of study and accordingly,
therefore, a general framework of the overall composite water balance is proposed
as given below in Figure 5.6.

Precipitation
Imports

Rainfall over un-irrigated area

Irrigated Minor
area [Dmi] irrigated
Runoff from non-irrigated Area [Rui] area

[Reservoir or
Anicut]
[Rui-Dmi-Di-De-Dm
+/- Carryover
- Evaporation
[Exports De] [Dm]

Municipal and
Industrial use
[Rmi]
[Ri] [Rw]

[Rw]
Municipal and Industrial use River Flow

Figure 5.6: Depiction of the Composite Water Balance for a Basin

Suitable hydrologic models would be designed to simulate individual contributions

coming to the overall river flow from each of the paths depicted in Figure 5.6.

Further, and importantly in the context of the headwater reaches of Ganga River
Basin, an additional - and in some seasons, substantial - contribution to the overall
water resources is derived from snow and glacial melt. The presence of snow and
glaciers in the upper part of the Ganga River form a unique reservoir of fresh water.
Glaciers act as natural frozen reservoirs and provide flows in a regulated manner.
The runoff generated from snow and glacial melt in the Ganga basin plays a vital

  27 
role in making this river perennial and ensuring, thereby, a continuous availability
of water in the river.

Water quality in the various reaches of Ganga is central to many current social,
environmental and political issues that have occupied the collective conscience of
the entire nation. Accordingly, a significant effort would be devoted to the study of
various water quality parameters and indicators and their spatial and temporal
variations. The study would include modelling of both point as well as non-point
sources of waste effluents and various other ordinary chemical, bio-chemical and
microbiological pollutants.

It is averred that river water is a primary carrier for pollutant transport as well as a
medium for its dispersion and appropriately, therefore, the proposed Water
Resources Study would entail development of a framework for a coupled hydrologic
cum hydrodynamic model. The hydrodynamic model, besides establishing flood
wave propagation characteristics, would also facilitate the characterization of
pollutant transport and its reaction kinetics.

A central issue in the overall Ganga River Basin Management Plan is the problem
posed by high levels of silt being contributed by the individual sub-catchments. The
impact on water quality and silt loads in river waters of possible changes in land
use and cropping patterns as well as of agricultural and water management
practices would also require a detailed study as part of the overall Water Resources
Management Theme.

Some of the models proposed to be used in the study have been identified as
follows:

• Hydrological modelling – SWAT

• Groundwater flow, stream aquifer interaction and GW pollution transport
modelling – MODFLOW, HYDRO GEO SPHERE, MT 3D, GS Flow, PHAST
• Hydrodynamic modelling – HECRAS
• River network models – FLO-2D and others
• Surface Water Quality modelling by QUAL 2E/K
• Geo-spatial analysis by ARC-GIS

5.5 Data Required

This study shall require a comprehensive database to be used for various modelling
efforts. The following are some of the major data items identified for the study and
their possible sources.

a) Drainage system – SRTM/ASTER

b) Flow data at gauging sites - CWC and State Water Resources Departments
c) Flow cross sections and rating curves at various stream gauging sites - CWC
and State Water Resources Departments

  28 
d) Landuse/Landcover and Soil maps of the catchments – Global and National
data sources
e) Data on water utilisation for agricultural and other uses
f) Data on water resources projects including reservoirs and diversion facilities–
National and State departments
g) River cross-section data if available
h) Meteorological data - IMD
i) Sediment data; volume and characterization – CWC/State Govt. agencies
j) Ground water fluctuation data – CGWB/State GW Boards
k) Data on water quality parameters (surface and ground water) – CPCB, CWC,
CGWB, State Pollution Control Boards, MOEF

5.6 Deliverables
The hydrology of Ganga River Basin, similar to other river basins, is governed
largely according to the relative strengths and significance of individual
components of its overall natural hydrologic cycle. This natural cycle, however, also
gets suitably modified and impaired in accordance with the external branch cycle
developments. An important underlying facet to these interacting and mutually
interdependent subsystems is contributed in no small measure by the scale at
which the system is being observed. Furthermore, these attributes have a temporal
as well as a spatial flavour.

Ideally, a comprehensive study would entail a representative description of the

various resident natural and externally forced anthropogenic processes across all
scales and, therefore, suggesting a modelling framework that would also facilitate
migration across the fuzzy and obscure boundaries that separate one scale from
the next. It would also be fair to say that there indeed are no sharp boundaries that
separate these processes at different scales but the perceived differences are on
account of the spatial and temporal scale of integration of these processes.

Across the extremely heterogeneous and diverse nature of physical, geo-

morphological, hydro-meteorological, socio-political and economic conditions that
prevail across the Ganga River Basin, there will be epicycles of natural hydrology at
a farm plot scale that will be in a dynamic integration with an externally driven
water use circuit at the same level. This will be resident within a higher level
epicycle of natural hydrology and external water use system at the farm level and
integrated further in a similar pair of epicycles at the small watershed scale and
going further on to the scale of the overall river basin in which all these small scale
epicycles would be nestled in.

  29 
 It is a reasonable aspiration behind a study, such as the one that is being proposed,
to be able to understand the impacts on the water regime, in terms of quantity as
well as quality, of any form of intervention at all, and including, even the lowest
scale. However pragmatism requires setting realistic targets for the study and
accordingly, the study proposes to limit the study of impacts to those that result
from large and medium scale projects. At this stage smaller projects such as minor
irrigation schemes and other interventions at similar scales would not feature
individually in the study but would be collectively incorporated as a lumped and
integrated intervention at appropriate scales.

It is therefore hoped that the study would deliver the following:

• Assessment of present and future (say 2051) water needs of the system for
irrigation, domestic consumption, industry, power generation, salinity, inland
navigation, fisheries, pollution dispersion and dilution, ecological balance,
social and religious needs.

• Virgin, unregulated, water resources availability across the Ganga River Basin
for this time horizon.

• Scenario generation for assessment of impacts of major and medium scale

interventions on water quantity as well as quality over a time horizon extending
upto 2051 on account of: present interventions, ongoing development, and
proposed development

• Integration of all the above components and the outputs of other theme groups

• Sustainability studies of the suggested alternative development paths

5.7 Work Plan

0-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15 16-18

Activity
Months Months Months Months Months Months
Data acquisition and processing
Set up of Hydrological Model on
respective basins for quantity and
quality
Calibration and validation for the
hydrological model after incorporating
the baseline
Set up of Hydrodynamic Model for
quantity and quality
Table continued to next page … … … …

  30 
… … … … Table continued from previous page
0-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15 16-18
Activity
Months Months Months Months Months Months
Calibration and validation for the
hydrodynamic model after
incorporating the baseline
Scenario generation for ongoing, and
proposed level of water resources
development
Analysis of implications of the
development pathways on the water
quantity and quality regimes
Suggesting possible demand
management options through
simulation
Collation and Integration of
information from all water resources
groups
Dissemination of water resources
information through web
Documentation

5.8 Data Collection

The Water Resources Management Thematic Group discussed the important issue of
data collection and recognized that the task of collecting representative observed
data posed grave challenges. The Group recognized that the intervention of MOEF
would greatly facilitate this onerous task.

The WRM Thematic Group felt that the task of data collection would be the
collective responsibility of IITs Delhi, Roorkee, Kharagpur, Kanpur, & IT BHU.

5.9 The Team

S No Name Affiliations Role
1 A K Gosain IIT Delhi Leader
2 A K Keshari IIT Delhi Member
3 B R Chahar IIT Delhi Member
4 D R Kaushal IIT Delhi Member
5 R Khosa IIT Delhi Member
6 Subashisa Dutta IIT Guwahati Member
7 Suresh A Kartha IIT Guwahati Member
8 P Mohapatra IIT Kanpur Member
9 Rajesh Srivastava IIT Kanpur Member
10 Anirbhan Dhar IIT Kharagpur Member

Table continued to next page … … … …

  31 
… … … … Table continued from previous page
S No Name Affiliations Role
11 Dhrubajyoti Sen IIT Kharagpur Member
12 S N Panda IIT Kharagpur Member
13 B S Murthy IIT Madras Member
14 N Balaji IIT Madras Member
15 Asish Pandey IIT Roorkee Member
16 C S P Ojha IIT Roorkee Member
17 Deepak Khare IIT Roorkee Member
18 K S Hari Prasad IIT Roorkee Member
19 M Perumal IIT Roorkee Member
20 M K Jain IIT Roorkee Member
21 M L Kansal IIT Roorkee Member
22 N K Goel IIT Roorkee Member
23 S K Jain IIT Roorkee Member
24 S K Tripathi IIT Roorkee Member
25 U C Choube IIT Roorkee Member
26 S K Gupta IT BHU Member
27 V Singh IT BHU Member
28 Pratap Singh INRM Member

  32 
6. F LUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY

6.1 Preamble
Scientific approach to river management has moved from the engineering
dominated command and control approach to an integrated ecosystem based
approach that relies on synthesis of hydrological – geomorphological and ecological
data. Engineering solutions will therefore have to be found keeping the scientific
framework of the river system as the basic template for human intervention. The
‘command and control’ approach is based on single purpose, deterministic
approach, which remained focused on site or reach specific scales without serious
consideration of upstream and downstream consequences and related connectivity
issues. On the contrary, the ‘ecosystem based’ approach is a cross-disciplinary,
holistic approach applied at catchment scale - a probabilistic approach which
recognizes uncertainty and complexity in the system (Brierley and Fryirs, 2005,
2009). The physical template of a river system provides the basic structure to
analyse the different aspects in an integrated approach.

Recent research on river systems has also highlighted the importance of

understanding controls on channel morphology as a basis for river management
and rehabilitation work (Gilvear, 1999; Brierley and Fryirs, 2000; Brierley et al.,
2002; Gregory, 2003, Brierley and Fryirs, 2005). River morphology not only varies
from upstream to downstream in a particular system but also from catchment to
catchment in a particular region (Knighton, 1998; Richards, 1982; Schumm, 1977).
Characterisation of the geomorphic conditions of river systems provides the basic
and first order data set for stream management programme.

Channel morphology at any point is controlled by the dominance of aggradation or

degradation processes, which in turn is governed by: (1) energy of flow and (2)
sediment load (Bull, 1979; Graf, 1987, Church, 1992; Lawler, 1992; Montgomery et
al., 1996; Leece, 1997; Knighton, 1999; Reinfelds et al., 2004; Jain et al., 2006).
The energy of river flow is expressed as specific stream power, which is defined as
the power available per unit area of river bed. Variation in stream power defines
changes in the amount of energy available to do work on the bed of the stream.
Thus, the energy distribution in a river system is a major control on channel
morphological variations. Specific stream power (ω) is expressed as (Bagnold,
1966):

ω= γ.Q.s/w

where γ -unit weight of water, Q- discharge, s-channel slope and w-channel width.

  33 
In an idealised section, progressive downstream reaches are characterized by
reduction in channel slope and an increase in discharge and valley width (Church,
1992). Long profiles with marked channel slope variations are further controlled by
lithology and tectonic forces. These latter considerations dictate the availability and
calibre of the sediment load in each reach. Distribution of stream power distribution
pattern and sediment supply at the particular reaches will explain the geomorphic
condition of the river at the given reach. The understanding will also help to define
potential of river recovery for different reaches.

One of the useful concepts to integrate such diverse parameters for river
management is the River Styles® Framework (Brierley and Fryirs, , 2005; Fryirs and
Brierley, 2005) which involves four stages of investigation. The first stage focuses
on identification, interpretation and mapping of river styles throughout the river
catchment. The second stage involves assessing the geomorphic condition of each
reach of each River Style in the catchment. By placing each of these reaches in their
catchment context, along with an interpretation of limiting factors, the geomorphic
recovery potential of a given reach of each River Style is determined. From this,
predictions of likely future condition are determined in the third stage of
investigation. Finally, with this information in hand, realistic target conditions for
river rehabilitation programs are identified for each reach, framed within a
catchment-based vision. Working with local/regional river managers, a physically-
meaningful framework for management strategies for river rehabilitation and
conservation is then applied.

6.2 Major Objectives

The major objective of the fluvial geomorphology component of the project will be
to define the geomorphic condition of the Ganga river system in different reaches
and to understand the hydrology-geomorphology-ecology linkage for developing a
sustainable river management programme. The specific objectives and tasks
pertaining to fluvial geomorphological investigations will be as follows:

a) Preparation and compilation of geomorphic map of the Ganga River and

classification of the reaches in terms of their geomorphic condition
b) To map the patterns of river dynamics at different reaches and to understand
the causative factors
c) Generation of stream power distribution pattern of various reaches of the
Ganga river and analysis of its variation in the Ganga River
d) To determine the effects of river energy and sediment supply as controls on
channel morphology

  34 
e) To assess the hydrological-geomorphological-ecological relationships to
develop tool for monitoring river health and sustainable river management
based on River Styles Framework.
f) To define environment flow for different reaches on the basis of geomorphic
conditions.

6.3 Approach and Methodology

One of the first exercises would be to divide the Ganga River basin into distinct
hydro-geomorphic zones based on topography and primary geomorphic domain.
There is some basic classification available (e.g. Tandon et al., 2008) which can be
refined for use for the present study. It is expected that team members from
different institutions would cover different reaches of the river following a uniform
methodology and all data will be compiled for synthesis and analysis.

6.3.1 Mapping geomorphic condition and river dynamics of the river

Geomorphic mapping will make extensive use of satellite images coupled with
ground truth verification. It is proposed to use IRS LISS IV images for mapping the
entire stretch of the Ganga following a common mapping strategy. The present-day
geomorphic condition would be assessed from the latest set of images whereas the
dynamics of the channel morphology and floodplain modifications would be
assessed from comparative analysis of the older images of Landsat, IRS and
topographic sheets for the last 30-40 years depending upon the availability of data
and maps. Changes in channel configurations as well as channel positions would be
mapped and their influence on habitat in each zone would be investigated. Data will
be presented in the form of a series of maps.

Channel planform measurements will include the computation of channel sinuosity

and braiding indices for the reaches around each selected site (Friend and Sinha,
1993). We will also measure the changes in these parameters through time and the
time intervals for this analysis will depend upon the data/maps available. Cross
sections of the river at each selected site will be obtained from CWC and different
cross-sectional form parameters will be computed. It will also be useful to get the
latest data from the ‘hydraulic group’ generated through field survey in some
representative reaches. Hydro-geomorphic analysis will focus on generating some
indices to define the geomorphic condition of the channel reaches. These indices
will combine the morphological measurements and hydrological parameters. This
analysis will also assess the geomorphic impacts of the human interventions on the
river system particularly in the form of engineering projects. An assessment will
also be done of the future projects being planned in the upper reaches of the Ganga
river if the necessary data for the same is provided.

  35 
Study of some of the topologic characteristics of the river networks, like spatial
variation of sinuosity of active and paleo-channels, spatial distribution of
confluence zones, etc. will be carried out. The Vector Digital SOI Toposheets (1:50k
or 1:25k) will be required for that purpose. Given the short time frame of this work,
if this data could not be made available, the analysis will be performed on the
drainage network extracted from DEM. A shape and size based classification of
water bodies extracted from RS data will be done and validated by field
investigations. The results will be delivered in the form of a water body map.

6.3.2 Generation of stream power distribution pattern

Specific stream power can be calculated using channel slope, discharge and
channel geometry data and methodology will be followed after Jain et al. (2006).
For channel slope, long profiles will be derived for the river course through
manipulation of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data using ESRI ArcGIS. The DEM
data will be clipped to the catchment area of the Ganga River and then filled to
ensure there are no sinks in the data. Subsequently, flow direction and flow
accumulation grids will be produced in the GRID module of ArcInfo. A long
profile AML (Arc Macro Language) will be used to produce a database file
containing x, y coordinates and the corresponding downstream distance (km),
height (m) and contributing area (m2) which will be graphed using Microsoft
Excel. Using the long profiles and DEM data, valley slopes will be measured.

Peak discharge data should be provided by the Central Water Commission (CWC) for
flood frequency analysis and for developing catchment area-discharge relationship
for different return period floods in the Ganga River basin. Discharge-area
relationship will be used to replace discharge by catchment area in the calculation
of stream power. Channel width for each reach will be determined from high-
resolution satellite data and some random sites will be verified in the field.
Computed total stream power will be divided by channel width data to get the
specific stream power for different reaches. Downstream distribution of total stream
power and specific stream power based on the average basic hydrological
characteristics for the Ganga River will be analysed for understanding the energy
distribution along the river.

Further, discharge variation due to presence of barrages will be analysed through

seasonal discharge data at downstream of barrages. This discharge data will be
used to determine effect of barrage based discharge variation on the stream power
of the river system. It will help to assess the effect of anthropogenic structures on
the ability of river to carry out geomorphic work.

  36 
6.3.3 Control of river energy and sediment supply on channel morphology
Geomorphic map of the Ganga basin generated/compiled by different groups will
be used to define the different reaches on the basis of aggradation or degradation
dominated reaches. Field visits will be carried out to assess the Manning’s
roughness condition of the different reaches. Further, sediment load data for
various gauging stations will be collected from the Centre Water Commission (CWC).
Grain size data will be collected from the same reaches and downstream pattern of
sediment calibre will be determined. Sediment supply at different reaches and
stream power distribution pattern in the similar reaches will be compared with the
geomorphic map of the area. A relationship between driving force (stream power),
resisting force (sediment calibre & load, and channel roughness) and output
geomorphic condition (river morphology) for different reaches of the Ganga River
will be derived. This understanding will be the core aspect to explain, predict and
modify the geomorphic condition of the river.

6.3.4 Hydrology – Geomorphology - Ecology relationship for the different reaches

of the Ganga River
Data regarding ecological condition of the river will be obtained from the ‘river
ecology group’. The downstream variation in river ecology will be integrated with
the hydrology-geomorphology relationship to develop the hydrology-
geomorphology-ecology relationship. The basic idea here is to understand the
geomorphic controls on biodiversity and a continuous interaction with the
biodiversity and ecology group will be desirable to achieve this. The ecological
condition and biotic associations in a river are significantly influenced by
geomorphic condition of the river, and therefore, any efforts towards river
rehabilitation must address these issues to derive a long-term benefit.

6.3.5 Determination of Environment Flow and role of hydrology for managing

geomorphic condition
The required stream power values for maintaining a particular geomorphic
condition will represent the required discharge and slope at reach scale. The
required discharge will be defined as the Environment Flow value on the basis of
geomorphic condition. Further, Stage-discharge relationship and cross-section data
will be obtained from the ‘hydraulic group’. The discharge data will be converted
into stage data on the basis of stage-discharge relationship. The corresponding
stage value will be analysed for ecological condition and final E-flow values will be
determined.

6.3.6 Data integration in River Style Framework

Data generated from different morphological investigations of the Ganga River in
different reaches will be integrated using the River Styles Framework for the

  37 
assessment of the present geomorphic condition of the river and to determine its
recovery potential and future trajectory. It is expected that some basic data for
building this framework may be ready by the end of this project and the future data
requirements for the same will be identified. We should be able to provide the first
level information on the geomorphic condition of the river in the next 18 months.

6.4 Data Requirements

S No Data Purpose Remarks
1 Topographic maps For mapping, georeferencing and To be purchased from Survey
validation of India
(Digital and vector)
2 Peak Discharge To carry out flood frequency To be provided by Central
Data analysis and generation of stream Water Commission (CWC) on
power distribution pattern priority basis
3 Seasonal To analyse effect of engineering - do -
discharge data at structures on the geomorphic
downstream of work on the river
dams/barrages
4 Satellite data To carry out geomorphic mapping To be purchased from NRSC
of the area Hyderabad (need to
(LISS III for the
coordinate with geospatial
entire basin and
Group)
LISS IV for
selected windows)
5 Cartosat -1 data To prepare DEM for selected - do -
windows
6 Sediment load For stream power-channel To be provided by Central
data morphology analysis Water Commission (CWC) on
priority basis
7 River habitat data To determine hydrology- To be provided by
geomorphology-ecology biodiversity/ecology group
relationship
8 River hydraulic To suggest environment flow for To be generated by field
(channel X-section the given geomorphic conditions measurements (need to
data) coordinate with hydraulic
modeling group)

6.5 Distribution of Work

We have divided the entire Ganga basin into different stretches based on distinct
geomorphic domains and the work distribution among the different institutions has
been planned. Some institutions will contribute in terms of a specific theme.

  38 
Stretch of the Ganga Tributaries Institution and person Remarks, if any
basin/work component responsible
1. Gangotri-Haridwar Bhagirathi JNU: S Mukherjee
2. Haridwar-Narora - JNU: S Mukherjee
3. Narora-Allahabad Ramganga IIT Kanpur Would also coordinate the
work among different
groups, organise training
workshops and review
meetings
4. Allahabad-Varanasi Chambal, Ken- AU: Jayant Pati
Betwa, Tons BHU: Kuldeep Prakash
5. Varanasi – Munger Ghaghra, Sone, PU: K. Prasad
Punpun,
Gandak
6. Munger-Farakka- Kosi, Tista, ISI: T. Chakraborty
Gangasagar Mahanadi,
Hugli
7. Yamuna System - DU: V. Jain Will also contribute in
computing stream power
for the main Ganga river
and major tributaries
8. Sediment transport IITG: B. Kumar
and inputs for river
processes

We plan to use LISS III (23.5 m resolution) for the first level mapping of the entire
basin. All available maps for different parts of the basin would also be compiled.
Each group will also take up a smaller window for a detailed geomorphic mapping
highlighting the distinctive features of the region such as river dynamics, flood
geomorphology, gully development etc. for which high resolution data such as LISS
IV and Cartosat-1 data will be used.

6.6 Deliverables
The project will provide a process-based understanding of the geomorphic
condition of the river. It will help to characterize, explain and predict the future
changes in the geomorphic condition of the river. The understanding will act as the
basic template to carry out sustainable stream management programmes. Major
deliverables will be as follows:

• Geomorphic map of the Ganga River

• Stream power distribution pattern of the Ganga river
• Assessment of environmental flow using geomorphic criteria
• Assessment of sediment supply and its effect on river morphology and flow
characteristics
• Assessment of geomorphic impact of the existing and future engineering
projects
• Hydrology-geomorphology-ecology relationship as a generic tool for
sustainable river management

  39 
6.7 Work Plan
0-3 4-6 7-9 10-12 13-15 16-18
Activities
Months Months Months Months Months Months
Recruitment of staff
Compilation of available maps
Finalization of geomorphic maps
Investigation of River dynamics
DEM analysis and stream power
distribution
Hydrological and sediment load data
analysis
Integration of hydrological data with
geomorphic analysis
Integration of ecological data
Assessment of environmental flow
Development of river style
Final Report

6.8 The Team

S No Name Affiliations Role
1 Bimlesh Kumar IIT Guwahati Member
2 Rajiv Sinha IIT Kanpur Leader
3 U C Kothiyari IIT Roorkee Member
4 Nayan Sharma  IIT Roorkee Member
5 Jayanta Bandyopadhyay IIM Kolkata Member
6 Parthasarthi Ghosh ISI Kolkata Member
7 Soumendra Nath Sarkar ISI Kolkata Member
8 Tapan Chakraborty ISI Kolkata Member
9 Kuldeep Prakash BHU Member
10 S K Tandon Delhi University Advisor
11 Shashank Shekhar Delhi University Member
12 Vikrant Jain Delhi University Member
13 Saumitra Mukherjee Jawaharlal Nehru University Member
14 Kriteshwar Prasad Patna University Member
15 Ramesh Shukla Patna University Member
16 Jayanta Kumar Pati, University of Allahabad Member
17 K Rudra WBPCB, West Bengal Member

  40 
6.9 References cited
Bagnold, R. A., 1966. An approach to the sediment transport problem from general physics, USGS Prof.
Pap. 422I. Pp. 37.
Brierley G.J. & Fryirs, K. 2000. River Styles in Bega Catchment, NSW, Australia: Implications for river
rehabilitation. Environmental Management. 25(6), 661-679.
Brierley, G.J., Fryirs, K., Outhet, D., & Massey, C. 2002. Application of the River Styles framework to
river management programs in New South Wales, Australia. Applied Geography, 22, 91-122.
Brierley G.J. & Fryirs, K. 2005. Geomorphology and river Management: Applications of the River Style
Framework. Blackwell.
Bull, W.B. 1979. Thresholds of critical power in streams. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 90,
453-464.
Chang, H. H., 1979. Minimum stream power and channel patterns, Journal of Hydrology, 41, 303-27 .
Church, M. 1992. Channel morphology and typology. In Calow, P. and Petts, G.E. (eds.) The Rivers
Handbook. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1, 26-143.
Friend, P. F. and Sinha, R. (1993). "Braiding and Meandering Parameters", in J. L. Best and C. S. Bristow
(ed.) 'Braided Rivers', Geological Society of London Special Publication, 75, p.105-111.
Fryirs, K. and Brierley, G.2005.Practical application of the River Styles® framework as a tool for
catchment-wide river management: A case study from Bega catchment, New South Wales,
Australia. 230pp.ISBN 1 74138 153 3.
Graf, W.L. 1987. Late Holocene sediment storage in canyons of the Colorado Plateau. Geological
Society of America Bulletin. 99, 261-271.
Gilvear, D. J., 1999. Fluvial geomorphology and river engineering: future roles utilizing a fluvial
hydrosystem framework. Geomorphology, 31, 229-245
Gregory, K. J., 2003, Palaeohydrology, environmental change and river channel management,
Palaeohydrology, understanding global change, In Gregory, K. J. and Benito, G. (eds.) Wiley
Chichester, 357-378
Jain, V., Preston, N., Fryirs, K. and Brierley, G. (2006) Comparative assessment of three approaches for
deriving stream power plots along long profiles in the upper Hunter River catchment, New
South Wales, Australia. Geomorphology, 74, 297-317.
Knighton, D.A. 1998. Fluvial forms and processes: A new perspective. Arnold, London.
Knighton, D.A. 1999. Downstream variation in stream power. Geomorphology. 29:293-306.
Lawler, D.M. 1992. Process dominance in bank erosion systems. In Carling, P.A. & Petts, G.E (eds.)
Lowland Floodplain Rivers: Geomorphological Perspectives. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester.
Leece, S.A. 1997. Nonlinear downstream changes in stream power on Wisconsin’s Blue River. Annals
of the Association of American Geographers. 87, 471-486.
Montgomery D.R., Abbe, T.B., Buffington, J.M., Peterson, N.P., Schmidt, K.M. & Stock, J.D. 1996.
Distribution of bedrock and alluvial channels in forested mountain drainage basins. Nature.
381, 587-589.
Nanson G.C. & Croke, J.C. 1992. A genetic classification of floodplains. Geomorphology. 4, 459-486.
Reinfelds, I., Cohen, T., Batten, P., Brierley, G., 2004. Assessment of downstream trends in channel
gradient, total and specific stream power: a GIS approach. Geomorphology 60, 403– 416.
Richards, K.S. 1982. Rivers: Form and Process in Alluvial Channels. Methuen, London. 358pp.
Schumm, S.A. 1977. The Fluvial System. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 338pp.
Tandon, S.K., Sinha, R., Gibling, M.R., Dasgupta, A.S., Ghazanfari, Parvez (2008) Late Quaternary
evolution of the Ganga Plains: myths and misconceptions, recent developments and future
directions. Memoir Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 66, 259-299.

  41 
 7. E COLOGY AND B IODIVERSITY

7.1 Preamble
Biodiversity (or biological diversity) is the variety of life and its composition,
structure and function, at a range of scales. Within this broad definition, four
interconnected levels of diversity are commonly recognized - genetic diversity,
species diversity, ecosystem diversity and landscape diversity. Biodiversity is
essential for stabilization of ecosystem, protection of overall environmental quality
for understanding intrinsic worth of all species on the earth and for sustaining
livelihoods (Ehrlich & Wilson, 1991). Freshwater biodiversity of rivers and their
associated wetlands is under threat worldwide due to flow modification, habitat
degradation, pollution, increased salinity, and overexploitation (e.g., Dudgeon
1999, 2000a, b, c). The Ganges river system is one of the five major river systems
that constitute the reverine fisheries of India (Shinde et. al. 2009) and is no
exception to this trend. Preliminary data indicate that degraded river systems like
Ganga still retain some biodiversity that can be the focus of rehabilitation efforts.
To strengthen these efforts, it is important to identify which ecological features
enhance biodiversity and which ones make rivers more vulnerable to human
impacts.

The biodiversity of the Ganga river basin is unique as it is a synthesis of three major
ecoregions of India situated along climatic gradients; the Himalaya, Gangetic Plains
and Central Highlands. While the trunk of the river flows through the Plains, its
tributaries flow down the steep mountains in the Himalaya and gentle hills and
plateau of Vindhyan ranges in the Central Highlands. While the Vindhyan region
south of the Plains has always been a part of the Indian subcontinent the Himalaya
is extra peninsular. These regions have different geological history and hence the
biota by virtue of evolutionary processes should be unique. The trunk of the river
Ganga provides the means for exchange of biota and could facilitate exchanges
within ecoregions too. However, the multiplying needs of the rapidly growing
population led to numerous developmental activities in the Ganga basin. These have
impacted the unique ecosystem variously along the length of the river.

The main problems of the Ganga River Basin (GRB) are provoked by irrational use
and sharing of water resources. This pressure affects both the hydrological and
ecological state of the GRB through soil erosion, landslides, increased sediment
loads, habitat fragmentation, and species loss. Therefore in the current conditions
the main problems of the basin development are (i) Unsustainable use of the water,
loss of biological resources, declining of ecosystems; (ii) Continuing pollution of the
waters in the basin by industrial wastes; (iii) Desertification and as a consequence

  42 
the loss of agricultural lands and their productivity; among many others. This has
adverse consequences on the ecosystem and biodiversity.

Ecological basis of river basin management is becoming a concept of its own, with
an emphasis on involving all actors that are connected to the ecosystem in a
planning process that takes as its point of departure the functions that the system
performs for these stakeholders-instead of first designing what society wants and
then try to force nature into this human straightjacket. Ecosystem-based river
management means to first take heed of what the river is, how it functions and
what it could be in terms of, say, hydro-morphodynamics, biodiversity, connectivity
and integrity and only then enter into a give and-take between society and this
functioning. Since a river basin is the main structural and functional component of
the circulatory system of the continental part of the geographic system, the basin-
wide approach should be treated as one of the principal approaches to the
formulation and solution of natural scientific, socioeconomic, and other problems
of rational use of natural resources.

In general the ecological concept of GRB management is directed to reach the

following aims:
• Protection and restoration of the hydrological regime of GRB, natural (terrestrial
and aquatic) ecosystems as a main condition for the supporting of the vital
activity of the region;
• Development of environmental-friendly activity, land use/land cover measures,
sustainable power, agriculture, transport and communication infrastructures;
• Development of human potential, preservation of spiritual and cultural welfare,
physical health.
• Continuum of e-flow in the main channel and major tributaries at required
water quality level.

Biodiversity maintains the critical ecosystem processes that support life. Healthy,
functioning ecosystems are necessary to maintain and regulate the atmosphere,
climate, fresh water, soil formation, cycling of nutrients, and disposal of wastes.
Hence, Biodiversity Management Planning is needed to develop strategies to
enhance biodiversity in the selected area, by sustaining current biodiversity values
and providing opportunities for migration of plants and animals to support
ecosystem functions for the longer term. The strategies must be based on sound
information and ongoing monitoring to assess trends and outcomes. The main
function of the Biodiversity Management Plan's is to provide a program to manage
biodiversity at various levels of policy makers. Each strategy in the action plan
specifies key actions, responsible personnel, and timelines.

  43 
7.2 Objectives
• To assess the present state of ecology and biodiversity in the basin and the
impacts of dams/barrages/developmental activities on the ecology and
biodiversity in the basin
• To identify the no go areas/Protected area/community reserves
• Preparation of ‘Biodiversity Database’ – Ecosystem and Species
• To address the issues of exotic, flagship, IUCN, invasive, native species
• Analysis of land use and land cover dynamics of GRB at decadal frequency since
1972/75
• System Modeling Approach for Biodiversity Conservation and management
through Ecological Principles using RS & GIS tools
• To generate the ‘GRB Ecological and Biodiversity, GRB-EB-DBMS’
• Assessment and Valuation of Ecosystem Functions and Services, and assess the
possibility of community participation in the formulation of the management
plan
• To suggest R & D projects to achieve the above objectives

7.3 Methodology
Over years ecological studies on the Ganga have been made using popular
perceptions of Upper, Middle and Lower, though more ecological divisions are
possible. The present effort may help to consolidate and redefine biological zones.
Even the Central Inland Fisheries Institute (ICAR) follows these broad divisions while
keeping records of fisheries of the Ganga. A tentative division of the basin has been
developed as follows.

Himalaya:
• Yamunotri-Paonta Sahib & Doon Valley: Yamuna & Tons, Asan
• Gangotri-Badrinath to Haridwar Bhagirathi-Alaknanda-Ganga & important
tributaries
• Ramganga

Gangetic Plains:
• Paonta Sahib to Agra; Agra to Allahabad: Yamuna, Chambal, Betwa, Ken
• Haridwar to Allahabad; Allahabad to Farakka; Farakka to BOB: Ganga & its
tributaries in Gangetic Plains.
The work will be divided in four work packages. Brief outline of each of these work
packages outlining steps and deliverables is presented in following sections.

  44 
WP 4.1: Impacts of Dams/Barrages/Developmental Activities on the Ecology and
Biodiversity in the Basin
• Survey and collection of literature on ecology and biodiversity (flora, fauna-
invertebrates and lower vertebrates fish) of the Ganga basin from published
sources.
• Compilation and analysis of secondary data and identification of data gaps.
• Identifying the hotspots of critical pollution and anthropogenic stress.
• Data analysis to determine saprobity, trophic state using multivariate analysis at
reference and critically polluted locations only

Deliverables
• Structural and functional components of the biodiversity and diversity patterns
across the width and length of the Ganga river basin.
• Report/Documentation on biological communities useful in ecological
surveillance, assessment of habitats and anthropogenic impacts.

WP 4.2: Developing Biodiversity Management Plan for Upper Ganga River Sub-
Basin
The fundamental goal of biodiversity management and conservation plan is to
check the anthropogenic pressures on the natural resources. It needs a sustainable
use and management of resources and habitats and community participation in the
conservation. The biodiversity management and conservation plan for the proposed
Upper Ganga River Sub basin will be formulated considering the wildlife (fauna and
flora) profile of the region, customs, cultures and traditional rights of the local
people, conservation significance of the area, State Biodiversity Conservation
Strategy Action plans (SBCSAP) and Biological Diversity Act (2002). Following
protocol has been worked out for the preparation of Biodiversity Management &
Conservation Plan.

• Collection of secondary information through review of available literature.

• Identification of the Gap areas (No go areas - Protected area/community
reserves)
• Seasonal survey in each identified river stretch for collection of the primary
information (where absolutely essential) on the existing biodiversity and habitat
utilization – vertebrate species
• Collection of information on exotic species and analysis of the species needed
for reintroduction
• Community workshop at selected area to take inputs for the formulation of the
management plan
• Utilization of Economic Valuation Tools

  45 
Deliverables
Biodiversity (Vertebrates – Fish, turtles, crocodiles, aquatic mammals and aquatic
birds) Management Plan. The Plan will consist of:

A: Biodiversity Conservation: Threats and Constraints

• Habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss, and shrinking of genetic diversity
• Declining natural resource base and overexploitation of resources
• Invasive alien species (need longtime research)
• Impact of development projects if any
• Biodiversity information base
• Institutional framework and capacity building

B: Action Plan (A Frame Work)

• Strengthening and integration of in situ and ex situ conservation
• Augmentation of natural resource base and its sustainable utilization
• Regulation of introduction of invasive alien species and their management (an
Overview)
• Pollution impacts (an overview)
• Development and integration of biodiversity databases
• Strengthening implementation of policy, legislative and administrative measures
for biodiversity conservation and management
• Valuation of goods and services provided by biodiversity and use of economic
instruments in decision making processes (an overview)

WP 4.3: Development of a Comprehensive Ganga River Basin Biodiversity

Database (GRBBD)
The responses of particular communities, especially fish, within aquatic ecosystems
reflect the amount of degradation of that system (Wichert and Rapport, 1998). Fish
diversity was shown to be a good indicator of environmental stress (Barella and
Petere, 2003) in rivers. With as many as 30,000 different species fishes constitute
the most diverse group of vertebrates (Nelson 2006). Because of their high diversity
and profound changes in appearance during development, fish identification is a
relatively demanding task. Conventional methods of identifying, naming and
classifying fishes are largely based on visible morphology constitute the
cornerstone of existing taxonomic treatments in spite of advanced taxonomic
procedures including genetic and protein markers. However relying primarily on
morphology for fish identification during various stages of their development is full
of limitations. As even when an intact adult specimen is the subject of
identification, the morphological characters and other traits used to discern species
are often so subtle and complex that each taxonomist can critically identify only a
segment of the global fish fauna. These limitations are considered globally as a

  46 
major impediment to the assessment, conservation and management of fish
biodiversity.

DNA barcoding is emerging as a technique for species identification and discovery

and has been found to be a promising tool for simplifying fish identification. The
advantages of DNA-based identifications are rapidity, reliability and accurate
characterization across all life stages and species. Compared to extensive genome
sequencing a short sequence of conserved gene(s) is sufficient to resolve the
species identity wherever the average genetic distance among individuals are
smaller than the average genetic distance among sister species.

Driven by the success of the informatics revolution large-scale literature

digitization projects are enhancing access to existing taxon treatments needed by
the global community of taxonomic information consumers. Web-based databases
that compile expert-vetted lists of valid taxonomic names and their synonymies,
combined with online keys and high-resolution digital images, are further helping
to summarize existing knowledge.

Techniques and Methods

• Collection of biodiversity information from secondary sources like published
papers, reviews, books, monographs, gazettes, technical bulletins, etc.
• Compilation and analysis of secondary data and identification of data gaps.
• Generation of missing data by collection of primary field data and laboratory
data.
• Design of the prototype GRBBD based on secondary and primary data.

Collection, compilation and analysis of secondary data would not only help in
identification of data gaps but also the comparative richness of data along a
particular stretch of the river. For populating the prototype database regions of the
river having higher indices of data richness would be identified and a further
selection based on accessibility and ease of logistics would be made. The regions
poor in data availability would be identified for future research focus with respect to
biodiversity studies.

Primary data would be generated based on the finally screened location(s) for filling
up the gaps and further enrichment and populating the database. The genetic and
molecular biodiversity would constitute the primary layer of the database followed
by species and ecosystem biodiversity at the secondary and tertiary layer. This
would finally be linked to a GIS layer at the top for completing the canvass of the
GRBBD.

The molecular biodiversity study would be done only in two locations (one in the
Upper Ganga and one in the Lower Ganga) with 4 samplings each distributed during
periods of lean flow (Dec-May) and full flow (June-August) in the current phase for

  47 
meeting the special requirements of data generation and enrichment. The choice of
sampling sites would be decided based on secondary data analysis in all cases.
Established protocols of DNA barcoding for biodiversity analysis and management
would be followed for achieving the desired goal of molecular biodiversity assessment.
DNA barcoding would be done preferentially on the river (main channel) fish and other
fauna as would be available from commercial catches. Local fisherman will be employed
to obtain necessary samples from the main channel. Floral biodiversity studies would be
restricted to the riparian zone, particularly a chosen cross section of the flood plain in
the current phase of the study.

Deliverables
• Model database for the Ganga River Basin Biodiversity encompassing the three main
levels of genes, species and ecosystems. All data obtained from secondary and
primary sources/studies could be housed in the GRBBD for further use. The GRBBD
would serve as the workhorse for similar studies planned on the Ganga River Basin
in the future as well as any other river basin in the country.

WP 4.4: System Modeling Approach for Biodiversity Conservation and

Management through Ecological Principles using Remote Sensing and
GIS Tools in Ganga River Basin
Steps
A: Collection of Data:
• Existing/ Secondary data
• New data generation, wherever absolutely required, through field sampling, LAB
analysis etc.

B: Utilization of Remote Sensing, GPS and GIS tools

C: Ecological modeling to understand the various ecosystem characteristics of
RGB e.g., energy flow, productivity, community structure, biogeochemical
cycles, natural selection and regulation, carrying capacity and ecosystem
services

Deliverables
• Report/Documentation of land use and land cover dynamics of last 3-4 decades to
delineate direction and magnitude of change occurred in GRB. This will serve as one
of inputs for the preparation of GRBMP.
• Report/Document identifying different drivers responsible for the change and their
‘sensitivity analysis’ to provide inputs for taking measures to restore/undo the
effect(s) on priority basis.
• A ‘Biodiversity DBIS’ that would accommodate the flagship, indicator, IUCN
categories, etc. to formulate measures for their restoration/conservation.
• ‘Functional ecosystem’ report to formulate action plan that would address the total
environmental quality management (TEQM)
• ‘GRB Ecological and Biodiversity’ database management Information System (RGB-
EB-DBMIS) that can be linked through Gangapedia

  48 
 A summary of activities undertaken by the thematic group on Ecology and
Biodiversity is presented in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1: A Summary of Activities to be Undertaken by the Thematic Group on

Ecology and Biodiversity
Methodology/
S No Objective Sub-objective Deliverables Institution Remarks
Tools
LULC change detection 4-time period LULC
Remote sensing,
since 1972/75 at decadal maps, change IIT-KGP Full GRB
GIS and GPS
frequency statistics
Habitat degradation:
2ndary data
Impact of Dams/Barrages
collection and EIA-MP,
/developmental WWF-India Part of
need-based management $
projects/Industries & HNB-GU GRB
LULC primary data prescriptions
1 Organic pollution on
collection
dynamics habitat & biodiversity
For integration
To Identify flood plane Part of
-do- with LULC WWF-India $
wetlands GRB
database
Identification of river- For integration
Part of
stretch and stressed -do- with LULC HNB-GU
GRB$
(pollution) locations database
Productivity -do-
Productivity and energy
Ecological #
2 and flow analysis of various
modeling and
RGB-EB-DBMIS IIT-KGP Full GRB
energy flow ecosystems in GRB
system simulation
2ndary data
Flora and faunal database collection and IIT-KGP,
3 generation at species and need-based BDIS (jointly) HNB-GU, Full GRB
ecosystem level primary data PGC-D
Community collection
IIT-GUH,
structure Flora and Fauna database
HNB-GU.*
4 [BDIS- generation at genetic and -do- BDIS (jointly)
PGC-D,
Full GRB*
Generation] species level
Vertebrates-Fish, turtles,
crocodiles, aquatic
5 mammals and aquatic
-do- BDIS (jointly) WWF-India Full GRB*
birds
Community Species Status: Invasive
structure alien species; WWF-India,
6 reintroduction of
-do- BDIS (jointly)
HNB-GU
Full GRB*
[BDIS-
Generation] indigenous species
-do-
Biogeochemical Water cycle etc. (using Ecological #
7 climatic data) modeling and
RGB-EB-DBMIS IIT-KGP Full GRB
cycles
system simulation
CC of various ecosystems -do-
Carrying in GRB and GRB as an Ecological IIT-KGP #
8 integrated ecosystem at modeling and
RGB-EB-DBMIS
WWF
Full GRB
capacity
broad level system simulation
Economic 2ndary data
Valuation of ecosystem collection and
Valuation and Part of
9 services through need-based BDIS (jointly) WWF-India
GRB$
Ecosystem community participation primary data
services collection
# Support of Ecological modeling group from NRSC (ISRO), JNU, IISc would be useful; * CIFRI, Barrackpore and
NBFGR, Lucknow have been requested for active participation. $ We need to think to cover the whole GRB [Note that
flora and fauna includes both aquatic and terrestrial]

  49 
7.4 Deliverables
In addition to the deliverables mentioned in WP 4.1 to WP 4.4 following
reports/documents will be submitted.

1. Report on ecologically sensitive/significant sites/zones which exist/existed

naturally or due to construction of hydraulic structures or other
natural/anthropogenic processes with analysis of threats to such systems and
suggestions for conservation/restoration.
2. Report on biodiversity hotspots, e,g, impoundments, wetlands and other areas
in the basin with analysis of threats and suggestions for
conservation/restoration.
3. Report on few key native species (i.e., fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals,
birds, etc.) at or near the top of the food chain in each stretch which are
severely stressed or no longer present due to loss of habitat, pollution,
insufficient flow or other reasons, but whose presence will be highly desirable.
4. Report on few key native species (i.e., fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals,
birds, etc.) at or near the top of the food chain in each impoundment, wetland,
etc., which are severely stressed or no longer present due to loss of habitat,
pollution, insufficient flow or other reasons, but whose presence will be highly
desirable.
5. Stretch-wise specification of the minimum acceptable conditions, i.e., channel
depth, width and velocity, and water quality etc. for the native species to be
viable.
6. Specification of conditions, i.e., water availability, water quality and other
considerations for continued and long-term viability of selected native species
in impoundments, wetlands, etc. identified earlier.
7. Documentations on ingress of flora in the region of river flood plain which will
not otherwise survive due to inundation in normal annual wet weather flow.

7.5 Work Plan

0-3 4-6 7-9 10-12

S. No. Activity
Months Months Months Months
1 Work Package 4.1

2 Work Package 4.2

3 Work Package 4.3

4 Work Package 4.4

5 Items 1,2,3,4 & 7 in Section 7.4

6 Items 5 & 6 in Section 7.4

  50 
7.6 The Team

S No Name Affiliations Role

1 U Bora IIT Guwahati Member
2 M D Behera IIT Kharagpur Member
3 R P Singh  IIT Roorkee Member
4 Ramasre Prasad IIT Roorkee Member
5 Ranjana Pathania  IIT Roorkee Member
6 Rachna Nautiyal Govt (PG) Collge-Dak Pathar Member
7 Prakash Nautiyal HNB Garhwal (Central) University Member
8 Brij Gopal Independent Advisor
9 Sandeep Behera WWF, India Member

7.7 References
Barella, W., Petere, M., 2003. Fish community alterations due to pollution and damaging in
Tiete and Paranapanema rivers (Brazil). River Res. Appl. 19, 59–76. John Wiley & Sons
Ltd.
Dudgeon, D. 1999. Tropical Asian streams: zoobenthos, ecology, and conservation. Hong
Kong University Press, Aberdeen, Hong Kong.
Dudgeon, D. 2000a. The ecology of tropical Asian streams in relation to biodiversity
conservation. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 31:239-263.
Dudgeon, D. 2000b. Riverine wetlands and biodiversity conservation in tropical Asia. Pages
35-60 in B. Gopal, W. J. Junk, and J. A. Davis, editors. Biodiversity in wetlands:
assessment, function, and conservation. Backhuys Publishers, The Hague, The
Netherlands.
Dudgeon, D. 2000c. Riverine biodiversity in Asia: a challenge for conservation biology.
Hydrobiologia 418:1-13.
Ehrlich, P.R. and E.O. Wilson, 1991. Biodiversity studies science and policy. Sci., 253: 758-
762.
Nelson, J.S., 2006. Fishes of the World, 4th Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc, pp: 601.
Fish Biodiversity of Pravara River at Pravara Sangam District Ahmednagar, (M.S.) India
Pravara River at Pravara Sangam District Ahmednagar, (M.S.) IndiaWorld Journal of Zoology 4
(3): 176-179, 2009
Shinde S.E., Pathan T.S., Raut K.S., Bhandare R.Y. and Sonawane D.l. Fish Biodiversity of
Wichert, G.A., Rapport, D.J., 1998. Fish community structure as a measure of degradation
and rehabilitation of riparian systems in an agricultural drainage basin. Environ.
Manage. 22 (3), 425–443. Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

  51 
8. S OCIO -E CONOMIC -C ULTURAL

8.1 Preamble
Ganga River resources are unique in nature in promoting cultural (social capital),
ecological and economic prosperity of India. The river Ganga is very sacred in India.
The influence of Ganga on Hindus and their cultural believes are enormous. It is
believed that a holy dip (punya/pavitra snan ) in the Ganga purifies one’s soul,
intake of few drops (theerth) of holy water cures all diseases and immersion of
ashes (deceased one’s) in the river rests the departed soul in the heaven. Hindus
store holy water at their houses and serve a few drops with holy basil to the dying
human which helps him to attain moksha. The stored holy water is also used for
special pujas (Sathyanarayan Vratam). On the other hand, she also provides a lot of
river resources for human (fishery, irrigation, ferry, rafting, etc.) as well as natural
(habitat for species, landscapes, etc.) livelihoods. Hence, citizens of India shall have
incentives to establish institutional mechanisms which promote efficient allocation
of river resources in order to sustain cultural, ecological and economic prosperity of
intra and inter generations of India.

The current problems with the Ganga river basin may be largely attributed to the
growing population and concomitant economic activities along the basin. It is thus
imperative to understand the size, trend and composition of population in the
entire river basin, livelihood patterns and their possible impact. On the basis of the
past trend of population, a projection for the future may provide insight into our
perspective towards resource demand in future and its implications for the river
basin management. Besides, varied settlement patterns in the basin are said to have
created varied impacts both on the quantity and quality of river water. The river
basin management plan should thus aim at capturing the population dynamics and
settlement patterns in detail in order to design appropriate plans.

The river basin encompasses the activities under all the three broad sectors namely
agriculture, industry and services. The resource use depends on the types and
nature of agricultural practices, industries and services. The discharge of solid and
liquid waste varies across the sectors. It is important to understand economic and
social implications of disposal of waste in the basin and discharge of wastes directly
into the main channel of river Ganga and also in the main channels of the
tributaries of the river Ganga.

Land and water use patterns vary across regions and so do the impact. Land and
water can be put to several uses within and across sectors and between urban and
rural areas. It is important to understand how land use pattern has undergone

  52 
changes over the years and what bearing do they have on river basin management.
Moreover, a projection of the demand for land and water use is equally pertinent
along with the projection of population.

River basin is very closely linked to the livelihood patterns of the people. It is
important to know about the current sources of livelihood and their implications
towards river basin management. Any attempt to devise basin management plan
may require alteration in existing livelihood patterns, which should be economically
rewarding, socially acceptable and physically executable. There is thus a need to
study the livelihood patterns to understand the nature and extent of dependency of
the people on the river basin and suggest necessary intervention options in the
event of refusal to or possible changes in the current sources of livelihood.

In order to source Ganga water and peripheral services on a sustainable basis, it is

necessary to use the resources economically. At the same time, resource
conservation and management involve enormous costs, which primarily are drawn
from the public exchequer. A prudent use of a scarce resource of this kind requires
proper pricing mechanism and incentive and disincentive structures. If properly
determined, these tools may act as deterrents to improper and wasteful use of
water resources and may in turn bring about lasting solution to the problems. It
may thus require development of proper pricing models for various resource users,
subsidy and tax structure as well as suitable institutions for management. A
detailed economic analysis of different users including especially industries and
urban households would be useful in determining these economic tools, which
would go a long way in minimizing, if not achieving zero, discharge of pollution
into Ganga River.

Implementation of Ganga river basin management plan would involve huge social
and economic costs. At the same time, it is expected to generate significant
benefits, both marketed and non-marketed. It is important to know whether the
benefits exceed the cost of the management plan so that the economy and the
society at large remain net beneficiaries. A cost-benefit analysis of the project
should thus be an integral part.

8.2 Objective
The major thrust will be socio-economic analysis of the Ganga River Basin region
with focus on socio-economic issues and cultural engagement of different groups
with River Ganga.

8.3 Tasks
The thematic group on socio-economic-cultural aspects will work on tasks
including, but not limited to the following and will work closely with thematic

  53 
groups on Environmental Quality and Pollution, Water Resource Management,
Ecology and Biodiversity, and Policy, Law and Governance.

Task 1: District-wise analysis of the current and trends of total income of

people engaged in professions directly related to the river and
estimation of total population dependent on such income.

Task 2: District-wise analysis of the current and trends of total income of

people engaged in tourism-related professions and estimation of total
population dependent on such income.

Task 3: Region-wise analysis of the threats to the livelihood of the people

engaged in above professions due to the current state of the rivers.

Task 4: Specification of the minimum water flow (depth and width) and water
quality of the river(s) desirable at various locations for mitigation of
above threats to the livelihood as specified above.

Task 5: Inventory of all minor and major religious congregation events with
frequency of their occurrence and preparation of specification of the
desired channel conditions (depth and width of water, and velocity of
water) and condition of the surrounding river bed.

Task 6: Analysis of threats and interventions necessary to sustain

congregations listed in the report of Task 5 above with implications of
financial resources required.

Task 7: Inventory of all rituals carried out at various locations along the river
Ganga from Gangotri to Gangasagar with involvement of people from
various regions within and outside the Ganga River Basin.

Task 8: Initiation of System of Integrated Environmental and Economic

Accounting for Water Resources (SEEWA) in the Ganga River Basin so
as to provide a framework to compile water accounts in particular as
an integral component of System of Integrated Environmental and
Economic Accounting (SEEA).

Task 9: Prepare reports on requirements of financial resources for the

intervention schemes prepared by various thematic groups.

  54 
8.4 The Team
S No Name Affiliation Role
1 Pushpa Trivedi IIT Bombay Member
2 K N Jha IIT Delhi Member
3 Seema Sharma IIT Delhi Member
4 V Upadhyay IIT Delhi Member
5 Vibha Arora IIT Delhi Member
6 P Murali Prasad IIT Kanpur Member
7 Bhagirath Behera IIT Kharagpur Member
8 Narayan Chandra Nayak IIT Kharagpur Member
9 Pulak Mishra IIT Kharagpur Member
10 Taraknath Majumdar IIT Kharagpur Member
11 Prema Rajagopalan IIT Madras Member
12 Sudhir Chella Rajan IIT Madras Member
13 A J Mishra IIT Roorkee Member
14 D K Nauriyal IIT Roorkee Member
15 S P Singh IIT Roorkee Member
16 Vinay Sharma IIT Roorkee Member
17 Mamta R Singh Delhi College of Engineering Member
18 Ravi Chopra PSI, Dehradun Member

8.5 Important Note

Due to unavailability of some experts/advisors for the thematic group workshop
organized at IIT Delhi during June 18-19, the team as well as the proposal with
specific deliverables could not be fully developed. It is expected that deliverables
will be based on the tasks mentioned in Section 8.3.

  55 
9. P OLICY , L AW AND G OVERNANCE

9.1 Preamble
The preparation of Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) is not only a
massive but complex challenge. While rectifying the existing damage done by
earlier interventions and pollution, equally important is to curtail, reduce, and to the
extent possible, eliminate the processes that cause damage to Ganga. In rectifying
the existing damage along with technological interventions, policy interventions
play an equally critical role. While policy is a framework, law provides the legitimacy
to it and its implementation rests with the institutions of governance. The sub
theme on “policy, law and governance” shall deal with this important task of
formulating a plan for this in Ganga Basin.

The diverse causative factors that create the pollution and other harmful processes
(such as flood-plain farming, encroachments by buildings) damaging the river are
addressed. For this purpose, these damaging or harmful processes can be seen as
emerging from diverse human activities in the catchment of the Ganga river system.
In sectoral terms, these processes can be seen as taking place in diverse sectors,
including, agriculture, mining, hydropower, forestry, water resource management,
sanitation, public health, urban and regional development. These processes can
also be traced to different types of causative factors, such as planning failures,
technical failures, technical mis-matches, conflict of jurisdiction and enforcement
related failures, resource shortages, socio-cultural and behavioural factors,
institutional failures and vacuums, policy defects and policy gaps, capacity and
knowledge gaps.

Thus, in order to address these causative factors, along with technical interventions,
interventions in the areas of policy, governance, and institutions are necessary.
While the vastness of the basin of the Ganga river system indicated scale of this
exercise, the complexity of the challenge of dealing with the causative factors
leading to harmful processes need not be stressed here. The complexity created by
the diverse causative factors, different sectors, and diverse harmful processes is
further aggravated by multiplicity of policy instruments, multiple legislative
provisions, multiplicity of governing agencies, their overlapping jurisdictions,
contradicting provisions as well as contradictory incentives and disincentives
provided in the policy instruments.

Such a massive and complex challenge requires a really comprehensive response

involving not only scientific and technological approaches, but also policy, law and
governance approaches. The policy environment and legislative provision (including

  56 
laws) plays a key role in shaping perceptions and behaviour of the stakeholders. In
this process necessary inputs from and joint deliberations with other core groups,
appropriate precautionary and restorative mechanisms and processes are to be
developed within the constitutional and other proposed legislative paradigms.

9.2 Objective
• To identify and map out—geographically and sectorally—the policy, legal, and
governance deficiencies and gaps
• To evolve corrective measures addressing these gaps and deficiencies
• To identify the potential opportunities for policy, legal, and governance
instruments to contribute to better management of GRB considering the fact
that river Ganga (i) is a national river with socio-cultural heritage, (ii) has a
unique ecosystem and biodiversity supporting variety of services and functions,
and (iii) is regarded as mother and very sacred to most Indians.

9.3 Methodology
(i) Review of literature including documents such as reports, parliamentary
debates, commentaries and critiques
(ii) Study and review of river basin management systems/approaches adopted
elsewhere in the world, e.g. Murray Darling Basin in Australia, Mekong Basin
in Far East, Rhine Basin in Europe, Nile Basin in Africa, as a source of
information for picking up ideas relevant to the Ganga Basin
(iii) Review of National Water Policy (2002), National Environment Policy (2006)
along with national and state policies related to development sectors like
agriculture, industry, urban development, navigation, tourism, etc.
(iv) Review of the local, state and central laws applicable relating to domestic and
business establishment, sanitation and public health, industrial clusters and
establishment, rural and urban planning, forestry, agriculture, mining, and
flood plain and hydropower
(v) Interviews and group discussions with a broad range of stakeholders
(vi) Consultation meetings and workshops with stakeholders and experts
(vii) Field Visits, Field Work (Questionnaire Surveys, Participatory Research
Methods)

9.4 Activities
The activities under this project are divided in two phases. The activities in this
project are organized around certain major Areas of Concerns (such as Water
Resources Management’, Pollution, Sanitation, Ecosystem Management) in the
context of the five states from GRB (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, West Bengal). The first phase involves exploratory studies of Key Problems in
the major Areas of Concerns. This Scoping Exercise will bring out a series of short

  57 
reports at the end of the first phase. Each short report will elaborate the policy,
legal, and governance deficiencies and gaps related to the Key Problems in each of
the Area of Concerns for one state. An analysis of these reports will throw up
various issues related to the theme, especially, the quantitative and qualitative
contribution of these to the problems of GRB. A study using ’80-20’ technique will
bring out the dominant contributors to the problems of GRB. This will help focus
and identify the issues of detailed study for Phase II.

The Phase II will have Short Term (5 months’ duration) and Medium Term (10
months; duration) studies mostly undertaken by IIT faculty. The report of these
studies and ensuing recommendations will form the output of the second phase.
This will also point to the detailed studies and research themes for sustainable
management of GRB. Figure 9.1 illustrates the sequence of activities.

9.5 Deliverables

Phase I
• About 20 Short Reports on Key Problems in selected Areas of Concerns
pertaining to five states from GRB
• Identification of Key Themes for in-depth analysis in Phase II

Phase II
• About 10 Detailed Reports, with Policy Recommendation at the end of the
Short Term Studies (of 5 months’ duration)
• About 10 Detailed Reports, with Policy Recommendation at the end of the
Medium Term Studies (of 10 months’ duration)
• Proposed changes in the institutional and governance framework exploring
mechanisms/processes for effective public participation, rather mass
movement, and use of Panchayat Raj Institutions.
• Recommend amendment and proposed legislations if required.

  58 
 Initial
Consultation
Workshop

Steps in Scoping Study

• Common methodology
• Adaptation for /Areas
• Execution by State Responsibility of Faculty
Consultant • Monitoring of State
• Monitoring &Compilation consultants
of 5 x X reports/chapters • Compilation of Reports
• Comment by experts
• Finalization of 5 x X
reports of scoping studies

Scoping Study
(Covering 5
states and Areas
of X Concern)

Methodology for SS
Output of Scoping Study
• Identification of Areas of
• Identification of ‘y’ types of
Concern (X)
issues
• Identification of Key issues
• Scope, nature of the
in each X in each State
issues
• Identification of Critical
• Quantitative + Qualitative
dimension/aspects of each
contribution to problem in
Key Issue
management of Ganga
• Initial elaboration by
River Basin
consultant

Phase II
Studies on Research Themes Short Term
(5 months), Medium Term (10 months)

Output of Research Studies

• Short-Term (5 months) + Long-term (10
months) studies on “Issues”
• Reports on L & S Term studies
• Policy and other Recommendation

Phase III
Detailed Studies or Complex Research
Themes

Figure 9.1: Sequence of Activities of Policy, Law and Governance Group

  59 
9.6 The Team
S No Name Affiliation Role
1 NC Narayanan IIT Bombay Leader
2 Shyam Asolekar IIT Bombay Member
3 Subodh Wagle IIT Bombay Member
4 P Murali Prasad IIT Kanpur Member
5 Dipa Dube IIT Kharagpur Member
6 Indrajit Dube IIT Kharagpur Member
7 Uday Sankar IIT Kharagpur Member
8 Ashu Khanna IIT Roorkee Member
9 S N Rangnekar IIT Roorkee Member
10 S P Singh IIT Roorkee Member
11 U B Chitranshi IIT Roorkee Member
12 Vivek Kumar IIT Roorkee Member
13 Sudhir Chella Rajan IIT Madras Member
14 G N Kathpalia Independent Advisor
15 Paritosh Tyagi Independent Advisor

  60 
10. G EO -S PATIAL D ATABASE M ANAGEMENT

10.1 Preamble
The Ganga river basin management plan is an ambitious and unique proposal. It has
been conceived to understand and rectify the various environmental issues that
have cropped up due to the continuing expansion of human habitat in the basin. In
order to achieve the goals of the project, scientists from different fields need to
work in a synergistic manner. A crucial component of the entire exercise will be an
integrated geo-spatial database management system to be used by all thematic
groups and policy makers. The system will provide data storage, retrieval,
visualization and search capabilities. In addition, it will provide relevant interfaces
that can be used by the different thematic groups for simulation, prediction and
analysis of data.

The enhancement of sensor technologies coupled with the advent of advanced

geographic information systems (GIS) provide myriad and virtually limitless
opportunities to applications for assessment and evaluation of natural resources in
a sustainable manner. However, such systems require the capabilities of robust and
large databases in order to be successful in the long run. Thus, the proposed data
centre is an ideal and crucial cog, on which the smooth running of the Ganga basin
project wheel depends.

Several themes have been outlined for managing the different aspects of the plan. A
major common effort will be to collect myriad types of data ranging from climate,
soil conditions, bio-diversity, land usage and socio-economic practices. While the
sources from where these data will be available are different, it will be beneficial
from both a scientific as well as a management point of view to store all the various
types of data in a central repository. The proposed repository or data centre will
provide the additional benefit of linking the data from different themes to get an
overall perspective.

As the data has been (and will be) collected over a period of time across different
spatial sites in the Ganga basin, it will be spatio-temporal in nature. Designing a
geo-spatial database management system is, therefore, crucial to the entire project.

10.2 Objectives
We envision four important aspects of the system:

• A database (henceforth referred to as a data centre) that can house and inter-
connect the different types of data,
• Query, visualization, and retrieval capabilities of the stored data,

  61 
• Interfaces that will make the data available to simulation tools, and
• Data mining, pattern recognition and knowledge modelling.
• Creation of a data centre using open source technologies and tools with the aim
of migrating to such a system eventually. It is expected that in the initial stages
proprietary software and tools may have to be used since most end users are
generally familiar with them and will require time and training to migrate.

A unified database that has access to all sorts of data is necessary not only to serve
as a central repository, but also to establish the connections across the different
spatial sites, periods and sources of data. Moreover, these will help the thematic
groups to link their own sources of data to other related data for better
understanding of the problems they work on.

However, since the database is supposed to cover every bit of data collected or
produced by every thematic group, the amount of data will be very large. Such
voluminous and continuously increasing data calls for sophisticated query
processing and indexing techniques. The database must support improved ways of
searching and retrieval in order to be practically useful to the domain scientists.
Since the data can have various attributes, multi-dimensional indexing techniques
along with suitable similarity measures need to be developed. Another important
feature of the data centre is visualization and representation of data in different
forms that are more suitable and amenable to the needs of the domain specialists.
It is important that the provenance of each piece of data can be tracked and can be
displayed on a map of the Ganga basin with the exact time period when it was
collected. For a particular site, a time-series of each type of data needs to be
displayed. This will also help in dissemination of information about the progress of
the project and the status of the river to the general viewers.

Models will require various abstraction layers on top of the raw data, e.g., a flow
abstraction that projects the flows into and out of a chosen object (such as the main
stem of the Ganga or one of its tributaries) giving point and extended source flows.
The comprehensive data gathering and modelling exercise, both qualitative and
quantitative, will also reveal gaps in the existing data and help guide future data
collection efforts.

Another very important aspect of the system will be the data mining and pattern
recognition components. Since the amount of data is extremely large, it is not
possible to sift through them manually and find patterns. Specialized machine
learning techniques need to be applied for pattern discovery and trend analysis.
Statistical methods and models can be incorporated to identify data that is
statistically unlikely and, therefore, points to some unusual physical phenomena
that warrants further exploration. Due to the large area of the Ganga basin, it may
not be possible to collect data from all the spatial sites at all times. Thus, building

  62 
an appropriate generative model that describes the different data sources will be a
boon. The model will also help to simulate different situations such as flood,
drought, etc. and predict the future values of various physical parameters. This will
be a valuable resource for policy makers and scientists alike. Since the data will be
from different sources, linking the metadata is important to understand the
relationships among the various types of data. Therefore, the construction of
knowledge models and ontologies are vital as well.

Research on pattern recognition and statistical analysis can provide value addition
as well as support research of other thematic groups. This research will be long
term and will evolve over time with interactions between other thematic groups to
understand their data and identify their requirements. These include, but are not
limited to the following ideas. Sensitivity tolerance and confidence levels can be
added to the models developed by other thematic groups using statistical analysis.
Pattern recognition on remote sensing data will be an important aspect to develop
maps on surface water, glacier extent (and monitoring), soil composition, land-use,
forest cover (and monitoring), etc. Relevant processed data at different times can
feed models of other thematic groups to make better and/or additional parameter
predictions.

10.3 Scope
The scope of the project extends to the entire Ganga basin management plan. The
data centre will include all the data requirements of all the thematic groups. It will
also include a portal cum qualitative knowledge map (Gangapedia) that will sub-
serve the communication needs of the project.

10.4 Types of Data

The collection of data is external to the project. It is assumed that the different
thematic groups will feed the data collected or generated by them to this group.
Some of the typical sources of data that are expected from them are:

a) Data from water sources

b) River water levels
c) Pollution levels
d) Rainfall
e) Ground water levels
f) Ground water pollution levels
g) Glacier sizes and melt rates
h) Bio-diversity maps
i) Chemical substance levels
j) Data from land sources

  63 
k) Land use maps
l) Pollution levels
m) Bio-diversity maps
n) Remote-sensing data
o) Topographic data
p) Soil composition data

10.5 Methodology
The data objects, attributes, sources, views and interfaces will be identified in close
consultation with representatives of all thematic groups. A consultative group with
representation from each thematic group will be formed to understand the data
requirements of each group and the database group will design and implement the
necessary requirements. It is expected that these requirements will evolve over the
course of the project. The steps below give a more detailed picture of the approach
that will be taken:

a) Identify the objects in the entire system.

b) Identify the attributes for each object - in particular the spatial and temporal
aspects.
c) Identify the type and structure of data elements and the interfaces needed.
d) Identify the meta data tags for the data elements in the system.
e) Design data mining techniques to access the raw and processed data in different
ways.
f) Create a communication portal for within project and external communication
needs.
g) Create qualitative knowledge models showing dependencies and nature of
dependencies.
h) Design a security policy for access to data.
i) Identify the hardware and software needs (e.g., servers, database, GIS and
visualization software, network bandwidth for connectivity, etc.).
j) Design and implement a system that meets the requirements from (a) to (h)
above.
k) Design pattern recognition techniques to identify trends and anomalies.
l) Research on other aspects of mapping, modeling, prediction and support to
other thematic groups.

  64 
10.6 Work Plan

0-3 3-6 6-9 9-12 12-15 15-18

Activity
Months Months Months Months Months Months
Setup of the basic data centre
(items (i), (iv) and (viii) with
basic/standard data access
capabilities).
Development of specialized
interfaces for simulation and
modeling; visualization; other
abstraction layers; creation of
qualitative knowledge models.
Initiate research into data
intensive modeling and
prediction - data mining, pattern
recognition, machine learning,
knowledge modeling, and
ontology creation.

10.7 Deliverables
Data centre with appropriate querying, retrieval, visualization, API interfaces and
data abstraction facilities. The data will be acquired by the individual thematic
groups and given to the database group.

10.8 The Team

S No Name Affiliation Role
1 Alka Bhushan IIT Bombay Member
2 N L Sarada, IIT Bombay Member
3 Smita Sengupta IIT Bombay Member
4 Umesh Bellur IIT Bombay Member
5 A K Gosain IIT Delhi Member
6 A K Mittal IIT Delhi Member
7 Arnab Bhattacharya IIT Kanpur Member
8 Bharat Lohani IIT Kanpur Member
9 Harish Karnick IIT Kanpur Member
10 Krithika Venkataramani IIT Kanpur Leader
11 Onkar Dikshit IIT Kanpur Member
12 Purnendu Bose IIT Kanpur Member
13 Rajiv Sinha IIT Kanpur Member
14 T V Prabhakar IIT Kanpur Member
15 Vinod Tare IIT Kanpur Member

  65 
11. C OMMUNICATION

11.1 Preamble
For any large project the number one factor is good communication among the
project team members. Everybody claims that they are good communicators and we
surely have the technology to maintain constant communication with land-phones
and cell-phones and email, but it is true that they are not used to their maximum
ability.

For example, when there is an issue, which needs to be communicated to multiple

people, usually one will email to a number of people who should really be involved.
It is extremely annoying and breaks the communication chain when somebody
replies only to the sender of the email without including the rest of the members.

Preparation of GRBMP is a project that involves participation from several

institutions and organizations including the seven IITs. Each IIT has its own
characteristics and traits. As such, constant integration among the teams is of
paramount importance.

Not only constant communication is important, but GOOD communication is

important. People must be very clear about what they are talking about. Good and
effective communication support is essential when dealing with complex multi-
thematic processes that may have small to large overlap, spanning through several
institutions and organizations, and involving anywhere from fifty to hundreds of
contributors to the project.

In order to achieve this type of good communication team members should have
their workplaces physically close, which is not possible for this project. Therefore, a
communication thematic group is proposed.

11.2 Roles and Responsibility

• Prepare a communication Plan (Internal and External)
• Setup necessary Project Internet Website to support ongoing interaction and
hosting of evolving project documents from different thematic groups.
• Engage a professional communication agency for all managed external
communication through press conferences, press releases, announcements,
communication workshops to special groups as needed.
• Evolve a project branding and standards - Project Logo, Document Templates,
Project Brochure, etc.

  66 
 11.3 Typical Communication Plan

What Who/Target Purpose When/Frequency Type/Method(s)

First
Gather information for
Initiation Meeting All stakeholders* Before Project Start Meeting
Initiation Plan
Date
Before Kick Off Electronic distribution
Distribute Plan to alert
Distribute Project Meeting through email and
All stakeholders* stakeholders of project
Initiation Plan Before Project Start posting on
scope and to gain buy in.
Date GangaPedia website.
Communicate plans and
stakeholder
roles/responsibilities. At or near Project
Project Kick Off All stakeholders* Meeting
Encourage Start Date
communication among
stakeholders.
Electronic distribution
Regularly Scheduled.
All stakeholders and Update stakeholders on through email and
Status Reports Monthly is
Project Office progress of the project. posting on
recommended
GangaPedia website.
Entire Project Team. Regularly Scheduled.
Individual meetings Weekly is
To review detailed plans
Thematic Group for sub-teams, recommended for Meeting
(tasks, assignments, and
Meetings technical team, and entire team. Weekly
action items).
Functional teams as or bi-weekly for sub-
appropriate. teams as appropriate.
Update Project Advisory
Group on status and
Coordination Project Advisory discuss critical issues. Regularly Scheduled. Meeting and/or Tele /
Committee Group and Project Work through issues and Monthly is Video Conference
Meetings Manager change requests here recommended. call
before escalating to the
Sponsor(s).
Regularly scheduled
Recommended at the
Update Management
Mission start and quarterly,
Mission Management Board Members on status
Management and also as needed
Board and Mission and discuss critical Meeting
Board Meetings when issues cannot
Coordinator issues. Seek approval for
be resolved or
changes to Project Plan.
changes need to be
made to project plan.
Review status reports,
Project Office, Project issues, and risks. To
Meeting/Report
Project Office Manager, select identify and communicate Monthly
Project Office will
Audit/Review stakeholders, and potential risks and issues Scheduled by the
produce report using
possibly Sponsor(s) if that may effect the Project Office
their template.
necessary. schedule, budget, or
deliverables.
Identify improvement
Project Office, Project
Post Project plans, lessons learned, Meeting/Report
Manager, key End of Project or end
Review what worked and what Project Office will
stakeholders, and of major phase
could have gone better. produce report.
sponsor(s).
Review accomplishments.
Quarterly depending
Meeting/Report
Quarterly Project Project Office, Project Review overall health of on size and criticality
Project Office will
Review Manager, and key the project and highlight of the project.
produce report using
stakeholders. areas that need action. Scheduled by the
internal template.
Project Office.

  67 
What Who/Target Purpose When/Frequency Type/Method(s)

At project milestones
To update external groups so as to communicate
Presentations to
Examples: to promote with other interested
Special Interest Presentation/Demons
NGOs, Religious communication a create parties of changes
Groups tration
Interest Groups etc. awareness of project that will be introduced
interdependencies. outside of the Project
Team.
Central location to house
Status Reports, meeting
minutes, Project Update monthly with
GANGAPedia ALL GRBMP and Electronic
description, and Project Status Reports;
Blackboard Site Thematic Group Communications
Plan. For any otherwise, as
Team Members. Venue
communications that can necessary.
be shared with all GRBMP
contributors.
To be determined by Seminars,
Other… General communications As needed
the GRBMP Team Workshops etc.

11.4 Work Packages

WP1: Build and configure GangaPedia Website to facilitate group discussion

and host project working documents, status reports and project
deliverables; Train end users to use the site

WP2: Select and engage a PR agency; Evolve external communication plan and
standards

WP3: Build Project Branding and Standards

11.5 Work Plan

Months
Activity Description
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10-M18
GangaPedia -
WP1-
Implement Core
Phase-1
Functionality
GangaPedia –
WP1 – Implement
Phase-2 Extended
Functionality
On going
WP1 –
GandgaPedia
Phase-3
Operations
WP2 – Select and Engage
Phase-1 PR Agency
Build External
WP2 –
Communication
Phase-2
Plan
Table continued to next page … … …. … … …

  68 
… … … … … Table continued to next page
Months
Activity Description
M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 M8 M9 M10-M18
WP2 – Comm. Plan
Phase-3 Execution
WP3 – Select and Engage
Phase-1 Creative Art Agency
Build Project
WP3 –
Branding and
Phase-2
Standards
Implement evolving
WP3 –
requirements and
Phase-3
refinements

11.6 The Team

S No Name Affiliation Role
1 A K Gosain IIT Delhi Member
2 Atul Mittal IIT Delhi Member
3 Arnab Bhattacharya IIT Kanpur Member
4 Harish Karnick IIT Kanpur Member
5 Krithika Venkataramani IIT Kanpur Member
6 T V Prabhakar IIT Kanpur Leader
7 Vinod Tare IIT Kanpur Member

  69 
12. D ELIVERABLES

• Main Report: Vision, Mission, Goals, Activities, Tasks, Implications – Ecological,

Environmental, Societal, Demographic, Institutional, Economic and Financial
• Status reports and simulated future scenarios on various aspects (e.g. surface
and ground water resources; ecological resources; river flows; pollutant loads –
point/non-point, domestic/industrial, toxic/hazardous; cultural; livelihood;
agriculture; urbanization, industrialization, etc.) of the Ganga Basin with atlases,
databases, modeling tools, etc.
• Reports on suggested Sub-Missions for the Mission on Restoration of the River
Ganga for consideration by NGRBA with phase wise implementation, financial
and other implications, and measurable and verifiable indicators.

The preparation of the main report and the report on suggested sub-missions
may go well beyond first phase of this project which is planned to be completed
in 18 months. However, following specific items are expected to be completed
within the first phase.

• Gangapedia - Project Internet Website to support ongoing interaction and

hosting of evolving project documents from different thematic groups.
• Lessons from the past
• Map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) pollution load
generation from domestic and industrial sources and other related information
(i.e., population, drainage pattern, sanitation levels, etc.) for each district in the
Ganga River Basin
• Maps and associated GIS representations showing estimated pollution
generation and other related information in all districts of the Ganga River Basin
from 2015-2055 at 10 year increments.
• A map and associated GIS representation showing current (2010) water quality
parameters and associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin.
• Maps and associated GIS representations showing water quality parameters and
associated risks in all major rivers of the Ganga River Basin in 10 year
increments from 2015 – 2055, assuming that the recommended action plan is
implemented.
• ‘Action Plan(s)’, consisting of a series of projects (including infrastructure and
water quality monitoring and surveillance projects) to be taken up in a specified
chronological order, such that the water quality objectives of the GRBMP are
achieved.
• Assessment of present and future (say 2051) water needs of the system for
irrigation, domestic consumption, industry, power generation, salinity, inland

  70 
 navigation, fisheries, pollution dispersion and dilution, ecological balance,
social and religious needs.
• Virgin, unregulated, water resources availability across the Ganga River Basin
for the time horizon 2011-2051.
• Scenario generation for assessment of impacts of major and medium scale
interventions on water quantity as well as quality over a time horizon extending
upto 2051 on account of: present interventions, ongoing development, and
proposed development
• Sustainability studies of the suggested alternative development paths
• Geomorphic map of the Ganga River
• Stream power distribution pattern of the Ganga river
• Assessment of environmental flow using geomorphic criteria
• Assessment of sediment supply and its effect on river morphology and flow
characteristics
• Assessment of geomorphic impact of the existing and future engineering
projects
• Hydrology-geomorphology-ecology relationship as a generic tool for
sustainable river management
• Report on ecologically sensitive/significant sites/zones which exist/existed
naturally or due to construction of hydraulic structures or other
natural/anthropogenic processes with analysis of threats to such systems and
suggestions for conservation/restoration.
• Report on biodiversity hotspots, e,g, impoundments, wetlands and other areas
in the basin with analysis of threats and suggestions for
conservation/restoration.
• Report on few key native species (i.e., fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals,
birds, etc.) at or near the top of the food chain in each stretch which are
severely stressed or no longer present due to loss of habitat, pollution,
insufficient flow or other reasons, but whose presence will be highly desirable.
• Report on few key native species (i.e., fishes, reptiles, amphibians, mammals,
birds, etc.) at or near the top of the food chain in each impoundment, wetland,
etc., which are severely stressed or no longer present due to loss of habitat,
pollution, insufficient flow or other reasons, but whose presence will be highly
desirable.
• Stretch-wise specification of the minimum acceptable conditions, i.e., channel
depth, width and velocity, and water quality etc. for the native species to be
viable.
• Specification of conditions, i.e., water availability, water quality and other
considerations for continued and long-term viability of selected native species
in impoundments, wetlands, etc. identified earlier.
• Documentations on ingress of flora in the region of river flood plain which will
not otherwise survive due to inundation in normal annual wet weather flow.

  71 
• District-wise analysis of the current and trends of total income of people
engaged in professions directly related to the river and estimation of total
population dependent on such income.
• District-wise analysis of the current and trends of total income of people
engaged in tourism-related professions and estimation of total population
dependent on such income.
• Region-wise analysis of the threats to the livelihood of the people engaged in
above professions due to the current state of the rivers.
• Specification of the minimum water flow (depth and width) and water quality of
the river(s) desirable at various locations for mitigation of above threats to the
livelihood as specified above.
• Inventory of all minor and major religious congregation events with frequency
of their occurrence and preparation of specification of the desired channel
conditions (depth and width of water, and velocity of water) and condition of
the surrounding river bed.
• Analysis of threats and interventions necessary to sustain socio-cultural
congregations with implications of financial resources required.
• Inventory of all rituals carried out at various locations along the river Ganga
from Gangotri to Gangasagar with involvement of people from various regions
within and outside the Ganga River Basin.
• Proposed changes in the institutional and governance framework
• Recommended amendment in proposed legislations if required.
• Data centre with appropriate querying, retrieval, visualization, API interfaces
and data abstraction facilities.

  72 
13. E XECUTION

The work on preparation of Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) will be
done in a Mission Mode on the lines of Technology Development Missions (TDMs)
supported by the GOI and executed by various IITs. This mission will be coordinated
by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The mission coordination committee
will consist of Thematic Leaders drawn from various institutes/organizations/
universities including IITs. The organizational chart is presented in Figure 13.1.

The work of each theme will be supervised by the team leader and peer reviewed.
The coordination committee will monitor the progress of the project as well
formulate strategy for interaction amongst various thematic groups for overlapping
tasks and exchange of information amongst the groups.

Start-up workshops will be organized to plan activities, distribution of work and

evolve mechanism/process for review within the thematic groups.

The Mission Management Board will oversee the entire project and have regular
meetings at least once in three months in addition to the first meeting after the
start-up workshop.

In addition, MOEF and IITs may appoint a committee for proper coordination and
review of progress. MOEF may also nominate an officer to be a member of each of
the thematic team.

  73 
 Environmental Quality and Pollution
[Dr Vinod Tare, IIT Kanpur]

Water Resources Management

[Dr A K Gosain, IITDelhi]

Consultants, Advisors, Agencies/ Organizations and Support Staff

Fluvial Geomorphology
[Dr Rajiv Sinha, IIT Kanpur]

NRCD, MOEF, Ecology and Biodiversity

GOI [To be decided]

Socio-Economic-Cultural
[To be decided]
Mission
Management Mission
Board Coordinator: Policy Law and Governance
Chairman: Dr Vinod Tare, [Dr N C Narayanan, IIT Bombay]
Director, IIT IIT Kanpur
Bombay

Coordination
Committee Geo-spatial Database Management
[Dr Krithika Venkataramani, IIT Kanpur]
Consisting of
Thematic
Leaders
Communication
[Dr T V Prabhakar, IIT Kanpur]

Figure 13.1: Organizational Chart for Mission on Preparation of Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP)

74 
14. F INANCIAL

The overall financial layout for the preparation of the Ganga River Basin
Management Plan (GRBMP) Rs 1,600.02 lacs as given in Table 14.1. The funds will
be received as grant-in-aid and the coordinating IIT i.e IIT Kanpur will be
responsible for submission of Utilization Certificate.

  75 
 Table 14.1: Break-up of Funds Required under Various Heads by Different Thematic Groups (Amount: Rupees in Lakhs)

Theme
Budget Head
EQP WRM FGM ENB SEC PLG GDM COM PIC TOTAL

Manpower 74.00 76.00 51.00 30.00 32.00 65.00 40.00 30.00 30.00 428.00

Data Acquisition 27.50 15.00 10.00 4.50 57.00

Travel
(meetings/workshops/conferences/
field work) 74.00 24.00 15.75 25.00 32.00 20.30 8.00 4.00 10.00 213.05
Training workshop and review
meetings 12.00 6.00 30.00 48.00

Contingency 27.35 13.00 8.00 20.00 7.00 3.00 2.00 3.00 10.00 93.35

Consumables 56.30 19.00 7.25 10.00 5.00 4.00 2.00 103.55

Equipment 42.00 40.00 46.00 10.00 5.00 40.00 10.00 193.00

Software 2.00 100.00 102.00

Consultants expenses 15.00 4.00 19.00

Miscellaneous 15.00 30.00 10.00 21.40 76.40

SUB TOTAL 273.65 229.50 159.00 125.00 101.00 100.80 194.00 49.00 101.40 1333.35
Institute Overheads (IOH) @ 20 % of Sub Total 266.67
GRAND TOTAL 1600.02

EQP: Environmental Quality and Pollution; WRM: Water Resources Management; FGM: Fluvial Geomorphology; ENB: Ecology and Biodiversity; SEC:
Socio-Economic-Cultural; PLG: Policy, Law and Governance; GDM: Geo-Spatial Database Management; COM: Communications; PIC: Project
Implementation and Coordination; IOH: Institute Over-Heads

76 
15. T IME S CHEDULE

The time required for the completion of the mission will be 18 months from the date
of receipt of the grants from MoEF. However, all efforts will be made to achieve the
deliverables within 12 months as stipulated by MoEF. This will be possible if all
relevant information and data is made available to the IIT team in a time bound
manner as is envisioned in the proposal made by various thematic teams detailed in
Chapters 4 to 11. The schedule for various activities to be undertaken by various
thematic teams is given as work plan by various teams in Chapters 4 to 11. The
mission will be considered completed on achieving the deliverables to the satisfaction
of NRCD, MoEF, GoI.

  77 
16. T HE T EAM

Theme I: Environmental Quality and Pollution

Alappat, Babu J
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, IIT Bombay)
alappat@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26596254

Asolekar, Shyam R
Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.E. (Chemical, UICT, Bombay University); M.S. (Chemical, IISc Bangalore); M.S. (Environmental
Engineering, Syracuse University, USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa)
asolekar@iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767851

Bassin, J K
NEERI Zonal Lab, Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Electronics & Communications, KNIT, Kurukshetra); M.E. (Environmental
Engineering, MNIT, Jaipur)
jk_bassin@neeri.res.in | +91-11-25892749

Bose, Purnendu
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, Jadavpur University); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, USA)
pbose@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597403

Chakrapani, Govind Joseph

Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Roorkee
M.Sc. (IIT Bombay); M.Phil (JNU, Delhi); Ph.D. (JNU, Delhi); Post Doc (USA)
gjcurfes@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285080

Doble, Mukesh
Department of Biotechnology, IIT Madras
B.Tech (Chemical, IIT Madras); M.Tech (Process Control, IIT Madras); Ph.D. (Process Control,
University of Aston, Birmingham, UK)
mukeshd@iitm.ac.in | +91-44-22574107

Ghangrekar, Makarand Madhao

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
B.Tech (Civil, Government College of Engineering, Karad); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering,
VNIT Nagpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay)
ghangrekar@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-3222-283440

  78 
Goel, Sudha
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
B.E. (Environmental Engineering, L.D. College of Engineering, Gujarat University); M.S.E.
(Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering,
Johns Hopkins University, USA)
sudhagoel@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-3222-283436

Guha, Saumyen
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, B.E. College, Shibpur); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, USA)
sguha@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597917

Gupta, Ashok Kumar

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
B.Tech (Civil, GBPUAT, Pantnagar); M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Government Engineering
College, Jabalpur), Ph.D. (Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay)
agupta@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434018623

Habib, Gazala
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Tech (Civil, NIT Raipur); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, VNIIT Nagpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, IIT Bombay); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, University of
Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA and University of California San Diego, USA)
gazalahabib@gmail.com | +91-9311632587

Joshi, Himanshu
Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, University of Roorkee)
joshifhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285390

Kalamdhad, Ajay
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati
kajay@iitg.ernet.in |

Kazmi, Abssar Ahmed

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, Aligarh Muslim University); M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Asian Institute
of Technology, Thailand); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan)
kazmifce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285725

  79 
Kumar, Pradeep
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.E. (Public Health Engineering, University of Roorkee); Ph.D.
(Civil, University of Roorkee)
pkumafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285446

Kumar, Arun
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Tech. (Civil, IIT Kanpur); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering and Management, IIT Kanpur)
Ph.D.
arun1215@yahoo.com |

Kumar, Rakesh
NEERI Mumbai Center
M.Tech (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering)
r_kumar@neeri.res.in | +91-22-24926859

Kumar, Vivek
Department of Paper Technology, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Pulp & Paper, University of Roorkee); M.E. (Chemical Engineering, University of Roorkee);
Ph.D. (IIT Delhi)
vivekfpt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-132-2714348

Mall, Indra D
Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee
B.Sc. (Chemical, BHU); M.Sc. (Chemical, BHU); Ph.D. (Chemical, BHU)
invigfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285319

Mehrotra, Indu
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
M.Sc. (Chemistry, Agra University); Ph.D. (Chemsitry, IIT Kanpur)
indumfce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285451

Mishra, Indra M
Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee
B.Sc. (Chemical, BHU); M.Sc. (Chemical, BHU); Ph.D. (Chemical, BHU); Post Doc (Bio-chemical,
University of Hannover, Germany)
imishfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285715

Mittal, Atul K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT
Kanpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay)
akmittal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591239

  80 
Mukherji, Suparna
Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.Tech. (Energy, IIT Kharagpur); M.S. (Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University,
USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, The University of Michigan USA)
mitras@iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767854

Prasad, Basheshwar
Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee
bashefch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332- 285323

Shiva Nagendra, S M
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
B.E. (Civil, University of Mysore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, University of Mysore);
Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, IIT Delhi)
snagendra@iitm.ac.in | +91-44-22574290

Singh, Prabhat
Department of Civil Engineering, IT BHU
B.E. (Civil, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh); M.Tech.( Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur);
Ph.D. (IIT Kanpur)
dr_pksingh1@rediffmail.com | +91-542-2307016

Srivastava, Vimal Chandra

Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee
vimalfch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-9410372170

Majumder, Chandrajit Balo

Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee
bashefch@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332- 285321

Mondal, Prasenjit
Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Roorkee
pmondfch@iitr.ernet.in |

Nema, Arvind Kumar

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.E. (Civil, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur); M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Rani Durgavati
University, Jabalpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay)
aknema@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26596423

  81 
Philip, Ligy
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
B.Tech. (Civil, M.G. University); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur)
ligy@iitm.ac.in | +91-44-22574274

Rao, C V Chalapati
Air Pollution Control Division, NEERI, Nagpur
B.E. (Civil, Andhra University); M.E. (Public and Health Engineering,Andhra University); Ph.D.
(NEERI, Nagpur University)
cvc_rao@neeri.res.in | +91-712-2249895

Ravi Krishna, R
Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras
B.Tech (Osmania University, Hyderabad); M.Tech (IIT Madras); Ph.D. (Louisiana State University,
USA)
rrk@iitm.ac.in | +91-44-22574175

Singh, Anju
National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai
Ph.D. (Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay)
dranjusingh@gmail.com | +91-9867537419

Sreekrishnan, T R
Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, IIT Delhi
Ph.D. (IIT Delhi)
sree@dbeb.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591014

Suresh, Sumathi
Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
M.Sc. (Life Sciences, Central University of Hyderabad); Ph.D. (Biochemistry, IISc Bangalore); Post
Doc (Microbiology, University of Urbana-Champaign, USA, Biochemistry, University of Nebraska,
Lincoln, USA)
sumathis@iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767859

Tare, Vinod
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Tech (Civil, SGSITS, Indore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute
of Technology, USA)
vinod@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597792

  82 
Theme II: Water Resources Management

Narasimhan, Balaji
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
B.E. (Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University); M.S. (Biosystems Engineering, University
of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada); Ph.D. (Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M
University)
nbalaji@iitm.ac.in | +91-44-22574293

Chahar, B R
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.E. (Civil, University of Jodhpur); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kharagpur); Ph.D. (Water
Resources, IIT Roorkee)
chahar@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591187

Chaube, Umesh Chand

Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee
B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kanpur); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT
Delhi)
chaubfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285767

Dhar, Anirban
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
B.E. (Civil, JGEC, North Bengal University); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Water
Resources, IIT Kanpur), Post Doc (James Cook University, Australia)
anirban@civil.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-3222-283432

Dutta, Subashisa
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati
B.E. (Civil, Sambalpur University); M.E. (Irrigation and Hydraulics Engineering, Sambalpur
University); Ph.D. (Computational Hydraulics, IIT Kharagpur)
subashisa@iitg.ernet.in | +91-9435104598

Goel, N K
Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee
goelnfhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332- 285814

Gosain, Ashvin K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, PEC Chandigarh); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Delhi); Ph.D. (Hydrology, IIT
Delhi)
gosain@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591241

  83 
Gupta, S K
Department of Civil Engineering, IT BHU
B.Tech (IIT Delhi); M.Tech (IIT Delhi); Ph.D. (IIT Delhi)
sunkrg@yahoo.com | +91-542-2307016(39)

Hariprasad, K S
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Civil, Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur); M.Tech (Geoinformatics, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Remote Sensing, University of Roorkee)
suryafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285405

Jain, M K
Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee
mjainfhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332-285845

Jain, Sharad K
Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.Tech (Hydraulics & Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Water Resources, University of Roorkee)
jainsfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285551

Kansal, M L
Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee
mlkgkfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285749

Kartha, Suresh A
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati
B.Tech (University of Calicut); M.E. (Anna University); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur)
kartha@iitg.ernet.in | +91-361-2582422

Kaushal, Deo Raj

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, AMU, Aligarh); M.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, AMU, Aligarh); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT
Delhi)
kaushal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591216

Keshari, A K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, MITM); M.Tech (Engineering Geology and Remote Sensing, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Hydraulics and Water Resources Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Geoenvironmental
Sciences, KNU, South Korea)
akeshari@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26581268

  84 
Khare, Deepak
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
kharefwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332 - 285393

Khosa, Rakesh
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Tech (Civil, BITS Pilani); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Delhi); M.S. (Hydrology, National
University of Ireland); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT Delhi)
rkhosa@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91- 9810457772

Mohapatra, Pranab
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, Utkal University); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Water Resources, IIT
Kanpur)
pranab@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597044

Murthy, B S
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
B.E. (Civil, University of Madras); M.E. (Civil, IISc Bangalore); Ph.D. (Civil, Washington State
University, USA)
bsm@iitm.ac.in | +91-44-22574262

Ojha, Chandra Shekhar Prasad

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Civil, Gorakhpur University); M.E. (Civil, IISc Bangalore); Ph.D. (Civil, Imperial College,
London, UK)
cojhafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285494

Panda, Sudhindra Nath

Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering; Head of the Department, School of Water
Resources, IIT Kharagpur
B.Tech (Agriculture, OAUT, Orissa); M.Tech (Soil and Water Engineering, PAU, Ludhiana); Ph.D.
(PAU, Ludhiana)
snp@agfe.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9434009156

Pandey, Ashish
Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee
ashisfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332-285872

Perumal, M
Department of Hydrology, IIT Roorkee
B.E. (Civil, University of Madras); M.Sc. (Engg.) (Hydrology, National University of Ireland); Ph.D.
(Civil, University of Roorkee)
perumfhy@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285817

  85 
Sen, Dhrubajyoti
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kharagpur); M.Tech (Water Resources Engineering, IIT Delhi); Ph.D.
(Computational Hydraulics, IIT Delhi)
djsen.iit@gmail.com | +91-9434721888

Singh, Pratap
INRM Consultants Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
B.Sc. (Bareilly College); M.Sc. (Bareilly College); Ph.D. (University of Roorkee)
pratapsingh.iitd@gmail.com | +91-11-20900989

Singh, Virendra
Engineering & Technology, IT BHU
B.Tech (Civil, IIT Kharagpur); M.Tech (Geotechnical, IIT Kharagpur); Ph.D. (BHU)
vsingh@bhu.ac.in | +91-542-2307016(38)

Srivastava, Rajesh
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
rajeshs@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597755

Tripathi, S K
Department of Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Allahabad University); M.Sc. (Agronomy, Allahabad University); Ph.D.
(Agriculture, Allahabad University)
sankufwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285780

Theme III: Fluvial Geomorphology

Bandyopadhyay, Jayanta
Department of Centre for Development and Environmental Policy, IIM Kolkata
B.E. (Engineering, Calcutta University); M.Tech (Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Engineering, IIT
Kanpur)
jayanta@iimcal.ac.in | +91-33-2467-8300(04)

Chakraborty, Tapan
Geological Studies Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
B.Sc. (Geology, Calcutta University); M.Sc. (Geology, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Geology,
Jadavpur University)
tapan@isical.ac.in | +91-9830345695

Ghosh, Parthasarthi
Geological Studies Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
M.Sc. (Geology, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Fluvial Sedimentology, Calcutta University)
pghosh@isical.ac.in | +91-9432400301

  86 
Jain, Vikrant
Department of Geology, University of Delhi
B.Sc. (Geology, Kumaun University); M.Tech (Applied Geology, IIT Roorkee); Ph.D.
(Geomorphology, IIT Kanpur)
vjain@geology.du.ac.in | +91-11-27667725

Kothiyari, Umesh C
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
umeshfce@iitr.ernet.in | +91-361- 285496

Kumar, Bimlesh
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati
B.Sc.(Engg.) (Civil, Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Bihar); M.E. (Civil, IISc Bangalore); Ph.D.
(IISc Bangalore)
bimk@iitg.ernet.in | +91-361-2582420

Mukherjee, Saumitra
Geology and Remote Sensing, School of Environmental Sciences, JNU
B.Sc. (Geology, BHU); M.Sc. (Geology, BHU); Ph.D. (Geology, BHU); Post Doc (Remote Sensing,
University of Liverpool, UK)
saumitra@mail.jnu.ac.in | +91-11-26704312

Pati, Jayanta Kumar

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Allahabad
B.Sc. (Geology, Sambalpur University); M.Tech (Applied Geology, University of Roorkee); D.Phil
(University of Allahabad)
jkpati@gmail.com | +91-532-2461504

Prakash, Kuldeep
Department of Geology, IT BHU
B.Sc. (University of Allahabad); M.Sc. (Applied Geology, University of Allahabad); D.Phil (Igneous
petrology, Remote Sensing & GIS, University of Allahabad)
kuldeep_prakash@yahoo.com | +91- 542-6701379

Prasad, Kriteshwar
Department of Geology, Patna University
kriteshwar.geopat@gmail.com | +91-612-2662587

Rudra, Kalyan
Project on Status of Rivers in West Bengal, WBPCB, West Bengal
B.A. (Geography, Calcutta University); M.A. (Geography, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Geography,
Calcutta University)
rudra.kalyan@gmail.com | +91-9433007176

  87 
Sarkar, Soumendra Nath
Geological Studies Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata
B.Sc. (Geological Science, Jadavpur University); M.Sc. (Applied Geology, Jadavpur University);
Ph.D. (Science, Jadavpur University)
soumendra@isical.ac.in | +91-33-2418-0383

Shekhar, Shashank
Department of Geology, University of Delhi
B.Sc. (Geology, University of Delhi); M.Sc. (Geology, University of Delhi); Ph.D. (Geology,
University of Delhi)
shashankshekhar01@gmail.com | +91-11-27667073

Sharma, Nayan
Water Resources Development and Management, IIT Roorkee
nayanfwt@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1322- 285781

Shukla, Ramesh
Department of Geology, Patna University
B.Sc. (Geology, Ranchi University); M.Sc. (Geology, Ranchi University); Ph.D. (Geochemistry,
Patna University)
rshuklapat@gmail.com | +91-612-2660348

Sinha, Rajiv
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Sc. (Geology, Patna University); M.Tech (Applied Geology, University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Fluvial
Geomorphology and Sedimentology, University of Cambridge, UK)
rsinha@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597317

Tandon, Sampat Kumar

University of Delhi
B.Sc. (Geology, Punjab University); M.Sc. (Geology, Punjab University); Ph.D. (University of Delhi)
sktand@rediffmail.com | +91-9810437365

Theme IV: Ecology and Biodiversity

Behera, Mukunda Dev

Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, IIT Kharagpur
B.Sc. (Botany, Utkal University); M.Sc. (Botany, Behrampur University, Orissa); M.Phil. (Vikram
University, Ujjain); Professional Masters (Advanced Geoinformatics, University of Paris, France);
Ph.D. (Remote Sensing, IIRS, Dehradun)
mdbehera@coral.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434086859

  88 
Behera, Sandeep
WWF-India
B.Sc. (Zoology, Ranchi University) ; M.Sc. (Zoology, Jiwaji University) ; Ph.D. (Jiwaji University)
sbehera@wwfindia.net | +91-9015498137

Bora, Utpal
Department of Biotechnology, IIT Guwahati
B.Sc. (Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University); M.Sc. (Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam
Agricultural University); Ph.D. (Biotechnology, GGS Indraprastha University, Delhi)
ubora@iitg.ernet.in | +91-361- 2582215

Gopal, Brij
School of Environmental Sciences, JNU
M.Sc. (Botany, Agra University); Ph.D. (Ecology, BHU)
brij@nieindia.org | +91-11-26704324

Nautiyal, Prakash
Department of Zoology, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Sri Nagar
M Sc. (Zoology, Bhopal Univ); Ph.D. (Zoology, Garhwal University)
lotic.biodiversity@gmail.com | +91-1346-211262

Nautiyal, Rachna
Department of Zoology, Govt. (PG) College, Dak-pathar, Uttarakhand (Affiliated to H.N.B.
Garhwal University)
M Sc (Zoology, Garhwal University); Ph.D. (Zoology, Garhwal University)
rachnanautiyal@gmail.com | +91-9412057391

Pathania, Ranjana
Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee
rpathfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332- 285324

Prasad, Ramasare
Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee
rapdyfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332- 285791

Singh, R P
Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee
rpsbsfbs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285792

  89 
Theme V: Socio-Economic-Cultural

Arora, Vibha
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Delhi
B.A. (Sociology, University of Delhi); M.A. (Sociology, University of Delhi); M.Phil (Sociology,
University of Delhi); D.Phil (Social Anthropology, University of Oxford, UK)
aurora@hss.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591381

Behera, Bhagirath
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur
B.A. (Economics, Utkal University, Orissa); M.A. (Economics, University of Hyderabad); M.Phil
(Economics, University of Hyderabad); Ph.D. (University of Bonn, Germany)
bhagirath@hss.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-9933077258

Chella Rajan, Sudhir

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras
B.Tech (Aero, IIT Bombay); MS (Meteorology, SDSM&T); DEnv (UCLA, Environmental Science and
Engineering)
scrajan@iitm.ac.in | +91-044-22574525

Chopra, Ravi
People’s Science Institute, Dehradun
B.Tech (Metallurgy, IIT Bombay); MS (Metallurgy, Stevens Institute of Technology, USA); Ph.D.
(Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, USA)
psiddoon@gmail.com | +91- 9411135976

Jha, Kumar Neeraj

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B. Tech (Civil, REC Calicut); M.Tech (Construction Engineering and Management, IIT Delhi);
Ph.D. (Construction Engineering and Management, IIT Delhi)
knjha@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26596255

Mazumder, Tarak Nath

Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, IIT Kharagpur
B. Arch (IIT Kharagpur); M.Tech (City Planning, IIT Kharagpur); Ph.D. (Architecture and Regional
Planning, IIT Kharagpur)
taraknm@arp.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434 039581

Mishra, Anindya Jayanta

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee
anindfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285355

  90 
Mishra, Pulak
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur
B.Sc. (Economics, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal); M.Sc. (Economics and Rural
Development, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal); M.Phil (Applied Economics, JNU); Ph.D.
(Vidyasagar University, West Bengal)
pmishra@hss.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9434702587

Murali Prasad, P
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur
B.A. (S.V. University, Tirupati); M.A. (Economics, S.V. University, Tirupati); M.Phil (Economics,
S.V. University, Tirupati); Ph.D. (Economics, University of Hyderabad)
pmprasad@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597693

Nauriyal, Dinesh Kumar

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee
dknarfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-285387

Nayak, Narayan Chandra

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur
B.A. (Economics, Utkal University, Orissa); M.A. (Economics, Utkal University, Orissa); M.Phil
(Economics, Utkal University, Orissa); Ph.D. (Economics, Utkal University, Orissa)
ncnayak@hss.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-3222-283696

Prema, Rajagopalan
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras
B.A. (Sociology, Stella Maris College, Chennai); M.A. (Sociology, Madras University); M.Phil
(Sociology, Madras University); Ph.D. (IIT Kanpur)
prema@iitm.ac.in | +91-044-22574513

Sharma, Seema
Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi
Ph.D. (IIT Delhi)
seemash@dms.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26596352

Sharma, Vinay
Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee
vinayfdm@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332-

Singh, Mamta R
Delhi College of Engineering.

  91 
Singh, S P
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee
singhfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91-1332- 285337

Trivedi, Pushpa L
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay
M.A. (Economics, University of Mumbai); Ph.D. (Economics, University of Mumbai)
trivedi@hss.iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767351

Upadhyay, V B
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Delhi
Ph.D. (University of McMaster, Canada)
upadhyay@hss.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591375

Theme VI: Policy, Law and Governance

Asolekar, Shyam R
Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.E. (Chemical, UICT, Bombay University); M.S. (Chemical, IISc Bangalore); M.S. (Environmental
Engineering, Syracuse University, USA); Ph.D. (Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa)
asolekar@iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767851

Chella Rajan, Sudhir

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Madras
B.Tech (Aero, IIT Bombay); MS (Meteorology, SDSM&T); DEnv (UCLA, Environmental Science and
Engineering)
scrajan@iitm.ac.in | +91-044-22574525

Chitransi, U B
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
udayafce@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332-285459

Dube, Dipa
Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
LLB (Calcutta University); LLM (University of Pune); Ph.D. (Calcutta University)
dipadube@rgsoipl.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-3222-281734

Dube, Indrajit
Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
LLB (Calcutta University); LLM (University of Pune); Ph.D. (Calcutta University)
indrajit@rgsoipl.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91-3222-281732

  92 
Kathpalia, G N
Alternative Futures
B.E. (Civil, University of Roorkee); M.E. (Soil Mechanics, University of Roorkee)
gnkathpalia@gmail.com | +91-11-29230119

Khanna, Ashu
Department of Paper Technology, IIT Roorkee
ashukfpt@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 9756972391

Kumar, Vivek
Department of Paper Technology, IIT Roorkee
vivekfpt@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332-714348

Murali Prasad, P
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur
B.A. (S.V. University, Tirupati); M.A. (Economics, S.V. University, Tirupati); M.Phil (Economics,
S.V. University, Tirupati); Ph.D. (Economics, University of Hyderabad)
pmprasad@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597693

Narayanan, N C
CTARA, IIT Bombay
M.Sc. (Geology, University of Kerala); M.Phil (Applied Economics, JNU); Ph.D. (Development
Studies, Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands)
ncn@iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767842

Rangnekar, Santosh N
Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee
snrgnfdm@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332-285014

Shankar, Uday
Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
LLB (University of Delhi); LLM (University of Delhi ); Ph.D. (University of Delhi)
uday@rgsoipl.iitkgp.ernet.in | +91- 9475884472

Singh, S P
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee
singhfhs@iitr.ernet.in | +91- 1332-285337

Tyagi, Paritosh
IDC Foundation; Former Chairman, CPCB
B.E. (Civil, IIT Roorkee); M.E. (Public Health Engineering, AIIPHE); Ph.D.
paritoshtyagi@gmail.com | +91-9810823131

  93 
Wagle, Subodh
CTARA, IIT Bombay and Trustee, Prayas
B.Tech (Mechanical, IIT Bombay); Ph.D. (Public Policy, University of Delaware, USA)
subodh@prayaspune.org | +91-22-25767873

Theme VII: Geo-spatial Database Management

Bellur, Umesh
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.E. (Electronics, Bangalore University); Ph.D. (Computer Engineering, Syracuse University, USA)
umesh@it.iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767865

Bhattacharya, Arnab
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Computer Science and Engineering, Jadavpur University); M.S. (Computer Science,
University of California, USA); Ph.D. (Computer Science, University of California, USA)
arnabb@iitk.ac.in | +91-512- 2597650

Bhushan, Alka
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.E. (Computer Science, Ch. Charan Singh Univ., Meerut); M.Tech (Computer Science and
Engineering, IIT Guwahati); Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Guwahati)
abhushan@iitb.ac.in | +91- 22-25764920

Bose, Purnendu
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, Jadavpur University); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, USA)
pbose@iitk.ac.in | +91-9956575604

Dikshit, Onkar
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Tech (Civil Engineering, University of Roorkee, Roorkee); M.Tech (Remote Sensing and
Photogrammetry, Civil Engineering, University of Roorkee, Roorkee); Ph.D. (Remote Sensing,
University of Cambridge, UK)
onkar@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597937

Gosain, Ashvin K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, PEC Chandigarh); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Delhi); Ph.D. (Hydrology, IIT
Delhi)
gosain@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591241

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Karnick, Harish
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
BTech (Chemical Engg., IIT Bombay); MTech (Nuclear Engineering and Technology, IIT Kanpur);
Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur).
hk@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597601

Lohani, Bharat
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, MMMEC, Gorakhpur); M.E. (Remote Sensing & Photogrammetric Engineering,
University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Remote Sensing & Environmental Science, ESSC, The University of
Reading, UK)
blohani@iitk.ac.in | +91-512- 2597413

Mittal, Atul K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT
Kanpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay)
akmittal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591239

Prabhakar, T V
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B. Tech (Electrical, REC Warangal); M. Tech (Electrical, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Computer Science, IIT
Kanpur)
tvp@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597618

Sarda, Nand Lal

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.E. (Electrical, Nagpur University); M.Tech (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay);
Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay)
nls@cse.iitb.ac.in | +91-22-25767710

Sengupta, Smita
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay
B.A. (Calcutta University); M.A. (Geography, Calcutta University); Ph.D. (Geography, Gujarat
University)
smitas@cse.iitb.ac.in | +91-9820430648

Sinha, Rajiv
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Sc. (Geology, Patna University); M.Tech (Applied Geology, University of Roorkee); Ph.D. (Fluvial
Geomorphology and Sedimentology, University of Cambridge, UK)
rsinha@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597317

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Tare, Vinod
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Tech (Civil, SGSITS, Indore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute
of Technology, USA)
vinod@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597792

Venkataramani, Krithika
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Electronics and Communication, IIT Roorkee); M.S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Carnegie Mellon University, USA); Ph.D. (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon
University, USA)
krithika@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2596693

Theme VIII: Communication

Bhattacharya, Arnab
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Computer Science and Engineering, Jadavpur University); M.S. (Computer Science,
University of California, USA); Ph.D. (Computer Science, University of California, USA)
arnabb@iitk.ac.in | +91-512- 2597650

Gosain, Ashvin K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, PEC Chandigarh); M.Tech (Water Resources, IIT Delhi); Ph.D. (Hydrology, IIT
Delhi)
gosain@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591241

Karnick, Harish
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
BTech (Chemical Engg., IIT Bombay); MTech (Nuclear Engineering and Technology, IIT Kanpur);
Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur).
hk@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597601

Mittal, Atul K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT
Kanpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay)
akmittal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591239

Prabhakar, T V
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B. Tech (Electrical, REC Warangal); M. Tech (Electrical, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Computer Science, IIT
Kanpur)
tvp@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597618

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Tare, Vinod
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Tech (Civil, SGSITS, Indore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute
of Technology, USA)
vinod@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597792

Venkataramani, Krithika
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Electronics and Communication, IIT Roorkee); M.S. (Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Carnegie Mellon University, USA); Ph.D. (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon
University, USA)
krithika@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2596693

Project Implementation and Co-ordination

Bose, Purnendu
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, Jadavpur University); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D.
(Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, USA)
pbose@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597403

Hait, Subrata
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.E. (Civil, JGEC, North Bengal University); M.E. (Environmental Engineering, Bengal Engineering
and Science University, Shibpur, West Bengal)
subrata.hait@gmail.com | +91-9415511208

Mishra, Rakesh Chandra

Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.A. (CSJM University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh); M.A. (Economics, CSJM University, Kanpur, Uttar
Pradesh)
rmishraz@yahoo.com | +91-9935805656

Mittal, Atul K
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
B.Sc. (Engg.) (Civil, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT
Kanpur); Ph.D. (Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT Bombay)
akmittal@civil.iitd.ac.in | +91-11-26591239

Tare, Vinod
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Kanpur
B.Tech (Civil, SGSITS, Indore); M.Tech (Environmental Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Ph.D. (Environmental
Engineering, IIT Kanpur); Post Doc (Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, USA)
vinod@iitk.ac.in | +91-512-2597792

… … … … … To be expanded

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