Mentor’s Comment:

• This question highlights the environmental and socio-political significance of aviral dhara.
• It also asks your opinion about adopting the WFD, 2000. The first sentence usually provides the hint as to what the intro should contain. Thus, begin with ‘aviral dhara’ (but do not repeat the words of the question statement).
• You can also begin with the broad issue of water scarcity and river ecology.
• The body will deal with the main question i.e your opinion about adopting the WFD, 2000. Since the WFD is a ‘technical term’, you must mention it in brief. Talk about its main features and why it was in news (if applicable). Then talk about the benefits and challenges of adopting a similar tool.
• The word ‘similar’ in the question is the key to your answer. Your answer must give a solution customised to India’s needs. The conclusion will throw light on this.

 

Model Answer

Meaning of Aviral Dhara (AD)

• Ecological flow or Aviral Dhara (as mentioned in Ganga Management Plan) is the quantity and quality of water flow required to sustain the river ecosystems as well as the human life surrounding the rivers.

Need for Aviral Dhara

• World Water Development Report 2018 asserts that nature-based solutions — which are also aligned with the principles and aims of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — can offer answers to our most pressing water-related challenges. Aviral Dhara fits perfectly here.

Importance of Aviral Dhara

• The ecological flow of the rivers especially in India has cultural, social and political significance-

1.  There are many people who are depended on rivers for their livelihoods
2.  In India rivers are significant for meeting the cultural and spiritual needs
3.  Being an agriculture driven country people depend on rivers for food and other productions.
4. Maintenance of Aviral Dhara is also required for development of Inland waterways in India.

About Water Framework Directive, 2000

• Water Framework Directive is a comprehensive legislation formed by European Union to protect all the water bodies i.e. rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater and their dependent wildlife and habitat

The Water Framework Directive aims to

1. Protect/enhance all waters (surface, ground and coastal waters)
2. Achieve “good status” for all waters by December 2015
3. Manage water bodies based on river basins or catchments
4. Involve the public in conservation efforts

Performance of Water Framework Directive (WFD)

• The adoption of WFD has made it imperative for members of European Union to improve ecological protection of rivers and lakes
• For example dam removal has gained momentum after the EU adopted the Water Framework Directive in 2000

Benefits of adopting WFD

• India can benefit from adopting a detailed legislation to comprehensively deal with the menace of water pollution.
• India can materialize the concept of Aviral Dhara by limiting its dam-building activities. India is the third largest dam builder in the world.
• Adoption of the concept of Aviral Dhara will also address many inter-state conflicts arising due to damming of rivers which results in reduced share of water in lower riparian states.

Example-Odisha Chhattisgarh water conflict

Challenges in adopting WFD

• Inter-state cooperation will be critical to successfully implement the idea of Aviral Dhara. Given the acute population-pressure and need for resources, strong political commitment will be pivotal.
• Only a multi-dimensional solution will be sustainable in the long run. States will have to deal strictly with issues such as discharge of untreated sewage, industrial effluents etc into the rivers. Greater responsibility will lie with the upper-riparian states.

India-specific solution

• All states as well as the centre will have to be on the same page on the issue. THe Inter-State Council platform could be used for achieving this.
• Given the regional imbalance in development, the centre will have to ensure adequate resources – both financial and technical – to the poorer states.
• The perennial problem of indian governance – i.e of ‘poor implementation’ – will have to be taken by its horns. Inter-departmental cooperation (both intra- and inter-state) will be necessary for this.