[Re-posting my submission for a task in mygov.in. This report proposes ways to redevelop Varanasi ghats]
1)
Cleaning
Ganga River: The first step for re-developing Ghats is to clean the
river water. Even if the Ghats are designed with the facilities of
international airport, if the river water is not clean, it would just be waste
of resources and energy. I have included
detailed reports about how to clean the river and how to control the pollution,
under other tasks in ‘Clean Ganga’ group.
The main source of pollution in Ganga in
Varanasi is Municipal wastes. The
following link show how wastewater and sewer is treated in London before it let
into Thames River. Similar or better model can be implemented in Varanasi.
2)
Creations
of dedicated side channel for ghats:
Since the Ghats are a major tourist /
pilgrimage centre, many people arrive here and hence will automatically lead to
pollution. To protect the main river from pollution, the river along the Ghats should
be separated from main river. Creation of side channel has been outlined in
Hudson River restoration project, New York State, because of multiple benefits.
The region along the banks should be made into a side channel, which will be separated
from the main river by a properly designed barrier. Care must be taken to
design the barrier so that it does not cause any negative impact on the river
ecology. Preferably this side channel can end after the Kashi railway yard
region where an artificial wetland can be created. Wetlands are the least
expensive and natural way to clean river water. Wetlands have found to clean
the river water as much as 99% of input water. Such results have been found in
The New River cleaning project, USA. Also there are lot of farmlands in this
region, which can use the purified water for irrigating purposes. (This
conclusion was made based on analysis of satellite image of this area, as this
region beyond the Kashi railway yard, along the river Ganga, appears to be comparatively
less populated. The exact design should change based on of actual condition).
If the water is found to be not suitable for irrigation, this water can be
dedicated for non-potable usage like industrial use. Side channel also has
lower water velocity therefore water booms can be installed at strategic
position (before entering the wetlands) to collect floating wastes, which
should be daily cleared, as done in Singapore River. Also the inlet of the side
channel should be fixed with water booms to prevent the floating objects from
entering the main channel.
Also these side channels are less exposed
to high-energy water of main channel. Thus this side channel can act as moderate
velocity, high-biodiversity refuge for variety of aquatic species.
The sides of the barrier that separate the
main and side channel can be made ecologically favourable to support the growth
of aquatic plant life, as discussed in next section.
Also, links for some of the methods that
can be used to treat the side channel water are listed below:
3)
Redesigning
the Ghats:
Once the river has been cleaned and the
side channel created, the Ghats should be re-developed to make it look better,
include safety features and should be nature-friendly. The Ghats have been
built almost continuously along the river banks thereby containing the river by
concrete banks, replacing the natural vegetation. These concrete steps of Ghats
would not allow any plants to grow and hence don’t support the growth of fishes
and other living creatures. Lack of living creature makes the river “lifeless”.
Instead of these concrete banks, the banks
can be designed as combination of mud banks, piles of rubble and concrete
steps. Mud banks and rubbles help to capture sediment that provides a rich
habitat for invertebrates and molluscs that are food for many other species. In
areas where it is impossible to remove the concrete completely, putting
sediment behind wooden panels along the walls has been found to give good
results. This essentially turns what would have been a horizontal mud bank on
the river floor into a vertical one. Such
techniques have been utilised in restoration of River Thames in UK.
The Ghats also lack important features such
as railing along the steps, railing to restrict and assist people who enter the
water, proper pathway to separate people who are leaving the Ghats and who are
entering the Ghats, toilets etc. Such facilities will make Ghats a friendly
place for pilgrimage people (many of whom are old!) and also attract tourists.
The Ghats should also be covered with CCTV
coverage to ensure security and safety.
4)
Framing
strict rules and imposing it:
Once the Ghats are made better, the next
aim is to make sure it remains better. Strict rules should be framed and
imposed to maintain cleanliness and create an ecologically healthy environment.
Some of the areas in which strict rules should be framed and imposed are:
a)
Rules for cleanliness: Littering and spitting
should be prohibited. Violators should be seriously punished.
b)
Rules on bathing activity in river: Bathing in
river is a religious practice and hence cannot be banned. However using soaps
and shampoos should be banned.
c)
Rules on washing clothes: Washing clothes in
river using soaps and detergents should be prohibited.
d)
Rules on letting
animals into the river: Bringing animals such as cows and buffalos into river
to bathe them should be prohibited.
e)
Rules for disposing dead bodies
f)
Rules for restricting the items that are let in
water: Many articles are let in the river for religious and other purposes.
Only item that do not contaminate the river should be allowed.
g)
Rules for prohibiting use of river banks as
toilets.
h)
Rules for controlling pollution from boats.
More that framing the rules, the
success is determined by how effectively the rules are imposed.
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