The Central Water Commission (CWC) has recently reported that four out of eleven hydro power projects situated on the upper reaches of the Ganga river’s tributaries are non-compliant with the Ganga ecological flow (e-flow) norms. These violations are a significant concern as non-adherence to e-flow norms could result in project closure or imposition of substantial penalties.
Understanding Ecological-Flow Norms
The Central Government under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 has stipulated the minimum environmental flows that must be maintained at various locations on the Ganga river. This is to ensure that even after the water flow gets diverted by structures for irrigation, hydropower, domestic and industrial use, the river retains a minimum required environmental flow. By maintaining the unobstructed flow, or Aviral Dhara, of the river, the government has taken a significant step towards protecting the river’s ecosystem.
Role of the Central Water Commission
The Central Water Commission has been designated as the authoritative body responsible for overseeing, monitoring, regulating flows and reporting necessary information to the relevant authority. It ensures compliance with the water storage norms in emergencies. The CWC is a principal technical organization in India’s water resource field, attached to the Ministry of Jal Shakti and established in 1974-75.
E-Flow Norms and Power Companies
The Centre’s e-flow directive, issued in October 2018, allowed companies a three-year window to modify their design plans to maintain a minimum water flow during all seasons. However, the government advanced this deadline from October 2021 to December 2019 following CWC’s field visits to hydropower sites. The CWC reported that most power projects were equipped to implement these norms immediately rather than requiring the full three years.
A Brief Overview of Non-Compliant Hydro Power Projects
| Project Name | River |
|---|---|
| Vishnuprayag Hydroelectric project | Alaknanda |
| Srinagar Hydroelectric project | Alaknanda |
| Maneri Bhali Phase 2 | Bhagirathi |
| Pashulok | Ganga Mainstream |
The Ganga River System
The Ganga River’s source, known as the ‘Bhagirathi,’ originates from the Gangotri Glacier and is joined by the Alaknanda at Devaprayag in Uttarakhand. It emerges from the mountains to the plains at Haridwar and is joined by several tributaries from the Himalayas, including significant rivers like the Yamuna, the Ghaghara, the Gandak, and the Kosi.
