Transformation of rivers into controlled ecosystems 'disrupting' biodiversity

By Proshakha Maitra, Mansee Bal Bhargava*

Rivers since their existence have a tendency to flow freely uninterrupted, as a saying often used by Jal Satyagrahi pertaining to river pollution -- Aviralta mei hee nirmalta (flow will ensure clean river). Since the emergence of dams along with the invention of cement-concrete in civilisational and technological evolution, we have come too far in taming the rivers as per the aspirations and needs. The latest in the riverscape in India is the riverfront designs and development besides many small streams filled up as lands from designate wastelands. This has changed the ecosystem of the river besides and importantly our association with it from ritualistic in spiritual sense to recreational in socio-economic sense.

The urban planning prioritizing concretisation of riverscapes over preserving the ecological and historical significance of rivers has also divided the river into first urban river and the remaining to just river which has fragmented the fluvial biodiversity in the divided river basins. For example, dams, river/lakefronts claim to be providing multifaced socio-economic benefits however, those come with a huge cost to the disruption and degradation of the river ecosystem and its historical memory.

There is growing recognition of the need for harmonizing urban development with the social-ecological and historical dynamics of rivers and ensuring these vital lifelines flow freely and sustainably. The need to balance the urban development of waterscapes with the ecological and historical preservation calls for more public engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The session

The Wednesdays.for.Water conversations session organized on, ‘Rivers Uninterrupted: The Many Lives’ discusses the intersectionality of urbanisation, ecosystem, history, and design. The session is a part of Riverscapes Series co-organised by the Central Zone of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) India. The speakers for the session are Nupur Chaudhary, a doctoral researcher at the National University of Singapore, and Prof. Venkatesh Datta, from the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India. Prof Dutta is a river water keeper and fellow of the Society of Earth Sciences and is well known for his scholarship around water. The session was moderated by Nishant Upadhyay, then coordinator of the Central Zone of ICOMOS India. The video of the session is available at:

The Wednesdays.for.Water session delved into the concerns about the urban waterscapes compromising ecology and historical significance in the planning and management of urban rivers in India. The session highlighted the cultural connections of rivers and the importance of maintaining uninterrupted river systems for the river and the human civilisation. The essay picked from the session, the historical significance of natural and cultural heritage, the balancing ecosystem preservation and cultural heritage in modern river management, tangible and intangible aspects of rivers.

Historical significance of natural and cultural heritage

Exploring the sacred rivers Narmada and Ganga in India provides profound insights into their ethnographic and historical significance. Nupur’s experience of traversing them are transformed into academic research. She shed light on the rivers' importance in Indian culture and consciousness using the ethnographic and historical lenses on few examples, a stretch of Ganga and Narmada.

The Namami Gange project focus on the districts of Begusarai, Munger, and Patna in Bihar is an example of such exploration. The Ganga River in Bihar holds particular significance, with Munger's architectural confluence and heritage sites standing out. Munger Fort, a testament to Gupta Empire, Islamic, and British architectural influences, strategically overlooks the Ganges. This location was advantageous for controlling trade routes and protecting the region from invasions.

The Kastaharni Ghat near Munger Fort is especially intriguing. Here, the Ganges changes its course to flow northward, and the ghat is believed to liberate one from all problems if one touches the banks by the goddess Ganga. This site also houses ancient artifacts, including a 10th-century inscription and sculptures of deities such as Bhagirath and Shiva. Another notable feature is the Milka Sims tunnel in Munger Fort which is believed to have been constructed in the 1760s. This tunnel possibly served as an escape route for the king during turbulent times. Although its existence is widely acknowledged, it has not been fully excavated to verify these claims. A captivating legend associated with the Ganges speaks of milk nurtured by the divine touch of the river, believed to carry the essence of heaven's nectar and bring joy to those who partake in it. The Kasthahani Ghat's importance in the cultural and historical landscape of the Ganges River region is thus highlighted by this.

The Sultanganj area which is also known for its temples and sculptures, also reflects a rich blended heritage. Temples dedicated to Shiva and mosques stand on opposite hills, with Buddhist and Jain sculptures scattered at their base. The name of the place is linked to Shiva's Bow, which the residents venerate as their grand deity.

Similarly, the Narmada River holds a deep connection to folklore and historical narratives. Revered as a goddess, the Narmada has inspired numerous devotees throughout history. Exploring the interconnections between folklore, historical facts, and tangible deities and stone remnants in the region reveals the river's significance. One notable legend is of a female statue in a grand temple, known as Maiki Bhagya, which bears a child. Other narratives portray the river goddess as a playful young girl, adding depth to the river's rich oral traditions.

Temples and monuments along the Narmada River bear witness to a history that intertwines tangible and intangible realms. During the monsoon season, the Shiva Temple is believed to fill with water from the Narmada, symbolizing the river goddess's arrival at her father's abode. The pilgrimage along the banks of the Narmada River, or Narmada Parikrama, remains a popular tradition, reflecting the enduring significance of these historical and cultural narratives.

Exploring the sacred rivers Ganga and Narmada through ethnographic and historical lenses reveals their profound significance in Indian culture and history. These rivers are not merely natural entities but extensions of Indian consciousness, embodying rich traditions and heritage that continue to shape historical awareness and cultural identity.

Balancing ecosystem preservation and cultural heritage in modern river management

The transformation of riverscapes from unordered wilderness into controlled designer ecosystems as a complex issue which he exemplifies with the case of the Yamuna River in Delhi. This approach is now followed by many other rivers stretches in the country despite the recurring failures and resistance by scientific community. Over the past 65 years, the floodplain of the Yamuna has been fragmented and overlaid with concrete infrastructure, leading to significant environmental degradation and recurrent mega floods. These floods are man-made, resulting from a disregard for the historical relationship between built structures and the natural dynamics of the river. This transformation highlights the intricate connection between cultural heritage, history, and intangible heritage, which must be considered in environmental planning and river management.

The environmental planning of the Yamuna River has been consistently violated that contributed to the loss of floodplains and exacerbating flooding issues. Historical floods, like the one in 1978 caused by excessive water release from barrages, highlight how human intervention has altered natural water flow. Recent flooding with less water volume, however, is due to the reduction of the floodplain and the confinement of the river channel, compounded by natural drainage systems clogged with construction debris and waste. This situation calls for a reorientation of river management towards ecosystem-based principles that respect rivers and floodplains as natural heritage.

Venkatesh Dutta highlighted that the rivers and their ecosystems, which have evolved over thousands of years, are essential for maintaining environmental balance. Both droughts and floods are natural cycles crucial for the ecosystem's evolution and must be respected. And groundwater plays a vital role in sustaining river flows during dry seasons, and preserving freshwater habitats is essential. Restoring tributaries and their connected water bodies can bring fresh water to the main channels, ensuring a healthy river system characterized by free flow, natural banks, vegetation, and integrated floodplains.

The floodplain ecosystem is crucial for maintaining river health and connectivity. Vegetation, forests, and wetlands in the floodplain define natural river fronts, provide base flows, and support the overall river ecosystem. Unfortunately, planners and engineers often overlook the ecological value of floodplains, viewing them as sterile and monetarily valueless. This perspective leads to the rejection of natural flooding behaviours and the vital ecological functions of floodplains. Understanding the three-dimensional connectivity of rivers—lateral, vertical, and longitudinal—is essential for effective river management. Lateral connectivity links the river with its floodplain, vertical connectivity connects the river channel with groundwater, and longitudinal connectivity ensures flow continuity within the river ecosystem.

Many river rejuvenation and restoration schemes fail due to a lack of scientific context, minimal public and civil society engagement, and the spatial limitations from disconnecting the floodplain through embankments and other structures. Tensions between engineers, irrigation departments, environmentalists, and ecologists further complicate large public projects. Integrating the voices of civil societies and the public in decision-making processes is far from incorporating even though crucial for successful river management.

Another example is the relationship between the Gomti and the Sai rivers and the importance of groundwater in maintaining their perennial nature during non-monsoon seasons are also emphasized. A river's wet and dry cycles are vital for a healthy ecosystem. Wet cycles support fish spawning and nutrient transfer, while dry cycles maximize phytoplankton production and vegetation regeneration. Flow heterogeneity, including periodic floods and high flow pulses, is necessary for maintaining river health.

Efforts to preserve living river systems, such as those along the Gomti River, involve restoring boat culture, eco-villages, and the turtle population, re-establishing bank vegetation, constructing habitats and wetlands, and improving water quality and flow regimes. These initiatives face challenges from the squatter settlements and the destruction of natural riverfronts. The goal should be to shift governmental focus away from hard infrastructure solutions toward restoring the natural fabric of rivers.

The example of the Sabarmati River Project illustrates the detrimental effects of converting a meandering river into a straight channel, leading to the loss of natural vegetation and ecosystem degradation. Rivers should be viewed as part of a larger living ecosystem, with ecological designs in riverfront development allowing limited access for cultural and religious rituals. The disturbing future of rivers underscores the need to understand the historical connection between rivers and cultural fabric, advocating for the preservation of natural habitats and river dynamics over extensive in-channel restoration activities.

Tangible and intangible aspects of rivers

The tangible and intangible stories of the rivers may have some similarities but each river ecosystem and its heritage are unique. What can bind them is the human culture practiced around them. The importance of both historical research and ethnography in understanding the cultural landscape of the rivers where the stories are both textual traditions as well as communicated through generations and require interconnection between the tangible and intangible aspects. Likewise physiographic research especially mapping over time and space is crucial to understand the changing course of the rivers and the associated changing values.

There is a serious concern now about the future of rivers and their social and ecological landscapes with the impending development of several (100) riverfronts in India. The lack of emphasis on ecology and historical significance in the planning and management of urban rivers in India needs a rectification at the soonest possible should we aim to build resilient cities and communities. The need for a balanced approach to development that considers the past, present, and future, is lost in the politics and practice of river development.

This is because the importance of sustainable river practices in education is lacking especially in engineering, management, architecture, planning and design that influence the decisions and developments over the rivers. Unfortunately, the academic orientation in institutions prioritize concrete structures over natural resilience and historical landscape by scientising the politics and politicising the science as in the case of Sabarmati Riverfront Development Plan.

The transformation of rivers into controlled ecosystems disrupts their natural dynamics and biodiversity, as see in almost all rivers across the country and in specific to Yamuna, Ganga, and more as per today’s discussion. Effective river management requires incorporating ecosystem-based principles and respecting the cultural heritage of rivers. This involves understanding the intricate connections between rivers and their floodplains, preserving groundwater systems, protecting the lakes and ponds, and maintaining the natural cycles of rivers by engaging in interactive water governance. This also requires integrated approach to design sustainable, transparent, collaborative, water management strategies. Embracing integrated approach is now crucial to restore ecological and historical memory.

Integrating scientific knowledge with cultural and historical insights can foster sustainable management practices. By adopting a holistic approach that considers the ecological, historical, and cultural dimensions of rivers, urban planning can achieve a harmonious balance that honours the legacy of these vital waterways while supporting modern development needs. The way forward lies in rethinking academic curriculums and fostering a deeper appreciation of rivers as dynamic, living systems integral to the cultural and environmental fabric of India. This will also create employment opportunities and engage the youth, fostering a positive trend towards environmental stewardship.

The other essays from the Riverscape Series may be found at:

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*Proshakha Maitra is independent scholar and Fellow at ED(R)C Ahmedabad and WforW Foundation. Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava is an entrepreneur, researcher, educator, speaker, and mentor; more about her at: www.mansee.in, www.edc.org.in, www.wforw.in, www.woder.org

Wednesdays.for.Water is an initiative of the WforW Foundation, a think tank, built as a Citizens Collective. The idea of Wednesdays.for.Water is to connect the water worries and wisdom with the water warriors through dialogues/discussions/debates. The objective is to get in conversations with policy makers, practitioners, researchers, academicians besides the youth towards water conservation and management. The other team members of WforW are, Dr. Fawzia Tarannum (Climate Reality India), Prof. Bibhu P Nayak (TISS-Hyd), Ganesh Shankar and Vasantha Subbiah (FluxGen-Blr), Megha Gupta, Garbhit Naik, Monica Tewari, Harshita Sehgal, Monami Bhattacharya, Anubhuti Shekhar (ED(R)C-Ahmd), Vandana Shukla, and counting. The Wednesdays.for.Water is reachable at wednesdays.for.water@gmail.com and WforW Foundation is reachable at hellowforw@gmail.com and hello@wforw.in. The WforW Foundation social media are reachable at Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

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