5 States Launching Massive Plantation Drive along River Ganga

Five Ganga river basin states - Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal - will soon launch a massive plantation drive as part of rejuvenating the country's national river.

The scheme aims to develop huge green patch along the river to absorb water and stop soil erosion, will be implemented over a period of five year in Phase-I (2016-21).

As many as 40 types of different plants with high water retention capacity, including several shrubs of medicinal value, have been identified for this purpose. The plantation drive will be funded by the Centre under its 'Namami Gange' programme.

It is expected that the plantation of trees, like walnut and oak, having high water retention in the Himalayas will help increase the river's water level and enhance its flow in the long run. Such tress can absorb water, recharge local water bodies and then release it slowly to maintain a minimum flow in the river round the year - a prerequisite to keep the river clean naturally.

"Since the areas surrounding the upper and middle reaches of the river had seen massive deforestation in the past, the idea is now to bring those forests back not only in upper Himalayas but also in the entire river basin under a dedicated scheme," said an official. 

The Union water resources ministry will on March 22 come out with details of the move. It will release a detailed project report (DPR) on 'forestry intervention' for Ganga, providing modalities on how the states would go about developing green patches in the entire river basin.

The DPR, which will be released by the water resources and Ganga rejuvenation minister Uma Bharti, will carry details of extensive plantations in natural, agriculture and urban landscapes and conservation interventions. It will also have details on wetland management, supporting activities such as policy and law interventions, concurrent research, monitoring and evaluation, and mass awareness campaigns.

Plantation along the river and all over the available stretches of land in the Ganga basin is a key component of the 'Namami Gange' programme which was launched last year as a comprehensive approach to rejuvenate the river and all its tributaries under one umbrella by consolidating the existing ongoing efforts and planning for a concrete action plan for the future.

Source: Times of India

Media

Taxonomy

• River Basin management
• River Restoration
• Forest Restoration

3 Comments

1. Species that occur naturally in these areas should be selected, else fast growing trees  ( like eucalypts) can actually lower water levels by having high transpiration losses to the atmosphere. Arjuna and pipal are examples of riparian trees that occur in lowlands. As a rule of thumb, the restoration of native forests and wetlands will help regulate the water cycle to which the aquatic ecosystems and humans have been accustomed to. 

2. Its a big initiative to plant trees, Along with it Growing Diatoms in Water also will be more beneficial and easier too, if Nano Scale Nutrient is used!
   • 1 litre of Nano Scale Nutrient causes growth of at least 200 kgs of Diatoms.• 1 litre of Nano Scale Nutrient results in release of at least 200 kgs of Oxygen.• 1 litre of Nano Scale Nutrient results in consumption of at least 275 kgs of Carbon dioxide.• 1 litre of Nano Scale Nutrient results in consumption of at least 80 kgs of Nitrogen.• 1 litre of Nano Scale Nutrient results in consumption of at least 10 kgs of Phosphate.Hydrogen Sulfide is emitted by anaerobic bacteria in sewage treatment plants, septic tanks, polluted lakes, Reivers etc. Nano Scale Nutrient and Diatoms create aerobic conditions and this stops the emission of Hydrogen Sulfide.
   
   Methane is emitted by methanogen bacteria in Sewage Treatment Plants, Septic Tanks, polluted lakes, Rivers, flooded paddy fields, etc. Diatoms increase the Dissolved Oxygen level of water in every nook and corner of the water body and thereby convert anaerobic conditions to Aerobic conditions. This will reduce Methane emissions. Methane is consumed by methanotroph bacteria, aerobic conditions promote growth of methanotrophs.In nature Diatoms and Zooplankton provide 50 to 75% of the food for fin fish and crustaceans in aquaculture ponds, lakes, rivers and oceans.
   Dosage in flowing water would be based on the N and P level of the water, in the ratio mentioned above – 1 litre for 80 kgs of N and 11 kgs of P. Water flow does not really impact Diatom growth but the result would be seen downstream, far from the spot where Nano Scale Nutrient is dosed.Not really. Depth is not an issue. Diatoms move up and down the water column. They come up in the morning and take in sunlight and nutrients and start photosynthesis and then they sink up to 100 meters and float up the next day. The lipids / oil in the diatom is used to regulate buoyancy. So Nano Scale Nutrient will be available to the diatoms in the top few meters of the water.
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3. Pipal will be a ideal choice and it also has religious connect.
   Bhagwat Gita - Chapter 10 - Vibhuti Yog - Shree Krishna said "In trees i am Ashvathya (Pipal)"
   Pipal has fasted growth rate in any condition and brilliant quality to purify air and water. Its root are strong and generally people fear cutting this tree. (Here fear is a blessing)