Thread by @yamunajiye

#Monsoon is here. Soon #rivers wud start to get blamed 4 events they r not responsible 4. If only #floodplains had been protected?
This is what @PrakashJavdekar had promised d Rajya Sabha on 9.5.2016 as d then MoS, MoEFCC in response to a query by Ms Vandana Chavan ji.
#RRZ

Qs No 151 Mrs Vandana Chavan
(a)the details of the steps taken by the Ministry to regulate developmental activities on river fronts and floodplains;
(b) whether there is any proposal to ban all developmental activities near vulnerable floodplain and river beds; and +

(c) if so, d details of Government's planning to monitor that these guidelines r followed by all States ?
Ans:
(a) MOEF&CC has formulated a Draft River Regulation Zone (#RRZ) under d provisions of EPA 1986 & circulated it to State/UT Govts/ Admn on 08.01.2016.

Draft RRZ has proposed to hv 3 categories of River Conservation Zone (RCZ), namely, Prohibited Activities Zone (RCZ – PA), Restricted Activities Zone (RCZ – RA I) & Regulated Activities Zone (RCZ – RA II) in d floodplain of rivers +

& 2 categories of river conservation zones, namely, RCZ – PA and RCZ – RA I in mountain rivers and hill streams.

(b) No, Sir. The draft RRZ Notification does not ban all developmental activities near vulnerable floodplains and river beds.+

It proposes to prohibit, restrict as well as regulate certain activities in d river conservation zones in order to conserve & protect river ecosystem in d country.
(c) Draft #RRZ Notification proposes to have #National River Conservation Zone Authority and +

#State River Conservation Zone Authority to monitor d implementation of various provisions of said Notification.
These authorities shall involve village level institutions & important NGOs 4 keeping watch on river stretches. They will also coordinate with District administration

Discussion: Quotes of Hon'ble Minister @PrakashJavdekar
She has asked a very important question (Interruptions). & I appreciate.(Interruptions). As a country,.(Interruptions).we need to protect our rivers. (Interruptions)We need to protect our floodplains...(Interruptions)...

and, therefore, we have come out with.(Interruptions)...a draft River Regulatory Zone notification.(Interruptions)... That we have circulated to the States...(Interruptions).for their comments. and whatever decision we take, we will convey it to the House..(Interruptions).

Floodplains in many areas..are under stress. therefore, we have already calculated more than 300 stress-specific floodplains. To protect that we are also studying.all the best practices of the world. Our National Action Plan on adaptation has those elements about the rivers.

We will definitely consider, but it is our paramount duty to protect the river ecology as a country. ...(Interruptions)...
लेकिन मैं एक बात कहना चाहता हूँ कि रिवर्स के बारे में हम संवेदनशील हैं। केन्द्र सरकार गाइडलाइंस इश्यू कर सकती है, लेकिन इसे राज्यों को ही करना है। +

यह राज्यों का ही अधिकार है, यह राज्यों का ही विषय है .लेकिन गाइडलाइंस और पॉलिसी फ्रेम करना केन्द्र का विषय है। अगर यह करते हैं, तो देशहित में हम सब को उस पर अमल करना चाहिए। वह justiciable भी होता है।

NB: Above r select extracts from d proceedings of d RS on 9.5.2016 focusing on d qs, ans & comments/promises of d then Hon'ble MoS, MOEFCC who is now d Hon'ble Minister, MOEFCC.
Despite that the #RRZ is still pending? Please walk d talk, @PrakashJavdekar @moefcc @Indian_Rivers

@lifeindia2016 @sidagarwal @IndiaRiverForum @vimlendu @Bharati09 @BhavreenMK @AdityaDubey2003 @ankit_delhii @PMOIndia @gssjodhpur @Jairam_Ramesh @nivedita_Him @Watervagabond @MallikaBG @ManshiAsher @ShripadManthan @avli_verma @AnupamSaraph

#RRZ is actually pending since 2002?

Respected Hon'ble @PrakashJavdekar ji. Ministers & ministries come & go. But history is kind to only few who step out of line & deliver beyond BAU in larger public interest. Just like #NGT is @Jairam_Ramesh ji gift to d nation, #RRZ cud be yours. Please act.