Centre notifies e-flow norms for river Ganga asking existing projects to comply with it within 3 years

The centre has notified minimum environmental flow for river Ganga that is to restore and maintain the continuous flow. Any dam or structure meant for diversion of river flows for the purpose of irrigation, hydropower and domestic or industrial use will now have to maintain the minimum flow under notification. All the existing projects which currently exist that are do not meet the norms have to comply it within three years. Mini projects that will not affect the flow of the river are exempted from the order. The draft Ganga Act will soon be proposed it contains the jail terms and fines for the polluters

. Union minister for drinking water and sanitation said that hydro projects should be implemented in such a way that it will not affects the flow of the river. The notification is issued by the protest of environmentalist and former IIT Kanpur faculty member GD Agarwal at Haridwar on the issue of Ganga conservation. Agarwal has been observing hunger strike since June 22 for pollution free and uninterrupted flow in Ganga. The minimum e flow norms will apply to the upper Ganga river basin starting from originating glaciers and its head tributaries which meet at Devaprayag. Based on the notification, the river flow will be monitored hourly intervals from time to time. The Central Water Commission will be the main authority and custodian of the data. It will be responsible for supervision, regular, and regulation of flow.