Death of a river: Fish gone, farmers gone and it is the turn of residents now

With illegal sand mining digging up the Yamuna, fishermen turn farmers only to be hit by mafia encroachment of the riverbanks. People fear they will be forced to relocate if mining continues undeterredYamunanagar, Haryana: "Trees were planted along the Yamuna's stretch to prevent erosion, attract birds and maintain the river's ecosystem. Now, where are the trees! Just look at the place. The shores are all gone,” laments Megh Singh Rana from Kanalsi village in Haryana's Yamunanagar district.  “Illegal mining persists, right in front of everyone's eyes. Nobody speaks up or takes action. All we can do is complain, but it falls on deaf ears," shares Ravinder Singh Chauhan, a local journalist from Chhachhrauli. The mining mafia operates heavy machinery, which is undoubtedly illegal. Its influence is so strong that adherence to regulations is disregarded. The rules stipulate that mining should be permitted only up to three ft depth in the Yamuna. Yet, the riverbed has been excavated to a depth of 60 to 80 ft to extract coarse sand. On an average, sand worth Rs 30 lakh is plundered every single day.The river has taken a winding route due to the presence of deep pits. This causes erosion or deposition of sediment and affects the surrounding landscape, potentially leading to flooding in areas otherwise not prone to it. "From Yamunanagar to Palwal, at least 20,000 acres get flooded every year. During this time, around 2,000 acres get washed away in the river. This affects the livelihoods of farmers in a big way," Anuj Saini, the president of Aakriti, an organisation working for environmental conservation, tells 101Reporters.Additionally, the zigzag flow affects efficiency of water transportation, navigation and other activities that rely on a predictable and consistent flow in the river. The presence of deep pits can pose a risk to bathers, too.  Saini alleges that mining mafia employs a strategy of using small structures to impede natural flow. "Attempting to stop the flow by constructing small dams is illegal. Such interventions alter its natural course, leading to gradual drying up of the river.”Every element in the river serves a purpose. For instance, the pebbles play a crucial role in regulating the river’s flow, effectively slowing down soil erosion. When water level decreases, these stones impede the flow, creating intermittent movements and forming small waterfalls in various locations. As the water cascades down, it is enriched with oxygen from the atmosphere, thus serving aquatic beings. The fish population in oxygenated water has better health. “Along with sand, the mining mafia extracts stones from the river, disrupting the natural system of oxygenation within the water,” explains Mustkeen Mallah, the president and founder of UP Haryana Machli Kewat Mallah Ekta Samiti. Its outcome has been quite visible in the way the fish population in the Yamuna has declined. Dolphins have almost become extinct from its waters. Until 2010, local boatmen from Mallah and Kewat communities earned their livelihood by catching fish from the river. “As difficulties mounted, they had no option but to take up cultivation of seasonal vegetables such as cucumber, muskmelon and watermelon. But even agriculture became impossible as the mining mafia started encroaching upon the lands adjacent to the Yamuna in Badoli, Madi, Takor, Baghpat, Sinauli, Bhanera, and Moonji Garhi, with the complicity of local authorities,” alleges Mustkeen.With no scope of livelihood, most of them were compelled to seek livelihood opportunities in Nepal, Bihar and Punjab. “They are away from their homes for almost 10 months a year. This has had an impact on their social wellbeing,” Mustkeen adds.For representative purposes only (Photo - apercoco, Flickr)Aquatic annihilationA research conducted on the Chambal, a tributary of the Yamuna, in Etawah by a team including biologist Dr Sita Ram Tagore has highlighted the risk that sand mining poses to the river's biodiversity.“We have observed that sand mining in Chambal region led to disruptions in migration routes, nesting patterns and egg-laying habits of gharials and turtles, forcing these species to migrate from the affected areas,” explains Tagore, who is actively involved with Yamuna Jiyo Abhiyan and has extensively studied the river.The widespread and unregulated mining practices are negatively influencing various aquatic beings such as fish, turtles, aquatic plants and microorganisms. The decreasing fauna in mining areas serve as a clear indicator of environmental disruption. “Yet, it is worth noting that no comprehensive scientific study has been conducted to fully understand the extent of the impact caused by sand mining on the Yamuna and its aquatic life.” Tagore elaborates that birds select their migration destinations based on the availability of food resources. Many choose to lay eggs on islands situated in the middle of the river. However, the disturbance caused by mining operations now compel them to seek alternative locations.Mustkeen cites a similar case. “In Ramdha village of Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district bordering Haryana, deer could be easily spotted until 2015. We can hardly see one these days,” he exclaims.Bhim Singh Rawat, the convenor of Yamuna Jiyo Abhiyan in Yamunanagar, explains how physical structure, floodplains, biodiversity, water quality and water quantity collectively define a river’s existence. “Sadly, in this case, not a single element remains intact, indicating the river's gradual demise.”  The flow of a river is governed by its natural hydrological cycle. Floodplains play a crucial role in facilitating proper dispersion of floodwaters. They serve as natural reservoirs, allowing temporary storage of floodwaters during peak periods. Once the flood subsides, these areas become highly fertile and productive for agriculture. Environmental activist and water expert Himanshu Thakkar is worried that mining contracts are being awarded to big companies of late. “These firms have set up crushers in the middle of the river, while screening plants operate along its banks. The continuous noise generated from these activities persists day and night, and the presence of crushers contributes to an increase in airborne dust particles,” Thakkar tells 101Reporters.Wasim Ahmed (34) from Tajewala, Ramkumar Rana (55) from Tapu Kamalpur, and Ashwani Sharma (54) from Gharaunda in Karnal have repeatedly written to the state government about illegal mining, depleting water levels and declining fish population in the Yamuna. However, their pleas remain unanswered to date. “It is disheartening to witness the relentless destruction of the river in pursuit of monetary gains,” they say.Meanwhile, Minister for Mines and Geology Moolchand Sharma tells 101Reporters that regular inspections are being carried out to curb illegal mining in the Yamuna. “Immediate action is taken on complaints. The government does not rely on a single department to enforce the ban on illegal mining, but rather makes coordinated efforts,” he claims. Despite the minister’s assurance on developing better strategies to deal with the issue, people living along the Yamuna are now worried that they will eventually be forced to abandon their homes and relocate if the present situation prevails.Edited by Tanya ShrivastavaRead more about the impacts of air pollution from mining on the people living along the banks of Yamuna Cover photo - For representative purposes only (Photo - apercoco, Flickr)

An air of unease as mining, stone crusher units up pollution in rural Yamunanagar

Skin allergies, throat and lung infections, and eye-related issues are on the rise with contractors flouting norms at willYamunanagar, Haryana: Every time Bashesar Singh (50) breathes, a strange sound comes out. A resident of Tapu Kamalpur in Yamunanagar district of Haryana, he first met the village doctor to cure this sound and his constant sore throat, but without much relief. He then went to a doctor in Yamunanagar city, where he was diagnosed with throat and lung infections“The doctor told me to stay away from the dusty environment, but where will I go?” said an exhausted Bashesar. There is no escape from air pollution as his house is located close to the Yamuna, where dust keeps rising from a mining ghat day and night.Like Bashesar, people living on the banks of River Yamuna — from Tajewala to Panipat — frequently fall ill due to air pollution. As many as 158 crusher units and 120 screening plants function in Yamunanagar district. There are 32 mining zones too, which generate an annual revenue of above Rs 100 crore for the government.“On average, three out of 10 patients who consult me have lung-related issues. In most cases, I tell them to go for treatment in the city. However, due to lack of awareness, money and illiteracy, very few go there,” said a local doctor on condition of anonymity.Bhim Singh Rawat (32), the district coordinator of Yamuna Jiyo Abhiyan, said allergic skin and eye problems are also prevalent, but villagers do not pay much attention as they are economically backward.Despite the villainous role played by poor air quality, the Pollution Control Board (PCB) does not have sufficient data on its severity. Yamunanagar PCB's Environmental Officer Naresh Kumar told 101Reporters that no equipment to measure air pollution was installed in mining areas. “This facility is present only in the city,” he added.A member of the Yamuna Jiyo Abhiyan, Vijay Sharma (34) of Kanalsi village said he undertook a survey in January last year and found that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Yamuna’s mining area ranged from 300 to 350 (very poor). It went up to 400 around the stone crusher units that functioned in Kanalsi, Model Town Karhera and Tajewala. This was likely to increase during summer, when strong hot winds and dust particles would engulf larger areas.Kanalsi resident Rana Harpal Singh (34) had mixed feelings when his first child was born. He was overjoyed, yet anxious about the child’s health as the mining ghat in the Yamuna was located just one-and-a-half km from his house. Plumes of dust remain in the air here for the whole day, making eye allergies, respiratory issues and skin diseases among children very common these days.Harpal’s apprehension is quite valid as 66.8% of children in rural Yamunanagar have been taken to a health facility with fever or symptoms of Acute Respiratory Infection in the last two weeks preceding the National Family Health Survey-5.“We cannot dry clothes in the open. There is no point in wearing clean clothes either, because dust particles stick to them after a while. Mining has not only destroyed our health, it has affected our daily routines,” Rakesh Rana (30) of Karhera shared his anguish.Nobody cares  The PCB guidelines clearly state the need to install sprinklers and build paved roads to tackle dust pollution from the mining area and during the transportation of the mined material. Measures should also be taken to regularly sprinkle water on the roads these trucks take.Kiran Pal Rana (55) of Nadi Mitra Mandali, which operates under the Yamuna Jiyo Abhiyan in Kanalsi, told 101Reporters that nobody bothers to enforce the PCB guidelines. In fact, the board officials rarely visit the area. “I complained about air pollution several times, but the PCB did not act,” he said.Excavation of the riverbed and transportation of sand through unpaved village roads using trucks are the main reasons for the dust particles in the air. The solution is to sprinkle water on the village roads regularly, but the miners do not even do such a small thing for the environment.Its effect is clearly visible on the leaves of trees, where dust accumulates. In fact, the PCB is responsible for checking that the place has enough tree cover. The onus of planting saplings in the mining area is also on the board.According to Yamunanagar-based social worker Advocate Varyam Singh (42), drip systems or fountains are stipulated under the PCB rules to contain dust. Big machines should not be used for operations. Above all, sand should be transported only through paved roads.However, what is happening in Yamunanagar is quite contrary. “Forget fountains or drips, even the sprinkling of water is not regular. If a villager opposes the mining contractor, he gets a death threat. Even the police do not act on such threats. That is why people are silent,” said Advocate Varyam.Elaborating on the modus operandi of illegal miners, he said, “Contractors take a site, but later start digging up the adjacent areas. They use both money and muscle power against those who dare to oppose them.”The aftermath of mining. Hot winds kick up plumes of dust which remain in the air here for the whole day, making eye allergies, respiratory issues and skin diseases among children very common these days (Photo - Manoj Thakur, 101Reporters)Blame gameDespite the health issues that villagers face, PCB Environmental Officer Naresh Kumar claimed that probing into pollution caused by mining does not directly fall under his purview. “There is a process in place. Those affected should complain to the PCB head office in Panchkula. From there, it will be sent to the government. After a decision is arrived at, I will get necessary instructions from the head office to investigate the matter.” On the PCB’s role in ensuring compliance with rules, he said, “We visit the site in the initial stages of excavation when the mining zone is established, and check if sprinklers are functional. To a certain extent, this will keep dust particles away from the air and roads. We also take note of the tree cover in the area. As for transport of the mined material, the vehicle should be fully covered. Sprinkling of water on the road should also be regular.”When quizzed about the issue, Yamunanagar District Panchayat and Rural Development Officer Shankar Lal Goyal told 101Reporters that the department does not have the “power to stop pollution caused by mining”.“The panchayat should pass a resolution and send it to the state mines and geology department. The department and PCB are responsible for controlling pollution. Gram panchayats and panchayats department cannot do anything about this,” he said, adding that no panchayat in Yamunanagar raised the pollution issue even once, though he has been associated with them since 2019.  Meanwhile, Minister for Mines and Geology Moolchand Sharma told 101Reporters that the state has recently tightened the rules regarding environmental pollution during mining. “It is necessary to establish ambient air quality monitoring stations in mining areas. Care should be taken to minimise the amount of dust particles in the air. Wherever fountains are not present, they will be installed,” he said. Draft policy From time to time, the PCB issues notices to the crusher operators for flouting norms. However, no follow-up action happens because of their political connections. Even the draft notification on stone crushers issued by the Haryana government on November 11, 2022, has diluted the previous guidelines of May 2016, especially at a time when the state is facing deterioration in air quality.  The new draft proposed a minimum distance of 500 m from a crusher to a national or state highway against the earlier distance of one km. The minimum distance to a municipal corporation (from 3 km to 2 km), town/municipal limits (from 1.5 km to 1 km), and forestland (from 500 m to 250 m) has also come down.Yamunanagar Stone Crushers’ Association is particularly annoyed by the draft, which puts the responsibility of constructing paved roads in their respective operational areas on stone crusher units. The association has moved the court against the draft. “How can the government impose this on us? It is the government’s duty to build roads. We are already paying taxes to get licences,” Rampal Kamboj, the former head of Yamunanagar Stone Crushers’ Association, told 101Reporters.    He also claimed that most of the crushers in Balla mining zone of Yamunanagar have been flouting environmental norms as they belonged to political leaders and their relatives. He said he would file an appeal in the National Green Tribunal in this regard.Cover photo - There are 32 mining zones in Yamunanagar district and dust keeps rising from mining ghats day and night (Photo - Manoj Thakur, 101Reporters)Edited by Rekha Pulinnoli

Haryana panchayat polls: Influence of khaps on rural voters on the wane

Despite its social relevance, khap panchayats no longer influence voting patterns in the State, thanks to its orthodox diktats and the power of digital revolution   Jind, Haryana: Once an inseparable part of the rural landscape of Haryana, khap panchayats no longer hold the power to sway elections in favour of the candidates they support.“Gone are the days when people chose to vote under someone else’s influence. At least, the youth will never vote at the behest of a khap panchayat,” affirms Satpal Sharma (34), a resident of Amarheri village in Jind.Until the year 2000, khap’s backing was like a stamp of approval for any candidate. “Its decision definitely had an effect on voters,” says Kanwar Bhan Narwal (70), a resident of Narukheri.Now, candidates like Captain Hawa Singh Sangwan, a member of the Sangwan khap, do not raise his khap connection during the poll campaign. Ask why, he states, “Khap and politics are separate entities!”How did khap panchayat, which once had so much social relevance in Haryana, lose influence in rural politics? Most probably, the answer lies in its narrow-minded outlook.A clash of ideologiesAccording to journalist Karmapal Gill, there is a stark difference between the ideologies of khap panchayats and the younger digitally connected generation of today. “The average age of khap representatives is mostly above 60 years,” says Gill, who has written extensively on the infamous khaps of Haryana.Today’s youth are much more aware than their counterparts a decade ago, thanks to the information revolution that has penetrated into rural areas. They want to establish their own identity. In addition, the social structure in villages has seen drastic changes with nuclear families becoming increasingly popular.The general negative attitude of the media towards khaps has also played a role in its diminishing popularity among the youth. “Khap panchayats’ moral policing measures such as banning women from wearing jeans and opposition to love marriages were criticised across board. Unfortunately, the khaps’ views are diametrically opposite to what youth think on issues that really matter to them,” adds Gill.As more and more people migrate to cities for white-collar jobs, the standard of living has improved. Both their outlook and experience have expanded, so has the way of thinking.“If there are people to support khap panchayats on issues like dress code even when they do not have any special right to dictate such terms, what would happen if they manage to get real power? We are too scared to think of that,” Jitendra Jeet Saharan (43) of Haibatpur tells 101Reporters.Development mattersThe priority of voters in villages has changed. They need candidates who talk about development, environment conservation, and measures to improve the standard of living. “But khaps are oblivious to such things,” remarks Saharan.Sompal Jun (44) of Bahu Akbarpur in Rohtak district thinks khap’s representatives are fully aware that the system is crumbling due the contentious decisions they took in the past. “This why they now keep khap and politics separate.”Satpal Sharma (32), another resident of Bahu Akbarpur, adds that khap panchayats have nothing new to offer other than its old ideology. “Within the khap itself, different members have different ideologies. So, how will they attract voters?” wonders Sharma.“Earlier, married women voted for the candidate that her family chose. Today, the girls are educated and have a mind of their own when it comes to voting,” says Angrejo Devi Narwal (52).Things have come to such a pass that even village elders reject khaps politically. “No one can decide my vote. If the khap decides it, then what is my status in society? Who will think of our rights? Who will stand up for us?” says Kanwar Bhan Narwal.The number gameOnly the zamindar (Jats) community has the khap system in place. As a result, khap is not strong enough to make any candidate win an election on its own. “Khap represents a particular gotra. In a village, even if one caste dominates, there are people of different gotras, which is why the influence of khap diminishes,” academician Rajkumar Bharadwaj tells 101Reporters.“Dalits, Backward Castes and other communities do not follow the khap rulings and cannot be united under its banner,” he explains. If a khap choudhary or representative contests election, he will not get the support of the other segments of voters.In addition, khaps do not have much cohesion among themselves. “If one khap member supports one candidate or party, the other will favour another, which serves as a hindrance to having a clear-cut ideology.”In its heyday, khap panchayats had successfully used its clout during elections. Whether it was a farmers’ movement or social work, the khap’s decisions were valued.Take the 2004 Assembly polls when most khaps supported the Indian National Congress as the Jat community was angry with the ruling Indian National Lok Dal due to the death of nine Jind-based farmers during a 2002 farmers’ movement. This was a major reason for the Congress victory and its subsequent government formation in the State in 2004.However, the khap panchayat’s social relevance is upheld even today. “For example, khaps banned disc jockeys from performing in marriages, and it was diligently followed. Similarly, its decisions on not demanding dowry and keeping funeral rituals low-key were accepted by most of the people,” Karmapal Gill points out. “Politics and social work are different. This is why khaps are not important in elections,” states Bharat Singh Beniwal, a representative of Beniwal khap. The main job of a khap panchayat is to strengthen the social fabric and bring the people of the society together. However, khaps have made wrong decisions on many occasions in the past. Many of its members have been accused of honour killing. Edited by Tanya ShrivastavaThe cover image is of a panchayat assembled in Haryana, sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Can DSR cultivation save Haryana’s groundwater? Farmers spearhead experiment

Paddy farmers in districts like Sirsa and Karnal are banking on big water savings from the direct sowing method of cultivation which also promises to improve groundwater if done on a large enough scale.Chandigarh: A research paper on the effects of paddy crops, published by IIT Kanpur, states that the groundwater level in northwest India has fallen to alarming depths in the last four to five decades. The report attributed the exploitation of this common resource to paddy (rice) cultivation in the states of Punjab and Haryana. However, most farmers plaintively ask – if they stop paddy cultivation, then what else could they do?In response, a few farmers in Haryana have deployed a novel solution. Instead of the traditional method of transplanting paddy, they are directly sowing it. This is called the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) method. Experts say that this method reduces the need for irrigation by more than 50% to 70%.Dr Virendra Singh Lather, the former Principal Scientist of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, explained that the transplantation method of cultivating paddy was started in Haryana and Punjab during the Green Revolution. In this method, paddy seeds are first sown in a nursery. The field is then prepared by swamping it with water to about one foot. Thirty irrigations are done per crop cycle and in each irrigation, 8 to 10 centimetres of water has to be deposited in the field. If the monsoons are normal, then rainwater is sufficient. Otherwise, farmers resort to irrigation using tube wells. The slightly grown seedlings are then uprooted and transplanted in the main field.In DSR method, the farmers sow paddy seeds directly in the field like wheat. There is no necessity to swamp the field with water. The field needs to be irrigated only about ten times. Traditional versus Direct SowingIn the traditional method, there is a requirement of about 3,000 to 5,000 litres (on average) per kg of paddy. This is largely dependent on the season as well as the land. When paddy is cultivated traditionally, during a hot summer or a heatwave, the water requirement will be more. Even after rainfall, the traditional method requires up to 3,000 litres per kg. On the contrary, if paddy is sown directly in the field, it takes only 800 to 1,000 litres of water per kg of paddy.Agriculture Minister, JP Dalal said, “Since the beginning of paddy cultivation, farmers have been using the conventional method of transplanting crops in swampy land. There is a belief in their mind that if there is no water in the field, then cultivation cannot occur. Farmers don't want to change that. They fear that this may adversely affect the production of paddy. So, there is a need to break this association in the farmers’ collective psyche. Apart from this, they may also have a problem with weeds. The farmers who have adapted to the direct sowing method are certainly role models in saving water. The government appreciates their efforts.” The minister now wants to take this experiment to every farmer in the state as it will help in saving and replenishing groundwater levels.On the back of dire warnings The Additional Director of the Haryana Agriculture Department, Suresh Gehlot told 101Reporters, “The groundwater level in 14 out of 22 districts of the state has crossed the warning level and has reached a dangerous situation. In 2004, the number of red category blocks in the state was 55. It has since increased to 85. This is 48 per cent of the state. Now we have to work on measures to save water. If this is not done, then in a few years the groundwater level in the state will worsen and it will be a near-impossible task to recharge the groundwater naturally.”Rohit Chauhan, a student of B.Sc Agriculture at Amity University, Noida, is researching the water crisis in Haryana. He said, “There is no boundary for groundwater. The exploitation of groundwater for paddy cultivation by the farmers of Haryana can have an impact on the surrounding states as well. This can not only lead to a water crisis but also create a gap underground due to the absence of water. This can cause problems like cracking of the land. Therefore, the direct seeding method which is being used in paddy cultivation is a good effort.”Sunil Kamboj, a 31-year-old farmer from Shaheedawala village in the Sirsa district, told 101Reporters, “The groundwater level in my village is rapidly going down. Every year a large number of tube wells are damaged because of depleting groundwater levels.” The problem he faces is that he is unable to give up paddy cultivation because no other crop flourishes during this season. Simply put, if the cultivation of paddy stopped, there would be an economic crisis. Kamboj then attended a seminar organised by the Agriculture Department. There he learnt about the DSR method which inspired him to experiment on his farm. Last year, he had sown paddy on just five acres of his land using the DSR method. The experiment was successful, saving him 30% to 40% on water. This encouraged him to implement the method on 40 acres. His success has now inspired ten farmers in his village to try the same in their fields.Meher Singh, 55, another farmer of Shaheedawala village, said that the previous year when Sunil Kamboj was directly sowing paddy in his field, most of the other farmers were ridiculing him. He explained, “This was because they were only aware of the traditional method of planting paddy in fields that were flooded with water to make the land swampy. We could not understand this new experiment of directly sowing paddy. But when we saw the result, we were also enthusiastic. So, this time out of a total of ten acres of land, five acres have been used to directly sow paddy.”Farmer Mehtab Kadian, 43, of Nagla village in Karnal district has directly sown paddy in 54 acres of his land. Kadian told 101 Reporters, “In the beginning, there is a learning curve. The DSR method requires a certain amount of care. The weather plays a big role. If water accumulates in the field, then the paddy does not germinate. Sometimes, there is also an excess of weeds. But it can be easily dealt with.” Kadian said that he was inspired to try direct sowing of paddy by Dr Lather. Though he was apprehensive, on Dr Lather’s encouragement, he tried the experiment in four acres of his land. The results were so promising that he used the entire land for the direct sowing of paddy. He is now motivating other farmers to do the same. He shared his enthusiasm with 101Reporters, “Farmers learn by watching each other. Therefore, I am presenting a model, teaching other farmers about this. Surely next year, a large number of farmers will take to the direct sowing of paddy in Haryana.”Dr Lather is hopeful as well of more farmers trying DSR on a larger scale from next year. Having witnessed some successful crops this year, many farmers are enquiring about this technique, he said. Considering it takes time for such techniques to proliferate, first embraced by progressive farmers on the lookout for new technologies, the government will also need to step in to speed up adoption, he said, particularly reaching out to young farmers. This article is a part of a 101Reporters' series on The Promise Of Commons. In this series, we will explore how judicious management of shared public resources can help the ecosystem as well as the communities inhabiting it.

How these villagers in Haryana made their river healthy again

From being a dumping ground for plastic waste just a decade ago, the Thapana River now has a thriving ecosystem and is worshipped as a goddess. Chandigarh: It was 2012. The monsoons were late and the Thapana, which is already a low-flow river, was drying up. It was suggested in the panchayat that farmers with fields close to the banks could pump water from their borewells into the deepest points in the river so that at least the aquatic life could be saved. Despite the impending drought, Mehak Singh (43) from Kanyawala village readily agreed. He considered it a divine duty. It is believed that some part of the river flows underground, he said, allowing farmers to draw on it to water their fields. “That why the farmers and villagers here are very attached to it; we worship the river twice a year with a community feast,” he said. In the neighbouring village of Mandoli, Surjit Singh (66) was also very worried about the state of the river and the dying fish, and he agreed to participate in the exercise. It was a herculean task but with the help of two dozen farmers and the other villagers covering the cost of the fuel, the river was saved that year. Thapana abuts the 5,000-strong Kanalasi village in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana. It is one of the seven villages that the river flows through in its 15-km journey after it branches out from the Yamuna and before joining the Somb.While the Thapana has always been closely linked to the faith of the people residing along its banks, it had also fallen prey to pollution and degradation. It was in Kanalasi that the community-driven movement to revive and protect the river took root. Educating the community The beginnings of this restoration process started with the Yamuna Jiyo Campaign (YJC), started by a former IFS officer and director of Peace Charitable Trust, Manoj Mishra, in 2007. YJC sought to ascertain and improve the health of the river beyond metrics. This meant studying the aquatic life in the river and vegetation along its banks. Could the river support the famed game fish of the Yamuna, Mahseer, which could only thrive in pollution-free waters? What were the various species of turtles, frogs, birds and other creatures that were living off the river? Were the trees around the river growing, green or dying? The first public event at Kanalsi in September 2012 where the first steps in people’s participation in Thapana conservation were taken and Thapana was declared a Lok Samrakshit Nadi (community-protected river) (Picture credit - Somb-Thapana Catchment Plan, Thames River Trust)For this task, the villagers along Thapana were roped in. The project was meant to run for two years from 2009 and saw the setting up of 20 ‘Nadi Mitra Mandali’ (friends of the river) along Thapana, each with 10-40 locals, who met regularly and trained together. Close to 500 people were trained in different phases, said Bhim Singh Rawat, the convener of YJC, where they were educated about keeping the river pollution-free - from redirecting sewers from the villages and pesticide run-off from the fields to stopping littering. They were taught why greening the banks was critical in attracting and supporting wildlife like local and migratory birds like waterfowl which are naturally adept at keeping the river clean. It was during this time that the Thames River Trust (TRT) in London bagged an international award, the mandate of which allowed it to associate with any organisation working for a river in any part of the world. The TRT began collaborating with YJC in monitoring the river health index project.So the project was extended for two more years. Awareness about the river grew in Kanalasi and adjoining areas after this, says Kiran Pal Rana (54), resident of Kanalasi and the head of local Mandali. Engineering the river banksAwareness camps were organised to encourage the plantation of popular trees, neem, rosewood and fruit-bearing plants like jamoon mangoes on the banks of the river. Farmers who were cultivating on the river bank agreed to replace their crops with varieties of trees that would fetch them income.Kiran Deep Singh (32), a farmer who planted saplings on the banks of the Thapana river, said that earlier some land on the banks of the river used to lie idle. There was soil erosion and if there were heavy rains, these edges would suffer a lot.” Since we planted saplings on the banks of the river 2-3 years ago, in association with the Nadi Mitra Mandali, our problem has been solved. Besides, the trees of Safeda and Papular are been grown in the idle land and this will give us a lot of income.” Rajesh Gulia, a former IFS officer of the Haryana Forest Department and then working in Yamunanagar, oversaw the plantation of saplings in Kanalsi and Mandoli. “We, along with Panchayat and Nadi Mitra Mandali, explained to the villagers that if we plant saplings today, then after three to four years you will get good income. They were told how planting saplings was like a fixed deposit for them. The effect of such talks was that a large number of farmers had agreed to plant saplings,” he said. GPS survey underway at the Thapana (Picture credit - Somb-Thapana Catchment Plan, Thames River Trust)When farmers shifted their agriculture some distance from the riverbank, faster afforestation resulted. Earlier, vegetation that grew naturally along the riverbank was being destroyed due to farming being carried out almost up to the river edge. This also accelerated the pace of the river drying up during the summer. But now, natural vegetation was allowed to thrive. Farmers were also given training on organic farming practices and local varieties of seeds were made available to them, ones that didn’t require fertilisers and pesticides. Sheeshpal, a farmer, said when farmers started getting remunerative prices for their produce, the use of pesticides along the river bank was reduced and harmful chemicals no longer found their way into the water.The community also had to work towards changing some deep-rooted habits in order to protect the river habitat. The Thapana earlier was a dumping ground for waste of all kinds including empty pesticide bottles, plastic and polythene covers, said Sanjay Singh (65), a resident of the village. Once this waste was cleaned, villagers decided not to dump anything in the river henceforth. While it was difficult to break this habit, continuous dialogue and awareness finally had an effect. When a few people started obeying the no-dumping rule, others started following their example. Now garbage bins have been placed along the banks and in the village, and are cleared by the Nagar Nigam regularly. The river as part of the familyDespite being a low-flow river, the Thapana is home to eight different varieties of fish, including mahseer, and crabs, snakes, frogs, and turtles. The river is home to 32 types of flora including those that grow on the river banks and 70 species of birds flock to its waters. Once the river started to become healthy, Manju Devi, the sarpanch of Kanalsi continued to face several challenges, the biggest one being the rapid rise in Mahseer which started attracting hunters. Mahseer is a famous sport fish and a delicacy and the low water flow made them easy prey. Some people also hunted the birds here. Fishing was prohibited and villagers started to patrol the banks during the night to enforce the rule. Though stray attempts to fish in these waters were not successful and were often caught, the villagers wanted to increase the reverence of the river so no one would attempt to exploit its resources. This hunting was not connected to livelihood but rather recreation. Prayers and plantation of Populus underway at the Thapana (Picture credit - Somb-Thapana Catchment Plan, Thames River Trust)Besides, the transformation that the river had brought about in their lives made them even more protective of it. It was then that the villagers decided to co-opt the river as a family member, says Rana. “We started celebrating the birthday of the river and threw a grand feast. The last Sunday of September was chosen as the date of birth of the river,” he added. The river has a life cycle. It has its health index and is determined by the purity of water flowing in it, vegetation in it, trees on its banks, the aquatic species it sustains. All these are interdependent. “We tested the health index of this river, post our efforts to rid it of pollutants, and it has passed this test in flying colours,” asserted environmentalist Bheem Singh, a member of Yamuna Mitra Mandali. “Rivers have their system (of maintenance). If one creates this system, the river maintains itself,” he added.Haryana's Forest and Environment Minister, Kanwar Pal Gurjar, who is MLA from Jagadhri assembly constituency to which Kanalsi village belongs, said the government provide saplings free of cost to the villagers from time to time [though the cost of plantation is covered by the Mandali and the panchayat]. He also said the government is consulting experts regarding villagers’ demand that the river is given heritage status.This article is a part of a 101Reporters' series on The Promise Of Commons. In this series, we will explore how judicious management of shared public resources can help the ecosystem as well as the communities inhabiting it.

How this cluster of villages in Haryana managed to stay COVID-free

From following standard preventive techniques to distributing home-grown vegetables among the population, these hamlets in Sirsa took several efforts to keep the infection at bay. Sirsa: When the second wave of COVID-19 was washing over many parts of the country, seven villages in Haryana’s Sirsa district remain untouched. Makha, Musli, Budhimedhi, Dhani Satnam Singh, Dogra Wali, Modi, and Joriya — which do not have more than 5,000 people each — followed basic practices and cooperated in their small way to keep the virus at bay. For instance, not a single person from Makha village ventures out without a mask, whereas cops have been rampantly penalising people for violations elsewhere in the Sirsa district. Makha sarpanch Veerpala Kaur proudly says that innate discipline has completely stalled COVID-19 in their village. “There isn’t a single case in our village. It was possible because of adherence to three things — wearing a mask, attention towards sanitisation and social distancing. And the results are right in front of you,” she said. Kaur added that the panchayat held many dialogues with the villagers over prevention. “The panchayat meetings were conducted by following social distancing norms. We decided to stall weddings and other public gatherings,” she said. The villagers’ sense of social responsibility made the implementation easier. Rules and co-operation Sarpanch Kaur’s brother, Harchej Singh (38), made brief clips on COVID-19 awareness and circulated them on social media. The villagers cooperated with the initiatives. They asked their relatives not to visit their village. “Moreover, the villagers refrained from travelling out. If a person had to leave for important work, he/she would quarantine himself/herself upon returning. The measures were not followed due to pressure from an individual, but out of respect for the decision taken for the public good,” he said.  He added that the villagers believe in keeping a social promise. They have high regard for the decisions taken by the panchayat, and thus, they follow them ardently — they feel it is their social responsibility. “Villagers come to know when a person violates the rule. Such a person is then socially boycotted and loses trust,” Singh said.  People from Budhimedhi village weren’t allowed to attend public gatherings or travel to mourn a relative’s death. In case they had to travel, they would have to quarantine upon returning. The doctors would test them. Such a person could only return home once he/she tested negative. Budhimedhi’s residents cooperated with every such regulation. “As a result, there has not been a single case,” said village sarpanch Sukhbaj Singh. Musli village resident Singh Chima said that people were not visiting the mandi during the lockdown. Since many vegetables are grown in the village, the residents decided to distribute them among themselves. “There were two advantages to this situation — people did not have to step out for vegetables, and the home-grown produce was not spoiled. A few people from outside who come to Muslim to sell vegetables did not arrive once they realised that we were self-sufficient,” he said. Small hurdles dealt with Making everybody follow the safety principles came with their difficulties. Sarpanch Kaur of Makha village said that the villagers are staunch followers of traditions and follow a strict schedule, which they do not like to disrupt. “COVID-19 had started altering people’s routines,” she said.Representative image (Source: Wikimedia Commons) The sudden change has been unimaginable for Makha’ senior citizens like Ramnivas Sharma. Before COVID-19 confined him to his home, he would spend his day with his friends in baithaks. “People of my age would gather in the morning and engage in banter all day. Tea, snacks, and lunch would be served in our baithaks. We wouldn’t return home until late. With COVID-19, things changed drastically. We felt imprisoned in our homes. It was bizarre at first. But, we got slowly used to it,” he said. Sharma added that staying at home had its benefits. “We, senior citizens, grew close to our kids as we spend lots of time with them for the first time. Now, time flies. It feels as if I have wasted a lot of time in the past in the company of hookah, when a better part of life is at home,” he said. Sirach Sukhabaj Singh of Budhimedi Village from Sirsa deemed funerals the most difficult to regulate. In his village, when a person dies, people gather in support and solidarity. “COVID-19 did not allow any such gatherings. We reinforced the decision by allowing only the family to attend the final rights. When a person passed away, we wondered if the virus was responsible. The samples were sent to local government hospitals. The results always returned negative,” he said. Praise from experts Sirsa Deputy Civil Surgeon Buddh Ram lauded the seven villages for their approach and discipline. “They stayed free of virus when the pandemic was gathering momentum in rural areas. Their techniques can be seen as a model for preventing COVID-19,” he said. Social organisation network Youth 4 Change’s director, Rakesh Dhul, said that such discipline is exemplary as it comes from that the sector of Sirsa, which is protesting against the farm laws. “The villages have started a non-cooperative movement with the government. And still, these seven villages have shown much restrain and discipline and prevented COVID-19 altogether. If other villages adopt Sirsa’s methods, COVID-19 can be evicted from rural areas. 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Wheat-producing states in trouble amid COVID-19 pandemic

Chandigarh: As India grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the top three wheat-producing states are also battling with labourer shortage and other issues. While Uttar Pradesh is facing a shortage of labourers, Punjab and Haryana are waiting for combine harvesters to reach their farms so they can start the harvesting process.As the lockdown is extended, the harvest of the rabi (winter) crop wheat is being delayed. Even though the Centre has allowed for carrying out harvest-related work during the lockdown, the insufficient labour force and lack of equipment have put a damper on the harvest.In UP, the resting crop can impact the lives of farmers. Even a sudden spell of rain or fire from a flickering matchstick can destroy their investment and months of hard work.Sunil Kumar Tiwari, a farmer in Chaktodar village of Bhadohi district, UP, had cultivated wheat in his 10 bigha (1.06 hectares) plot of land. However, and when the crop was ready, he couldn’t get it harvested owing to the lockdown. Now he stares at his empty field, which caught fire on April 10.Tiwari’s farm, which caught fire on April 10.He mentioned that even though they informed the fire brigade instantly, the entire crop was destroyed by the time they arrived. He added that the crops in two adjacent farms were also destroyed.Talking about the cause of the fire, Tiwari suspects that the fire might be an accidental one because of a cigarette or beedi.Gyan Prakash, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Bhadohi), told 101Reporters that they have taken cognisance of the incident and assured that the farmers will receive compensation under the Mukhyamantri Khet Khalihan Yojana.According to the scheme, Rs 30,000 or the actual loss (whichever is less) is given for the crop loss of up to 2.5 acre/one hectare. In 2018-2019, the UP government released Rs 7.01 crore under the said scheme involving 9,227 farmers.In the 2017-18 rabi season, Uttar Pradesh was the largest wheat producing state with a production of 300.58 lakh metric tonne.Shut mandis, rotting cropSimilarly, farmers in Punjab and Haryana are also worried about their crop. According to Jograj Dhandhi, Joint Director of Haryana’s agriculture department, 25.53 lakh hectares of the crop is ready for harvest is ready in the state, while it is 35 lakh hectares in Punjab.“If the harvesting doesn’t start soon, the crop will start shedding in the field. The delay will just increase the loss for the farmers,” Dhandhi told 101Reporters.Sukhchain Singh, 65, had cultivated wheat in his 4.04-hectare farm in Barkatpur village of Patiala district of Punjab. He mentioned that the majority of his harvesting is done by combine harvesters, and the rest is done manually by labourers. However, the labourers, who are mostly from Bihar, have left the state owing to the lockdown, he added.Harbans Singh, a farmer in the Bramhankala village of Ludhiana district, has a 4.8-hectare farm. “Owing to the nationwide lockdown, there is no provision of selling or procuring wheat in the mandi (wholesale market). The first battle is to get the crop harvested, and even if you manage to do it, what will you do with all the grains if you can’t take it to the mandi,” Harbans argued.Akali Dal leader and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal also asked the government to provide bonuses to the farmers for the delay in crop procurement.Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has already declared that farmers will get relaxation when the lockdown is extended so they can carry out harvest-related activities.Ram Kumar, a farmer in the Kunjapura village of Karnal district, Haryana, stated that the migrant workers left during the exodus from Delhi, and predicted that they won’t be coming back soon. “The harvesting period for wheat is from April 1 to April 30, and during this period most of the crop is cleared. Since we don’t have any labourers for our help now, I have started cutting the crop myself,” he said.Ratan Maan, Haryana state president of Bhartiya Kisaan Union, alleged that the Haryana and Punjab state governments are apathetic to the woes of farmers. “Farmers are the worst-hit because of the coronavirus crisis. Since April 1, 1% of the crop gets destroyed each passing day, and if there is bad weather (rain or hailstorm), this loss can go up to even 50%,” he added.“The rabi market season is important not only for the farmers but also for many labourers. Since labourers take grains as a barter for their labour, this contributes to their yearly stock. This time, it looks like these labourers are also not going to get work,” he told 101Reporters.When it comes to harvesting and procurement of wheat, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar look prepared, at least in his planning.“We are developing a mobile app where harvesters will be made available, any farmer who needs a harvester can book it through this app. We will also be providing Rs 50 per quintal bonus to the farmers who bring their wheat to the mandis between May 6 and May 31. And for those who bring wheat between June 1 and June 30, Rs 125 per quintal will be given,” he told 101Reporters.This move looks to be made so farmers don’t crowd the mandis just after the lockdown is lifted.“Against 433 purchase centres and mandis last time, this season it has been increased to 2,000 to allow staggered procurement of wheat, which is likely to last over a month,” Khattar had earlier said.However, Maan believes that though these steps sound nice, they aren’t practical. He highlighted that farmers don’t have any storage system where they can store the grains till May or June.“Haryana and Punjab contribute to about 70% of the wheat in the central pool and even the government falls short of storage to store this amount. Where will the farmers get this much of storage,” he argued.