WWF launches initiative to rejuvenate Chambal, Yamuna rivers

Mumbai: In a mega initiative, WWF-India has launched a four-year multi-stakeholder initiative on the Chambal-Yamuna river system, along with Genpact, a global advanced technology services and solutions company.

This initiative aims to work with stakeholders—government, farming and riparian communities and technical institutions – to find nature-based and sustainable approaches to address issues of over-abstraction of water, habitat degradation, and climate change and to strengthen basin governance.

The Chambal flows through Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh and contributes significantly to the freshwater flow in the Yamuna and the Ganga.

This river is home to 77 per cent of the global breeding gharial population. It is also an important habitat for the national aquatic animal—the Ganga river dolphin.

A known breeding site for Indian Skimmers in North India, the Chambal River and the riverine arc assume great significance by providing connectivity and contiguity between the several protected areas - three national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.

“The Chambal River, being a unique and critical freshwater ecosystem, holds an immense potential to realise the vision of a healthy Ganga. Through this initiative, WWF-India will work with key stakeholders, including local communities, the Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan and the National Mission for Clean Ganga, to enhance understanding of the river—its hydrology, morphology, ecology and governance to develop valuable insights and pave the way for long-term conservation of one of India's important perennial rivers,” said Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India.

Like many other rivers, the Chambal and its tributaries are now impacted by several anthropogenic pressures cumulatively, leading to reduced river flows, reduced groundwater levels, degraded water quality, loss of habitats for aquatic species, water scarcity for communities and other dependent flora and fauna.

“As a purpose-driven company, sustainability is woven into Genpact’s DNA. We’re excited to partner with WWF-India to rejuvenate the Chambal-Yamuna river basin and do our part to tackle climate change and contribute towards creating a more sustainable world for all,” said Piyush Mehta, CHRO and Country Manager, India, Genpact.

Over the next four years, the project will work towards enhancing the understanding of environmental flows (quantity, quality and timing of freshwater flows) in key rivers of the Chambal and Yamuna basin. The project, involving more than 50,000 farmers, will demonstrate models to enhance flows through improved agricultural water management in the Parbati-Sindh and Kali rivers, which are part of the Chambal-Yamuna-Ganga system in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It will also empower Mitras (friends of rivers) for the conservation of habitats of Ganga river dolphins and gharials in an 80-km stretch of the Chambal-Yamuna rivers and work towards stabilising their populations.