Context

• Capacity Building Initiative on Making Water Sensitive Cities In Ganga Basin Launched

‘Making water sensitive cities in Ganga basin’ initiative

• This new capacity building initiative aimed at improving river health/flows was launched by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in association with Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
• It focus on capacity building and action research for promoting sustainable urban water management for improved river health in Ganga basin cities.
• It will engage all the stakeholders which includes, SPMGs (State Program Management Group, Namami Gange), Municipal corporations, Technical & research constants, international organizations and local grassroot communities.
• This initiative is part of the series of ongoing efforts by NMCG aimed to ensuring convergence of the Namami Gange Mission with national flagship urban missions (AMRUT, Smart Cities, Swachh Bharat Mission, HRIDAY, NULM) and other missions (Atal Bhujal Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan) at state /city level across Ganga basin states.
• Key focus areas of the programme will be
  • Water Sensitive Urban Design and Planning
  • Urban Water Efficiency and Conservation
  • Decentralized Wastewater Treatment and Local Reuse
  • Urban Groundwater Management and
  • Urban Waterbodies / Lake Management.
• Jal Shakti Ministry’s ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative for rain water harvesting connected community with water bodies in cities.

There is a need of

• A framework for integration between Urban Built Form including landscape and urban water cycle.
• Cities have largely been held responsible for the deteriorated state of rivers, and therefore, need to play a vital role in the rejuvenation efforts as well.
• Mainstreaming river sensitive approach while planning for the cities. The “River Cities Alliance” will provide a unique platform for river cities to collaborate for collectively achieving river rejuvenation through sustainable development and capacity building.
• Returning to roots and bringing back the traditional knowledge of rain water harvesting sharing the examples of Alhar – Pyne system of Bihar, wells in forts of Rajasthan and Cascade tanks of South India etc.

Water Sensitive Urban Design and Planning (WSUDP)

• It is an emerging urban development paradigm aimed to minimize hydrological impacts of urban development on environment.
• This includes the
  • method of planning and designing urban areas for optimum utilization of water (a precious resource)
  • reduce the harm caused to our rivers and creeks and
  • focuses on entire management of entire water systems (drinking water, storm water run-off, waterway health, sewerage treatment and re-cycling).

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1739673

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