Multi-stakeholder Engagement for River Rejuvenation

Abstract

Rivers have been a major source of water. River basin is considered as the basic hydrological unit for planning and development of water resources. The discourse on river basin management has developed over time in response to the changing demands placed on river systems by societies, and the changing conditions of rivers. WWF India has been working across important river systems in the country with the aim of making river systems healthy, rich in biodiversity and providing long term water security to communities, businesses and nature. The chapter outlines the efforts undertaken as part of the Rivers for Life, Life for Rivers programme of WWF India, to develop a basin management plan for the river using a hybrid top-down and bottom-up approach, engaging with various stakeholders in the Ramganga river basin. The process of developing the basin plan involved making decisions over the different uses and demands for water resources and associated systems within the Ramganga basin. The basin plans outline measures for developing, protecting and harnessing the resources of the Ramganga basin in order to achieve water demand of different uses while ensuring health and safety of the river itself.