No dedicated law for rivers, mountains yet in India: Waterman Rajendra Singh

Magsaysay awardee and environmental activist Rajendra Singh on Friday said while governments have enacted several laws environment protection Acts over the last 77 years, no specific legislation has been framed so far to protect and conserve mountains and rivers in the country.

Addressing a two-day National Conference on Mountains and Rivers, jointly organised by several NGOs, Singh, who is also known as the 'Waterman of India', said there is no law to prevent the ''cutting of heart and lungs'' of nature.

Referring to Articles 21 and 41 of the Constitution, he said they place responsibility on the state to protect life, adding that provisions exist not only for humans but also for trees, plants and animals.

Questioning the role of the bureaucracy, judiciary, technocrats and advocates, he asked, ''What are they doing?'' He said efforts are being made to make deteriorating systems operational through temporary solutions out of fear of public backlash.

Expressing concern over rampant encroachment of rivers and deforestation, Singh said mountains are being continuously cut, leading to worsening environmental conditions.

Citing the Aravalli range, he said 28,000 mines were closed after the Supreme Court intervened and continuously heard cases to protect the mountain range and delivered regular judgments.

Singh said natural resources are being exploited in an ''uncontrolled and unlimited manner'', adding that stringent laws are needed for the survival, protection and conservation of mountains and rivers.

''If we need water, we will have to protect all mountains and rivers,'' he said, urging a special session of Parliament to frame a dedicated law on the issue.

Jamshedpur MLA Saryu Roy also strongly advocated for robust legislation to protect rivers and mountains.

He said the Ganga has shrunk by nearly 1 km in Patna, while the condition of the Swarnarekha river in Jamshedpur, once a lifeline for locals, has become ''pathetic'' due to pollution.

The various organisations that organised the conference include Tarun Bharat Sangh, Yugantar Bharti, Nature Foundation, Swarnarekha Kshetra Vikas Trust and IIT (ISM) Dhanbad.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)