FLOWING FORWARD: WALMI (Uttar Pradesh) and WWF-India strengthen commitment for river conservation in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: In a significant step towards strengthening commitment for river conservation and sustainable water resource management, the Uttar Pradesh Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) and WWF-India jointly organised a one-day workshop on "Implementing Environmental Flows and Floodplain Zonation in the Major Rivers of Uttar Pradesh" on 25th April 2025 in Lucknow.
 
Shri Swatantra Dev Singh, the Honourable Cabinet Minister for Jal Shakti, Government of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the workshop. Shri Ramkesh Nishad, the Honourable State Minister for Jal Shakti, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Principal Secretaryand the Engineer-in-Chief, Head of Department, Uttar Pradesh Irrigation & Water Resources Department (UPI&WRD), also graced the occasion as special guests. Senior officials, including zonal Chief Engineers from across the State and over 100 senior functionaries of the UPI&WRD, participated in the workshop.

The workshop aimed to highlight the issues related to Environmental Flows (E-Flows) for the rivers in Uttar Pradesh, strengthen the commitment and collaboration of various stakeholders, and chart future strategies and roadmaps for E-Flows implementation initiatives in Uttar Pradesh. WWF-India presented detailed findings of the E-Flows assessments undertaken for the major rivers of Uttar Pradesh– Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Sharda, Ghaghra-Saryu, Gomti, Rapti, Gandak and Sone– under the guidance of the Uttar Pradesh Water Management & Regulatory Commission (UP WaMReC). The sessions also showcased practical solutions and strategies for enhancing river flows to establish a conducive E-Flows regime.
 
Addressing the gathering, Shri Swatantra Dev Singh underscored the deep cultural and ecological connection communities share with rivers, stating that "life is possible only through rivers, and if there are rivers, then we exist".
 
Shri Swatantra Dev Singh highlighted Uttar Pradesh's pivotal role in river and water resource conservation, stating that the State has over 31,000 km of India's total river network of over 1,16,000 km. He also noted WWF-India's work on initiating the E-Flows assessment exercise for major rivers of Uttar Pradesh covering about 5,000 km in the State. He also emphasised that while the Uttar Pradesh State Water Resources Agency (UP SWaRA) has developed river basin management plans, the focus must now shift to their effective implementation to ensure the sustenance of E-Flows and the health of river ecosystems.
 
Nitin Kaushal, Director – Rivers & Wetlands, WWF-India said, "Uttar Pradesh is India's 1^st State, where the E-Flows requirements of all its major rivers are assessed through a collaborative initiative. It is hoped that this work will go a long way in improving the health of the riverine ecosystems in the State. Many practical models can be implemented to enhance river flows, and these models are showcased in the workshop. If implemented at a large scale, such initiatives will have the potential to aid E-Flows maintenance in the rivers".
  
The workshop featured a technical session by Professor Vinod Tare, Founding Head, C Ganga – IIT Kanpur, on E-Flows in Ganga River Basin management planning. Officials from Uttar Pradesh State Mission for Clean Ganga (UP SMCG) provided insights into the role of E-Flows in Ganga rejuvenation efforts. Scientists from the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH, Roorkee) shared technical perspectives on river floodplain zonation and ongoing initiatives in this domain.

Through this collaborative initiative, WALMI and WWF-India reinforced their commitment to strengthening river conservation efforts and promoting sustainable water management practices in Uttar Pradesh. Further consultation meetings will be scheduled to develop a roadmap for taking forward the E-Flows initiative in the State, reaffirming the State's commitment to the long term health and resilience of its river ecosystems.
 
NOTES

1. Freshwater flows in a river are the lifeline of the river, and the rejuvenation of our national river- the Ganga- is a top agenda of the central government. On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh falls in the Ganga River Basin and is blessed with many large rivers that contribute to the might of the Ganga. While traversing through various regions of the State, these rivers face multiple challenges. Therefore, it is critical to conserve these rivers to conserve the Ganga.     
    
2. Environmental Flows(E-Flows) are the flows required to maintain the ecological integrity of rivers, their associated ecosystems, and the goods and services they provide. In simpler terms, E-Flows are about the quantity, quality, and timing of flows required in a river to sustain various functions and processes associated with the river.