Environmental flow:
The Union Jal Shakti Minister led a comprehensive meeting focused on the environmental flow (e-flow) of the Ganga River and its tributaries.
- Environmental flow refers to the quantity, timing, and quality of water flow required to sustain freshwater ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
- Problems in Indian Rivers e-Flow:
- In recent decades, extensive interventions in river flow—such as the construction of dams and barrages, pollution, and encroachments—have severely impacted the ecological balance of rivers.
- To address these issues, the concept of “Environmental Flow” has been introduced, emphasizing the need to maintain a minimum water flow to ensure the health of river ecosystems.
- Significance of Environmental flow
- It is critical for maintaining the ecological integrity of rivers and their estuaries.
- E-flow also ensures significant benefits for human welfare, especially in areas where water use is highly competitive and regulated.
- E-Flow studies consider the habitat and flow requirements of key fish species to ensure the survival of aquatic life and balanced river flow.
- This contributes to long-term ecological and economic benefits for society.
