54 per cent of the rivers in the sub-continent is facing what is known as water stress with many rivers rapidly drying up. India is facing its worst water crisis in four decades. Experts are of the opinion that by 2025, the country would be looking at an acute water crisis if no proactive measures are taken to prevent this disaster from happening. They are also of the opinion that the reason of this is not the non-availability of water but the way it has been used. The need to revive our rivers thus has become even more necessary not only to save water but also for the people whose lives are linked to these rivers. Therefore, the involvement of communities in these projects could prove to be beneficial for many reasons with long standing futuristic implications. By virtue of living for those inhabiting the river basins it would be a boon as it would be a means of continuing sustenance for both domestic, agricultural and associated aquatic occupations. This in turn would facilitate in improve and protect the riverine ecosystem and the biodiversity of the region. The lecture discussed the need for river revival and the work that has been initiated. By involving the communities inhabiting the river basins it would be a way forward towards the revitalization of the affected rivers.
About the Speaker
Dr Lingaraju Yale, Director River Rejuvenation, Art of Living Foundation
Dr. Lingaraju Yale is a well-known and highly respected geohydrologist of India, who formerly was Director - Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre. He last served as Director Geomatics Centre, Water Resource Development Organization, and Government of Karnataka. His long and illustrious career in the field of geohydrology, spans over 5 decades. His experience includes conducting geo-hydrological investigations including Remote Sensing Techniques and Geophysical Surveys; techniques he has used in water and natural resources planning and monitoring 2 www.asianconfluence.org systems. He has established GIS (Geographic Information System) and RS (Remote sensing) labs. He was the Engineering geologist at the Varahi Hydro Electric project. He has guided many engineering students and he is also a popular science writer.
He currently is a National Director for River Rejuvenation Projects by the Art of Living. He is responsible for planning and monitoring of River rejuvenation projects by the Art of Living, spanning over 4 states currently, i.e., Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, under the able leadership of Dr. Lingaraju Yale, the river rejuvenation team has taken up projects to revive more than 40 streams, rivulets and rivers for which, Limca Book of World Records have recognized their efforts.