9 January 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. River interlinking, the fount of environmental disaster

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS3 – Environment

Context

On December 25, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ken-Betwa River Link Project. The project aims to address water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region, spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Ken-Betwa River Link Project Overview

• It involves the construction of a dam within the Panna Tiger Reserve, raising concerns about ecological submergence.
• The project will link the Ken River, considered surplus, with the water-deficient Betwa River.

A Historical Perspective on River Interlinking

• The idea of inter-basin water transfer was first proposed 130 years ago by Sir Arthur Cotton and later refined by M. Visvesvaraya.
• K.L. Rao and Captain Dinshaw J. Dastur expanded the concept in the 1970s and 1980s, naming it the ‘National Water Grid.’
• The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) was established in 1982 to conduct feasibility studies for interlinking 30 identified river systems.
• The estimated cost of river interlinking projects is ₹5.5 lakh crore, excluding social, environmental, and operational costs.

Environmental and Economic Criticism

• Experts have raised objections to the Ken-Betwa project, citing environmental costs and disruption of natural ecosystems.
• Projects like these are criticized for ignoring ecological niches, deltaic regions, and the long-term consequences of climate change.
• Policymakers’ arithmetic rationalization of surplus water overlooks the eco-services of rivers, such as silt transport, land fertility, and groundwater recharge.
• The deltaic ecosystem, essential for maintaining biodiversity and livelihoods, suffers when river water is diverted.

Lessons from Global Examples

• The Indus Delta in Pakistan, once rich in biodiversity, deteriorated due to water diversion projects.
• The Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River is a modern Indian example of environmental degradation.
• International examples like the channelization of Florida’s Kissimmee River and the depletion of the Aral Sea highlight the failures of geoengineering projects.

Root Causes of India’s Water Crisis

• India’s water crisis stems from inadequate water management, poor environmental practices, legal ambiguities, and corruption.
• A holistic national water policy should include watershed management and effective aquifer regulation.
• Engaging farmers in efficient irrigation practices and promoting wastewater reuse programmes can mitigate the crisis.

Lessons from Israel’s Water Management

• Israel’s drip irrigation system saves 25%-75% of pumped water, demonstrating efficient water use in agriculture.
• Adopting modern irrigation techniques reduces water, fertilizer, and pesticide consumption while maintaining aquifer health.

Contradictions in Policy and Cultural Values

• Despite India’s cultural emphasis on rivers as sacred entities, projects like river interlinking threaten their existence.
• Rivers are overexploited through excessive dam construction, industrial waste, and commodification for religious purposes.

Conclusion

• The Ken-Betwa project exemplifies the challenges of balancing development and ecological sustainability.
• A multidisciplinary approach, learning from global and local practices, is crucial for addressing India’s water crisis effectively.

Practice Question:  Discuss the environmental and socio-economic implications of the Ken-Betwa River Link Project in light of India’s water management challenges. Suggest sustainable alternatives to inter-basin water transfer projects. (250 Words /15 marks)

2. The right to food and the struggle with the PDS

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – Governance, GS2 – Social Justice

Context

Recent reports from Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar highlight alarming issues in the Public Distribution System (PDS). A significant number of households have been excluded from PDS rolls, leaving them without access to essential rations.

Impact on Marginalized Communities: Case Study

• The Musahar community, one of the most marginalized caste groups in Bihar, faces acute struggles with the PDS.
  • Many Musahar households in Patna district lack active ration cards.
  • Even when ration cards are available, they often exclude some family members.

Biometric Verification Challenges

• Mandatory biometric verification at Fair Price Shops (FPS) has caused further exclusion.
• Names are struck off PDS rolls after verification failures, forcing individuals to apply for new ration cards.

Corruption in the PDS System

• Corruption within the PDS is widespread, further undermining its effectiveness.
  • Households with Priority Household (PHH) ration cards receive only four kilograms of food grain per person instead of the mandated five kilograms.
  • The rice distributed is often of the lowest quality, while no wheat is issued.

Documentation and Enrollment Hurdles

• Enrollment in PDS is plagued by unnecessary documentation demands:
  • While Bihar offers both paper-based and online applications, officials demand caste, income, and residence certificates, which lack legal backing under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, and the PDS Control Order, 2015.
  • Similar documentation requirements exist in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
• These demands are an oversight in digitized systems, creating barriers to access for vulnerable populations.

Exploitation of the Marginalized

• The bureaucratic complexities have created opportunities for exploitation.
• Middlemen exploit applicants, charging over ₹3,000 to help procure ration cards, often without delivering results.

Delays in Ration Card Issuance

• The 2015 order mandates that ration cards be issued within 30 days of application.
• However: Many applications remain pending for 4 to 18 months, depriving individuals of their basic means of subsistence.

Governance and Welfare Disconnect

• Governments’ focus on digitization and “smart cities” has led to a disconnect from citizen welfare.
• Systemic flaws, bureaucratic red tape, and official indifference exacerbate the struggles of marginalized communities.

Way Forward

• Ensuring universal PDS enrollment and reducing documentation requirements can enhance inclusivity.
• Addressing corruption, simplifying processes, and providing grievance redressal mechanisms can improve access to rations.
• Governments must prioritize the fundamental right to food, as upheld in People’s Union of Civil Liberties vs Union of India (1996), over bureaucratic processes.

Practice Question:  What are the key challenges in ensuring equitable access to the Public Distribution System (PDS) for marginalized communities in India.How can systemic inefficiencies and exploitation be mitigated to uphold the right to food? (250 Words /15 marks)

 

For more such UPSC-related The Hindu editorial analysis: Check Out- 8 January 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis