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Sabarmati Stakeholders Forum (SSF)

 

The Sabarmati Stakeholders Forum (SSF) evolved during 1998-99 and by March 1999, VIKSAT identified 12 stakeholder sub groups belonging to agriculture, industry and domestic drinking water (both urban and rural) sectors. These groups were already engaged in addressing water related issues like irregular irrigation and industrial water supply and agricultural and industrial pollution at local level. For about a year, these sub groups interacted with each other but subsequently, VIKSAT’s continuous efforts could involve concerned government departments also. These interactions initially witnessed intense debates reflecting confusions, conflicts and suspicion but gradually developed understanding of constraints and difficulties faced by each group. The process of change was thus introduced and the Forum is actively addressing the issues of water management through regular meetings. The deliberations have given insight into various issues related to water management.

 

The SSF consists of three Core Groups, namely

  • Industry Core Group

  • Agriculture Core Group

  • Urban Core Group

 

Industry Core Group

 

As a result of more than four years’ endeavour in addressing the pollution problems in the four industrial areas around Ahmedabad, ‘SSF Industry Core Group (SSF-ICG)’ was formed in November, 2003. It has a representation from the four industrial associations, CETPs, NGOs like CERC, CSJ and VIKSAT, government departments like GPCB, AMC, AUDA and Gujarat Water Resource Department and farmers from the affected villages. In addition it also has some advocates, scientists, architects, engineers, geologists and social scientists having keen interest in the whole movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture Core Group

 

River basin water management demands proper utilisation of available water (both surface and sub-surface) to maintain equity distribution. Agriculture being the major user of water, the SSF-Agriculture Core Group was inaugurated by eminent agricultural scientist Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (Chairman, VIKSAT) on April 13, 2004. The Core Group would advise on issues related to agriculture and advocate for changes in policies in favour of farmers, especially the small and the marginal.

 

The SSF-Agriculture Core Group is formed with the objectives of :

•     Addressing the agriculture related problems of the farmers in North Gujarat and Kachchh

•     Providing support in transfer of technology as a catalyst

•     Creating awareness among the farmers regarding Govt. schemes

•     Analysing the feedback from the farmers and suggesting appropriate solutions

•     Suggesting for change in agriculture/ water policy

 

Chief Officers and directors of government agriculture departments, scientists from agriculture universities, boards and research institutes and representatives of agro/dairy industries and NGOs constitute this core group.

 

Continued dialogue between the stakeholders is the key to the efficacy of the Forum. VIKSAT as the Secretariat of the SSF has continued to arrange discussions and meetings with various stakeholders. The efforts have yielded some positive results in addressing the pollution issues. A very significant achievement was a suo motu application filed by a member-NGO of the SSF. The application was based on the discussions held in SSF meetings during which a working group was formed. This working group visited the polluted villages and presented a report to the SSF-Industry Core Group. This report formed the basis for admitting the application by the Gujarat High Court for suo motu action against polluting industries. As a result of High Court’s intervention in the matter, Gujarat Pollution Control Board ordered closure of more than 600 chemical industries of Vatva Industrial area for a week.

 

 

A ray of hope, at last!

Although people living along the polluted Khari river and canal struggled since 1978, they could not succeed in spite of filing two petitions during 1988 and 1989. Their confidence in their elected representatives, GPCB and the State Government machinery was at the lowest ebb. However, when the High Court took up their case and started issuing interim orders in favour of the victims, their hopes started rising. When the land mark judgement was delivered in 1995 in their favour, it re-established the faith of villagers in our democratic system. The strictures passed by the Court definitely made considerable impact; however, it was far from giving necessary relief because of a few industries continuing to discharge effluents into Khari River & canal disregarding the laws.

 

Again, the villagers approached the Court in the year 2004 but the case did not make any progress. However, when an NGO sent a letter with the documents of the meetings of the SSF Industry Core Group, the court felt it necessary to admit the application suo motu. As a result of High Court’s intervention in the matter, Gujarat Pollution Control Board ordered closure of more than 600 chemical industries of Vatva industrial area for a week.   

 

VIKSAT has continued to conduct meetings with residents of the affected villages and address their issues arising due to pollution in Khari River and Kharicut canal. We have also been arranging the trainings and workshops to address the problems emerging during various meetings. Recently such workshops for farmers were organized to address two issues: Participatory Irrigation Management and problems of intensive irrigation. We have also attempted to put the issue on larger forum by contributing a paper on “Unclogging the Khari River-stakeholders come together to halt pollution” talking about the issues, effects and way forward for the Khari river pollution in a special issue of Economic and Political Weekly on Water Conflicts in India.

 

Our efforts are also backed by basin-level researches. One of the researches just completed is on effect of checkdams constructed on two of the Sabarmati tributaries namely Luni and Dhamni on livelihood of the people. One more study is also in progress which is attempting to find out the public views on drinking water in Ahmedabad city.

 

As an effective means of addressing water scarcity, VIKSAT has been promoting Rainwater Harvesting since past 4-5 years. We have continued to provide consultancy services for rainwater harvesting to industries, individuals and housing societies. Popular articles are also published in the local dailies.

 

 

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