E-mail me at this address: panditji@cseindia.org

Dear Bhavsar ji,
Interlinking or networking of rivers involves construction of dams and canals and other connected hydraulic engineering works for mass transfer of water across river basins. River interlinking projects may have many negative impacts on the environment. Some of them are listed below:
Loss of habitat: River interlinking lowers the water volume of the rivers and lakes in the water donor (the main source) zones. This may affect fish feeding and breeding habitats in the water bodies. The siltation load also increases. The floodplains and wetlands
connected with donor rivers may also be affected. It may also result in loss of coastal habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs, sea grasses, estuarine and delta regions.

Water quality changes: The changes in the flow regimes of the donor rivers affects their self-purifying functions. This may make the rivers more toxic and contaminated. The water quality of other connected waters may also change owing to changes in their sediment load, nutrients and contaminant levels.

Loss of biodiversity: The biodiversity of species, one distinct from that of other water bodies, gets affected. Endangered and endemic species face a greater threat. This may also cause loss and homogenisation of genetic diversity of fishes.

Changes in land-ocean interactions: Rivers provide energy for a number of life processes in down stream estuaries, delta and coastal areas. Interlinking of rivers may alter the timing and quantity of river discharge into the sea. This may, in turn, alter the land-ocean interactions and coastal fisheries. A study conducted by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, on ‘Impact of dams on river into sea and changes in the coastal waters’ has revealed that decrease in river discharge into the sea will adversely affect the water chemistry and productivity of coastal waters and the estuarine fisheries.

Dear Pandit Ji,
What do Euro II or Bharat II mean (in cars)? What happens to the car if it fails pollution test?

Sanjay
Via e-mail

Dear Sanjay Ji,
Euro-I and Euro-II are European automobile emission standards that have been used as paradigms by our Government to formulate similar stringent emission standards that Indian automobile manufacturers have been mandated to comply with. The equivalent Indian standards are Bharat Stage I and Bharat Stage II. These standards specify the maximum amount of constituents such as Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen oxide compounds that the car’s exhaust can emit.
 

If a car fails pollution test, it is put off the road by the government.