(THE GIST OF PIB) Environmental flow

(JULY-2025)

Environmental flow

• Recently, the Union Jal Shakti Minister led a comprehensive meeting focused on the environmental flow (e-flow) of the Ganga River and its tributaries.

About Environmental flow:

• 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.

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Courtesy: PIB