1. Second Meeting of the E-Flow Group Thursday, June 2, 2011 Civil Engineering Committee Room Block IV, IIT Delhi

2. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda 1. Confirmation of the minutes of the First Meeting. 2. Action Taken Report 3. Discussion on the First Report to be submitted (Comments Received from Dr Sharad Jain, Mr Paritosh Tyagi, Dr N Balaji, Dr Mukund Behera, Mr Ravindra Kumar 4. Involvement and Support of World Bank Team. 5. Request from MOEF 6. Updates and road map for completion of the work on E Flow. 1. Tasks and Timeline for Working Groups 2. Selection of locations for E Flow Estimation on River Ganga 7. Any other matter.

3. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 1: Confirmation of the Minutes of the First MeetingMinutes

4. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 2: Action Taken Report 1. First Report on State-of-the-Art on E Flow Estimation with specific reference to Rivers in the Ganga Basin 2. Definition of E Flow by Working Group (Included in the First Report) 3. Follow-up of discussions regarding consultancy assignment proposed by MOEF. 4. River Cross-Section Data: Work started on 84 Locations! 5. Involvement of SWaRA

5. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 3: Discussion on the First Report to be submitted (Comments Received from Dr Sharad Jain, Mr Paritosh Tyagi, Dr N Balaji, Dr Mukund Behera, Mr Ravindra Kumar)

6. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: SKJ/IITR 1. I thank the authors for bringing out the first version of the E- Flow report. 2. The write up appears to be highly motivated by O'Keeffe and Quesne (2009) and papers by Tharme and Arlington. In fact many sentences are same as given in these references. It would be desirable to take care of this and avoid verbatim reproduction. 3. Many useful and relevant works such as those by Acreman do not find a place in the report. 4. The definition of E-flows proposed in the report includes a new aspect (sediment). It is not clear how to ensure that "appropriate" quantity of sediment flows in a river. The proposed definition needs to be discussed in the meeting in greater details.

7. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi 5. The report has very briefly described the methods to estimate E-flows. I suggest that we should discuss the methods in greater details and this should be main focus of this report. 6. It would help if the trade-offs (conservation vs development) involved in E-flow are highlighted, possibly with the help of a diagram. 7. The report mentions about a software from IWMI for estimation of E-flows. It would be helpful to describe the method followed in the software. Rather than stating the disclaimer of the software, the report should give our assessment of its strengths/ weaknesses. Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: SKJ/IITR

8. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi 8. Results of a WWF study are given in pages 18-20. I have some comments on these results: a. It is not clear as to which scenario the natural flows pertain to? b. In the lean season when the present flow is much less than proposed E-flow, from where the additional water will come? By reducing existing allocations - which ones and by how much ? c. Are the proposed flows implementable? This group is expected to give an implementable management plan and this aspect is also important. d. Was some consultation done with the society, as stated elsewhere in the report and what are their views? e. When the WRM group makes E-Flow assessments, our results might be different than these and it might create troubles at that stage. f. Since the inclusion of these figures implies some sort of endorsement from IIT Group, we need to be careful in reproducing these figures in our report. Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: SKJ/IITR

9. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi General 1. The draft is very well written. However, the logic of the text is somewhat upset by concluding the report after a review of information available on e-flow estimation in Ganga Basin, without recommending a definite methodology for Ganga Basin. The Global Environmental low Calculator and Building Block Methodology are both suggested. At the end, no definite recommendation is made. I suggest that a specific section on Recommendation may be created. 2. The sets of words ‘environmental flow’ and ‘environmental flows’ have different connotation. The use of these words up to the middle of page 5 in the report does not seem to reflect the relevance to such connotation. The distinction needs to be made quite clear at an early stage before the suggested definition. 3. Is it possible to provide a worked example at a site on the Ganga, say Tehri or Narora, to provide actionable guidance ? Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: PCT

10. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Contents 1. Near the bottom of page 6, ‘ground water recharge’ is mentioned, while referring to points stated earlier. First, there is apparently no prior reference to this topic. Secondly, groundwater recharge may naturally occur but it does not seem to be included in any of the objectives or requirements of e-flow. 2. “The concept of E Flow has been rarely used for rivers in the Ganga basin.” This sentence on page 16 gives an incorrect impression. As far as I know, the concept of E-flow has not been used in the Ganga Basin. Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: PCT

11. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Editorial 1. In the paragraph below the table on page 16, consider the word ‘validity’ in place of ‘viability’. 2. “Demography has an important bearing on the state of river Ganga, as it is significantly affected by the population living within the basin.” This sentence in the second para on page 16 may be reviewed because demography is all about population and its dynamics. Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: PCT

12. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Suggestions for Technical Corrections: 1. As Prof. S. K. Jain rightly pointed out, I have concerns about including the sediment aspect as well in the E-flow definition. Given the time line, it will not be possible to study the sediment flow as part of this project. Having adequate water flow to meet the ecosystem requirement is much more important. Let's hope that this flow will also ensure adequate sediment flow corresponding to its stream power. 2. I have similar views on the Global Environmental Flow Calculator (GEFC) of IWMI as expressed by Prof. Jain. GEFC was never used in Ganga, so this need not be mentioned in greater detail in section 6 which is reviewing the work done on Ganga. Rather GEFC could be briefly described as an example within the "Hydrology based" method in section Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: Nbala/IITM

13. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Suggestions for Technical Corrections: 3. After some introductory remarks, section 6 can start directly with the WWF work. 3.Which "Holistic method" was used in the WWF work? BBM method or a modification of it? This is not explicitly stated in the report. It would be important to state this 4. Figure 3.E Flow Estimates for Zone II. During July and August, a high flow is also prescribed in addition to low flow maintenance. Should the highly flow regime not be exceeded or at least that much of high flow should occur possibly for some spawning activities of fish? If it is the former, are we to suggest construction of some control structures to reduce the peak flows as well? Please correct me if my understanding of the figure is wrong. 5. The next report on e-flow could be on BBA and how we are going to adapt it for Ganga with detailed methodology and expected outcomes, which group is going to supply what inputs to the e-flow group etc., Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: Nbala/IITM

14. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Suggestions for Editorial corrections: 1. Page 5, Reword "Considering this...." as "Considering these aspects, the following definition...." 2. Page 7, Para 3 and 4 could be removed. Many of the definitions and statements have been already covered in the previous page. 3. Page 8, Habitat Simulation; reword the first sentence as..."Habitat simulation methods are advancements over hydraulic rating methodologies". Comments/Suggestions: First Draft Report: Nbala/IITM

15. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 4: Involvement and Support of World Bank According to the Brisbane Declaration (2007), ‘Environmental Flow describes the quantity, quality and timing of water flows required to sustain freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on these ecosystems’. While water quality is a primary concern for the Ganga and its many tributaries, the river system is also facing a serious problem of reduced flow conditions in many stretches. The reduced flow conditions lead to varying degree of ecosystem impacts in these rivers. In order to achieve the mandate of restoring wholesomeness in the Ganga and its tributaries, it is important to assess the ecological flow requirements and explore strategies for establishing and maintaining them. Background and Objective

16. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Background and Objective The purpose of this consultancy ‘Approaches to Establishing and Maintaining Environmental Flows in the Ganga’ is to initiate the integration of environmental flows in the design of the proposed National Ganga River Basin Project in particular, and in the NGRBA program in general. Accordingly, the main objectives of this consultancy are to compile the available knowledge base on water use environmental resources and environmental flows for the Ganga; to convene the stakeholders for outlining the issues and opportunities for establishing and maintaining environment flows; and to prepare the Terms of Reference for the comprehensive assessment of environmental flow needs and pragmatic approaches for implementation in the Ganga basin.

17. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Scope of work Task 1: Compilation of relevant available knowledge base a) The consultant is expected to develop an overall understanding of the Ganga river system and its major tributaries, including the flow regime during high and low flows and will collect the complete knowledge base available on water use, environmental resources and environmental flows for the River Ganga. This will include literature survey of available official data, technical papers, studies, surveys, publications, assessment reports, research thesis and other miscellaneous references, published in India and elsewhere, on the subject of environmental flows and their implications for various environmental resources pertaining to the Ganga. b) The information on environmental resources should cover all resources which are conceivably linked to the flows in the Ganga system. These would include, but are not limited to aquatic and riparian environment biodiversity; natural or culturally significant areas (protected or unprotected); river morphology, populations with their dependent livelihoods and usage on river flows and water quality, etc.

18. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Scope of work Task 2: E-flow objectives for Ganga River System c) An assessment of Ganga basin water use, by respective sectors and states, and its evolution with time, would be included in this task. d) The task will include: understanding the key uses of the Ganga river system in spatial context, including key information relating to abstractive uses, bathing ghats, irrigation systems, in-stream uses, industries, ground water, hydro power generation, storage etc. which impact or could be impacted by e-flow regimes, identify existing and evolving threats to maintain low flow objective in different parts of the system.

19. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Scope of work Task 4: Institutional analysis of environmental flows in the Ganga h. The consultant will conduct an institutional analysis for Ganga basin water use and flow regimes, covering the pertinent legislative, regulatory, and administrative aspects. i. This will cover an analysis of existing legislations, tribunal awards, and regulatory requirements; as well as enumeration of the various agencies at central, state and local levels involved in the management of Ganga flows and water use, along with their respective mandates and roles. This will also identify institutional and policy issues that would need to be addressed in order to effectively manage e-flows. j. Based on the above, the consultant will prepare a list of relevant stakeholders on environmental flows for the Ganga.

20. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Scope of work Task 4:Institutional analysis of environmental flows in the Ganga k. Consultant will develop detailed scope of work for additional work to be conducted by NGRBA to effectively manage e-flows. Consultant shall extend assistance in formulating a framework/TOR for carrying out further comprehensive consultancy for establishing e-flows by NGRBA. The framework/TOR shall be mutually discussed and finalised. l. Consultant for the instant consultancy shall extend all necessary assistance/support as and when required by NGRBA, while the comprehensive consultancy is being carried out.

21. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Scope of work Task 5: Stakeholder workshops m) The consultant’s draft report on 1(a)-(c)), 2(c)-(d), 3(e)-(g),and 4(h)- (l) above will form the basis for at least two stakeholder workshops to be organized by the consultant, where the issue of maintaining e- flows in the river shall be discussed with the relevant stakeholders identified as above. n) The focus of these workshops will be to assess opportunities for developing pragmatic approaches for determining and implementing environmental flows for the Ganga The consultant will be required to provide excellent facilitation skills for the workshops.

22. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Scope of work Task 5: Stakeholder workshops o) Based on above, the consultant will prepare in advance of these workshops a draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for comprehensive assessment of environmental flow needs in the Ganga, and pragmatic strategies for implementing them. The stakeholder workshops will be structured to seek stakeholder review and inputs for this ToR. p) In addition to the two stakeholder workshops mentioned above, the consultant will facilitate NGRBA to organize an international workshop on establishing and implementing environmental flow for the Ganga, involving national and international expertise on environmental flows. The objective of the workshop will be to seek expert inputs on the national & international experience in the area of e-flow management and with specific focus on finalizing the ToR for comprehensive assessment of environmental flow needs and pragmatic strategies for implementing them.

23. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 5: Request from MOEF Request Letter PIL

24. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 6: Updates and road map for completion of the work on E Flow: a) Tasks and Timeline for Working Groups b) Selection of locations for E Flow Estimation on River Ganga c) Preparation of Starter Documents by Various Groups Agenda Item 6: Any other matter.

25. e - f l o w June 2, 2011 @ IIT Delhi Agenda Item 7 Any Other Matter