NRCD - National River Conservation Directorate - Asked us to contact national mission for clean Ganga (NMCG), Minstry of water resources on August-19-2016
Gomti Riverfront Lucknow - Its so confusing who does what from the environment ministry website, National River Conservation Directorate looks like a body which works or has influence over the river bodies in India and at least seems like a logical choice to ask questions. Its roaster contains an eminent list of river scientists and experts, still the report only got a luke-warm response along with pointer to reach out to another department. Why the report can't be transferred internally and citizen can get a cohesive response. Moreover isn't it the job of the scientists and administration working in these department to work together and come out with something other than the bureaucratic response.
It seemed like these kind of violations are getting like a norm in India, with bureaucracy working in pretty much defeated apathy. Thinking about it, if I'm a career scientist on water system in India I wouldn't just forward this report, would definitely go a few more steps to see this matter reaches right conclusion. It might be happening so, we will know when NCGM responds.
The point is this wheels under wheels approach in governance is dragging the whole country down, in 2014 a rule change took all the powers from NRCD to NCGM and plenty of more departments. Of course its not the job of ministry to educate every citizen of the changes and how to understand them, but can't there be a nodal coordinator to whome NRCD official (Director in this case) transferred the report to respond in an appropriate manner. Instead of now the Citizen doing it with another department, and then another department and then between officers.
Its the same story everywhere in India and with all our experiences, be it Right to Information research or asking information on drainage systems, road systems, schools, hospitals. The story is same of deflections, not responding, wrong, incomplete responses, lots of follow ups, pleadings, bickering and time wastage. It seems like there is a massive monopoly on information and there is no way civil society can get right and timely information to work or intervene with any small or big issue in their communities.
We are a group of young folks, trying our best, but people with power and authority need to do a bit more if India has to sustain with its huge population and daily getting scarce resources.
We were hoping the scientists from NRCD will take the matter of Gomti Riverfront forward, but no worries we will now go to NMCG. Its feels like a roller coaster ride.
How you can help
If you are a responsible authority and willing to go a few steps further to save this major river system, and for the matter many such more river systems please feel free to use this research on gomti riverfront to act on this issue. If you find any information is missing, or can add to the research, please contact coordinators@ballotboxindia.com.
If you know someone who has authority or responsibility and can help, please forward the research to him/her.
If you think you should take an action but don't know how, please share it in your networks, and sign the appeal, you never know if might just reach a few more good people helping the team with the effort.
If you have a few hours a week and see a river or water system under stress in your communities, please contact coordinators@ballotboxindia.com to register your interest, our system is built to support such initiatives and create long term incentives for concerned citizens. Our coordinators will be happy to work with you on taking the issue further.
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Rakesh Prasad 54
NRCD - National River Conservation Directorate - Asked us to contact national mission for clean Ganga (NMCG), Minstry of water resources on August-19-2016
Gomti Riverfront Lucknow - Its so confusing who does what from the environment ministry website, National River Conservation Directorate looks like a body which works or has influence over the river bodies in India and at least seems like a logical choice to ask questions. Its roaster contains an eminent list of river scientists and experts, still the report only got a luke-warm response along with pointer to reach out to another department. Why the report can't be transferred internally and citizen can get a cohesive response. Moreover isn't it the job of the scientists and administration working in these department to work together and come out with something other than the bureaucratic response.
It seemed like these kind of violations are getting like a norm in India, with bureaucracy working in pretty much defeated apathy. Thinking about it, if I'm a career scientist on water system in India I wouldn't just forward this report, would definitely go a few more steps to see this matter reaches right conclusion. It might be happening so, we will know when NCGM responds.
The point is this wheels under wheels approach in governance is dragging the whole country down, in 2014 a rule change took all the powers from NRCD to NCGM and plenty of more departments. Of course its not the job of ministry to educate every citizen of the changes and how to understand them, but can't there be a nodal coordinator to whome NRCD official (Director in this case) transferred the report to respond in an appropriate manner. Instead of now the Citizen doing it with another department, and then another department and then between officers.
Its the same story everywhere in India and with all our experiences, be it Right to Information research or asking information on drainage systems, road systems, schools, hospitals. The story is same of deflections, not responding, wrong, incomplete responses, lots of follow ups, pleadings, bickering and time wastage. It seems like there is a massive monopoly on information and there is no way civil society can get right and timely information to work or intervene with any small or big issue in their communities.
We are a group of young folks, trying our best, but people with power and authority need to do a bit more if India has to sustain with its huge population and daily getting scarce resources.
We were hoping the scientists from NRCD will take the matter of Gomti Riverfront forward, but no worries we will now go to NMCG. Its feels like a roller coaster ride.How you can help
If you are a responsible authority and willing to go a few steps further to save this major river system, and for the matter many such more river systems please feel free to use this research on gomti riverfront to act on this issue. If you find any information is missing, or can add to the research, please contact coordinators@ballotboxindia.com.
If you know someone who has authority or responsibility and can help, please forward the research to him/her.
If you think you should take an action but don't know how, please share it in your networks, and sign the appeal, you never know if might just reach a few more good people helping the team with the effort.
If you have a few hours a week and see a river or water system under stress in your communities, please contact coordinators@ballotboxindia.com to register your interest, our system is built to support such initiatives and create long term incentives for concerned citizens. Our coordinators will be happy to work with you on taking the issue further.