Citizens’ engagement model for river rejuvenation: a case of ghaggar river in Panchkula

Abstract

Rivers have played a crucial role in the development of human civilization. They are serving not only as sources of water for sustenance but also as a cultural and spiritual symbols. Although rivers continue to be lifelines for settlements, but they have lost their ability to function naturally with urban expansion. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other organizations, 70% of the water in Indian rivers today—including large rivers like the Ganga and smaller ones like the Ghaggar—is contaminated by high levels of pollutants and contaminants. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the First Ganga Council Meeting identified the need for new thinking for river cities and the role of citizens. The Engagement of citizens in river protection, conservation and rejuvenation activities is necessary to veer from ‘citizens as spectators’ to ‘citizens as actors’. Malaysia's Inanam-Likas River basin rejuvenation by bank squatters and Rajasthan’s Arvari river revival using traditional techniques are one of the examples. Since 1985, significant progress has been made in river conservation in India, but government initiatives have primarily focused on conserving major rivers like the Ganga, with programs such as the Ganga Action Plan (GAP-I), GAP-II, Namami Gange, NRCP, RCUP, etc. This has resulted in neglect of small rivers like Ghaggar which declared in the category of high priority river for monitoring and restoration as per the 2022 assessment of CPCB. Therefore, this study aims to devise a model that encourages citizens’ participation in the rejuvenation of small urban rivers in addition to the agencies' and water authorities' efforts. Additionally, the research attempts to change the narrative of urban rivers from being treated as isolated entities to being an intricate part of the urban systems. The approach of the study is to first assess the present condition of Ghaggar River and functions adjoining to the selected river stretch within the limits of Panchkula Municipal Corporation. Next, it identifies suitable contextual indicators for citizen engagement while highlighting associated gaps. Finally, the study develops a context-specific citizens’ engagement model for the rejuvenation of the Ghaggar River that integrates physical restoration, infrastructure upgrades, community participation, and technological innovation. Key components include expanding sewage treatment capacity, restoring riverfront areas, constructing wetlands, and implementing water recharge systems. It also emphasizes continuous monitoring and adaptive management, supported by open-access data platforms and local river councils, to ensure long-term sustainability. The outcome of the model so formulated is citizens’ efforts integrated with government initiatives to create harmony and co-existence between people and urban river rejuvenation in the context of the selected river stretch.