UPSC Mains 2013 GS Paper 3 Q20: model answer
Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions of management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?
What the question wants
Outline the National Water Policy, discuss strategies to control pollution of the Ganga, and state the legal provisions for hazardous waste.
How to structure it
Three parts as asked.
- National Water Policy 2012
- Ganga pollution strategies
- Hazardous waste law
How to think it through
NWP 1987, 2002, 2012: water as economic good after basic needs, priority to drinking water, integrated river basin management, ecological flow, water pricing, groundwater regulation, climate adaptation, water regulatory authority. Ganga: GAP 1985, NGRBA 2009, Namami Gange 2014; strategies: STPs, industrial ZLD, e-flow, riverfront, afforestation, ghats, crematoria, Ganga Praharis, real-time monitoring. Hazardous waste: EPA 1986 Rules 1989, now Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules 2016; Public Liability Insurance Act 1991; Basel Convention; Bio-medical, e-waste, batteries rules; polluter pays; NGT Act 2010.
Model answer
The Ganga supports about 40% of India's population, yet for decades its water in places like Kanpur was unfit even for bathing. Fixing it needs a water policy, a river plan and hazardous waste law working together.
National Water Policy (2012)
- Water is a common resource held in public trust.
- Priority to drinking water and sanitation, then food security.
- Integrated river basin planning.
- Ecological flow in rivers to sustain life.
- Groundwater to be regulated and recharged.
- Pricing to promote efficiency, with protection for the poor.
- Climate adaptation and water regulatory authorities in states.
Strategies for Ganga pollution
- Sewage treatment plants in towns along the river, under hybrid annuity PPP.
- Industrial pollution: zero liquid discharge for tanneries and distilleries, online monitoring.
- E-flows below dams and barrages.
- Solid waste and crematoria management at ghats.
- Afforestation and organic farming along the banks.
- Real-time water quality stations and a Ganga Task Force.
- The Ganga Authorities Order (2016) gave NMCG legal powers to act against polluters.
- Community action: Ganga Praharis and Ganga Mitras.
Legal provisions for hazardous waste
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 as the parent law.
- Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules, 2016: authorisation, storage, transport and disposal, and import controls under the Basel Convention.
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 for accidents.
- Separate rules for bio-medical, e-waste and battery waste.
- NGT enforces the polluter-pays principle.
A clean river needs clean towns, clean factories and clear laws.
Draw: The Ganga with markers: sewage, industry, ghats, with a fix for each.
Keywords, cases and data to drop in
NWP 2012, public trust, river basin, e-flows, GAP 1985, Namami Gange 2014, HAM STPs, ZLD, Ganga Praharis, EPA 1986, HOWM Rules 2016, Basel Convention, PLI Act 1991, NGT.
Where most answers lose marks
- Skipping the third part on hazardous waste.
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Question text as printed in the official UPSC Civil Services (Main) question paper. The model answer is original Battle IAS work; use it to learn structure, not to memorise.
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