Himachal Pradesh uses drones to map rivers

MANALI: Himachal Pradesh has started using drone cameras in its drive to save the rivers from pollution. Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) is using drones to check its seven major rivers and their tributaries for pollution with the help of videography.
Officials are bringing in record the garbage dumping sites, sewers opening in rivers and all places that are causing river pollution.In the initial stage, half of the Beas has been mapped using drone cameras.
Last year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had taken cognisance of a news article on 351 polluted river stretches noted by the Central Pollution Control Board and had asked government to improve the quality of the water.
Seven river stretches in Himachal Pradesh include Sukhana, Markanda, Beas, Sirsa, Ashwani, Pabbar and Giri. As these have become polluted, the state pollution control board has set a target of improving their water quality to class B (pure) in the upcoming years.
Already, 77km stretch of the Beas has been mapped and drone imagery reveals locations of garbage dumping, muck dumping, industrial areas, hotels and other sources of pollution along the river course. The river tributaries and their sources of pollution are also being videographed and photographed.
The videos show the colour of water, which is also a criteria to determine the level of pollution.
Besides throwing garbage and opening sewers into rivers, illegal muck dumping is a major source of pollution. Small industries in the state are adding to the pollution level. The anti-pollution initiative includes taking river water samples from different stretches and tributaries to determine the level of pollution. This will help the department compare the results with future samples and assess the impact of drive. A special task force set up for the purpose has already started working at multiple places. Although the drive has been initiated by the pollution board, all other departments have also been asked to make their action plans to bring down the water pollution.
HPSPCB environment engineer Pradeep Moudgil told TOI that they had already collected water samples and were mapping rivers with the help of drone cameras. “A special task force has been formed for the purpose,” he said.