Hydronarratives: The Confluence of Water and Environmental Justice

Is there still Hope?

The erosion of the Ganges River is a multifaceted crisis that exemplifies the hidden violence embedded in high modernist development practices. Through the lens of slow violence, infrastructural violence, and necropolitics, this paper has sought to unravel the complex web of ecological, social, and political factors contributing to the river’s decline. The failure of government initiatives, the marginalization of vulnerable communities, and the destruction of animal life all point to the urgent need for a more holistic and ecologically sensitive approach to development.
Moving forward, addressing the crisis will require not only technological solutions but also a rethinking of the governance structures that have perpetuated the river’s degradation. By recognizing the Ganges as a site of slow violence and necropolitics, policymakers can begin to address the root causes of the pollution and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all who depend on the river. This will require a shift away from high modernist ideals of development, which prioritize large-scale infrastructure projects and economic growth, towards a more holistic and community-based approach to environmental management.
As this paper has argued, the current trajectory of high modernist development not only perpetuates the degradation of the Ganges but also exacerbates the marginalization of those who rely on the river for their survival. The intertwined fates of human and non-human life in the Ganges basin underscore the necessity of rethinking development practices to prioritize the health of both people and the environment. Only by addressing the root causes of the Ganges’ decline and adopting a more inclusive and sustainable approach to governance can we hope to reverse the slow violence that has plagued this sacred river for decades. The future of the Ganges depends on the ability of Indian society to reconcile its spiritual reverence for the river with the need for sustainable and equitable environmental governance. The Ganges is not just a river; it is a living entity that sustains life in all its forms. Protecting the Ganges is not just an environmental imperative, but a moral and ethical one, with far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of millions of people and the ecosystems they depend on.

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