People and river’s voices sadly ignored

It is a fact that nature has existed long before us. Unfortunately, she has been abused, bullied, and at times treated badly. It has continued that way as, for most of us, nature has no say. But that may change from now. At least in some parts of the world where nature, particularly rivers, is gaining more recognition.

As reported by the foreign media, a few rivers have recently been granted legal rights. It means those who care enough can speak up for them.

Last week, the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in the northern state of Uttarakhand in India were granted legal rights as people by the high court in the city of Nainital.

According to a report by The Guardian, judges said the Ganges and Yamuna rivers and their tributaries would be “legal and living entities having the status of a legal person with all corresponding rights, duties and liabilities”.

A few days before that, Maori people won recognition for Whanganui River in New Zealand, which means it must be treated as a living entity, after 140 years of negotiation.

The lead negotiator told the media that the recognition was necessary because the indigenous people always consider the river to be their ancestor.

Despite the immediate legal effect, things will not immediately change. For, in the case in India, it is impossible to stop the discharge immediately. As the most important and sacred river in India, the Ganges River has been revered by more than one billion Indians, we can also imagine how the river is used for different purposes including bathing, drinking and irrigation.

And although some local people would say the national drainage policy is strongly needed for India to keep its rivers clean (according to some reports, a section of the Yamuna River in Delhi has 22 sewage treatment plants but none of them are fully functioning).

And though they are uncertain if the law will be strictly enforced, at least it’s a good start for authorities in realising the importance of the river who can’t defend herself.

The legal rights grant the rivers the status of living human entities which means polluting or damaging the rivers is legally equivalent to harming a person.

While India and New Zealand have made some progress, our country still lags behind.

Like Indians, Thais revere our Chao Phraya, which is the life vein of the country. Yet, we often forget to recognise its importance, and at times we just bully it.

Hailed as the river of the country, there are millions of people, those living by it and and in nearby areas, who benefit from the water source in many ways in consumption and ritualistic purposes.

At some point, it was called “the River of Kings” as it served as the main waterway in the capital of the Rattanakosin era for more than two centuries.

But we seem not to treat the great river very well. Even the loy krathong ritual, which aims to pay respect to the river, simply ends up hurting it.

Now the river is facing a major threat by the state and City Hall which has decided to go ahead with its riverside promenade project despite concerns by academics and environmentalists that it will be a mega eyesore, and damage the ecological system of the river.

The project, to double as a wall that is meant to keep the city dry during the rainy season, will have a social impact as riverine communities are being booted out of their homes to pave the way for the construction.

Despite ongoing opposition from residents along the river, experts and environmentalists, the state and BMA do not pay heed to the people’s views.

Instead, the BMA will begin the bidding process for the project next month so that construction, which has already been delayed a few times, can commence this July.

There are four contracts for the 8.5-billion-baht project. Two for the Bangkok side, and the other two for Thon Buri. According to the plan, construction of the project is due to be completed by the end of 2019.

The Chao Phraya promenade case makes us realise that the state treats people and nature similarly — it ignores both. While not allowing people who care for the river to have a say, it has never listened to nature.

While India and New Zealand have made some progress, our country still lags behind.