India gives legal human status to two of its oldest rivers
This is a rarity. And it has happened twice within a week.
After New Zealand granted Whanganui River the status of a human being, India's done it for two of its oldest, longest and most iconic rivers: Ganga and Yamuna.
SEE ALSO: River receives the same rights as a human in 'world first' settlement
In a landmark ruling by the Uttarakhand High Court in northern India, the Ganga and its longest tributary, Yamuna, have been declared “legal and living entities having the status of a legal person with all corresponding rights, duties and liabilities."
This essentially means that if anyone is polluting the rivers, it amounts to harming a human being and thus, invites legal action.
"The rivers are central to the existence of half of the Indian population and their health and well-being. They have provided both physical and spiritual sustenance to all of us from time immemorial," the ruling said.
The Ganga and Yamuna are among the most revered rivers in India's art, culture and mythology. The Ganga, in fact, has been accorded 'Mother' status for ages. And the Yamuna flows through the national capital of Delhi supplying water to its 20 million residents.
The conservation of the Ganga has been a key project for the Indian government. The National Mission for Clean Ganga set up by the Centre oversees projects related to it. Most recently, the government approved significant budgets for the purpose.
The decision to humanize rivers has invited mixed reactions on social media. While some have welcomed it, others have been a tad critical and snarky.
And there are hilarious concerns too: Do the rivers have to pay taxes now?
Since Ganga has the same rights as a Human Being, will there be any swachh Bharat tax for Ganga also?
— Arjun Ganesh (@GGani33) March 21, 2017
Hope she's treated better than humans! River #Ganga has the same rights as a human being https://t.co/jD5gfrMTHX pic.twitter.com/ubOH3XZY6Q"
— Shoma Chakraborty (@theshahofblah) March 20, 2017
I truly am heartened by the news that the Whanganui, the Ganges & the Yamuna rivers are being accorded the rights of the living. #wisdom
— Kate (@orientikate) March 22, 2017
@cnni This might incite a hope in the minorities in India to have their human rights restored in entirety
— Yasir khan (@Khan_yasir17) March 23, 2017
A river in North India to have the same fundamental rights as a human being.
Congratulations , Water! You beat Muslims and Dalits to it!— ☭ Comrade Nambiar ☭ (@DasBolshevik) March 21, 2017
Can someone please confirm if the court gave the #Ganga the status of a *DEAD* human being rather than an *alive* human being? #Semantics
— #DestroyTheAadhaar (@godavar) March 20, 2017
Since Ganga and Yamuna are human now the sewage flowing into them is just a golden shower? #Ganga #Yamuna #kinky
— Marendra Noddy (@capt_hinsight) March 23, 2017
@IndiaToday Ecuador included this (Rights of Nature) in their Constitution. Didn't seem very effective in approach. Hope we do it better.
— Srikara Prasad (@SrikaraPrasad) March 22, 2017
All the best, India!