What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1 : Restore the Flow

Context: Yamuna pollution

Introduction: Delhi’s 22 km stretch accounts for 75% of the Yamuna’s total pollution, despite being a small fraction of its 1,400 km length. The river loses its environmental flow downstream of the Wazirabad Barrage.

Current State of Yamuna

• The Yamuna in Delhi is virtually non-existent as a freshwater river for most of the year.
• Carries wastewater from 20+ drains except during monsoon months.

Recent Developments & Political Context

• Parliamentary Report in March highlighted the river’s ecological collapse in Delhi.
• Election Focus: Yamuna’s pollution became a key issue during the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections.
• Centre and Delhi Government have launched a joint initiative to address pollution.
• Focus Areas: Restoring environmental flows and upgrading sewage infrastructure.

Key Components of the New Action Plan

• Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
  • Objective: Use treated water from STPs to revive the river’s ecological functions.
  • Proposed Actions
    • Discharge treated water downstream of Wazirabad and Okhla barrages.
    • Upgrade STP efficiency: Only 50% of Delhi’s STPs currently meet operational standards.
  • Political Collaboration: The new BJP government and Delhi administration aim to resolve past conflicts over STP upgrades.
  • Floodplain Management: Removing encroachments on floodplains.

Challenges & Limitations

• Technical & Operational Hurdles
  • STP Reliability: Chronic inefficiency of existing plants. Past upgrade delays due to political disagreements.
  • Treated water is not freshwater
    • STP-treated water cannot replace freshwater needed for aquatic ecosystems.
    • Environmental flows require natural freshwater, not just treated sewage.
  • Gaps in the Current Plan
    • Rainwater Harvesting: No clear linkage between rainwater use and reducing Yamuna dependence.
    • Ecosystem Restoration: Limited focus on wetland refurbishment and catchment area management.
  • Historical Precedent: Past initiatives have failed due to poor execution and lack of sustained political will.

Way Forward: Long-Term Solutions

• Rainwater Management
  • Harvesting: Integrate rainwater harvesting systems to reduce reliance on Yamuna.
  • Floodplain Revival: Expand focus beyond encroachment removal to include aquifer recharge and biodiversity restoration.
• Ecosystem-Centric Approach
  • Wetlands & Catchments: Prioritize restoration of natural water bodies and catchment areas.
  • Freshwater Inflows: Ensure minimum environmental flow through policy interventions (e.g. releasing water from upstream barrages).
• Public Awareness & Governance
  • Community Participation: Engage citizens in pollution control and conservation efforts.
  • Interagency Coordination: Strengthen collaboration between central and state agencies.

Conclusion: The new plan is a positive step but lacks holistic strategies for freshwater revival and ecosystem health. The Yamuna’s revival hinges on balancing immediate infrastructure fixes with long-term ecological restoration.

 

Editorial 2 : The Opening Salvo

Context: Pahalgam Attack

Key Details of the Pahalgam Attack

• Communal Nature: Victims were targeted based on religion. Non-Muslims unable to recite Islamic prayers (Kalma) were executed.
• Pan-India Anger: Victims hailed from multiple states, amplifying nationwide outrage.

General Asim Munir’s Role and Motivations

• Tenure and Political Context
  • Asim Munir served as ISI Chief during Pulwama (2019) and is currently Pakistan’s Army Chief.
  • His 3-year tenure ends in November 2025, an extension likely tied to domestic political manoeuvres.
• Provocative Rhetoric
  • His speech on April 16 invoked the two-nation theory and called Kashmir Pakistan’s jugular vein.
  • It is perceived as a bid to rally support for his extension by escalating tensions with India.
• Suspected Motivations
  • Domestic Diversion
    • Declining popularity of Pakistan’s military due to Imran Khan’s influence and unrest in Punjab.
    • Security crises in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) undermining army credibility.
  • Provoking Indian Retaliation: Aimed to trigger a controlled Indian response (as after Uri/Pulwama) to consolidate domestic support.

India’s Strategic Response

• Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) Suspension
  • India halts water-sharing under IWT until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably renounces terrorism.
  • Strategic Impact: Targets Pakistan’s agricultural economy. 80% of Pakistan is dependent on Indus water.
• Diplomatic Actions: Visa suspensions, reduced diplomatic engagement.

Implications for Pakistan

• Immediate Risks
  • Disrupted irrigation (80% reliance on Indus) threatens crop yields and food security.
  • Dry season vulnerability due to India’s control over flow scheduling.
• Infrastructure Limitations
  • Only 3 major dams (Tarbela, Mangla, Chashma) with 9.7% storage capacity, compared to global average of 40%.
  • Groundwater depletion: Indus basin aquifer is the world’s second-most stressed.
• Domestic Political Fallout
  • Limited capacity to counter India’s water control due to inadequate storage infrastructure.
  • Escalation risks: Pakistan’s nuclear posture complicates conventional conflict scenarios.

Pakistan’s Retaliation and Limitations

• Countermeasures Announced
  • Suspension of bilateral agreements (Shimla Accord, trade, airspace access).
  • Threat of military retaliation if water flows are disrupted.
• Strategic Weaknesses
  • Limited capacity to counter India’s water control due to inadequate storage infrastructure.
  • Escalation risks: Pakistan’s nuclear posture complicates conventional conflict scenarios.

Conclusion: Non-kinetic measures by India mark the opening salvo, further actions like infrastructure development to control western rivers are likely to follow. Water scarcity could trigger internal migration, economic collapse, and further insurgencies in Pakistan. Pak Army’s credibility is at stake amid growing public disillusionment and Imran Khan’s popularity.