Climate change and river water pollution: An application to the Ganges in Kanpur

Abstract

We provide a theoretical framework to analyze how climate change influences the Ganges and how this influence affects pollution in the river caused by tanneries in Kanpur, India. We focus on two tanneries, and that are situated on the same bank of the Ganges in Kanpur. Both produce leather and leather production requires the use of noxious chemicals. Tannery is situated upstream from tannery Tannery leather production depends on labor use but tannery leather production depends on labor use, the chemical waste generated by tannery and the natural pollution absorbing capacity of the Ganges. In this setting, we perform four tasks. First, we construct a metric that measures the climate change induced mean reduction in the natural capacity of the Ganges to absorb pollution in the time interval Second, we use this metric and determine the equilibrium production of leather by both tanneries in the benchmark case in which there is no pollution. Third, we ascertain how the benchmark equilibrium is altered when tannery accounts for the negative externality foisted upon it by tannery Finally, we study the impact on leather production and on labor use when the two tanneries merge and then discuss the policy implications stemming from our research.

Decentralized vs. Centralized Water Pollution Cleanup in the Ganges in a Model with Three Cities

“…Given the above observations, Batabyal and Beladi (2023) and Batabyal and Yoo (2023) have recently demonstrated how spillovers from the cleanup of water pollution in the Ganges in the two cities of Kanpur and Varanasi determine whether this cleanup ought to be centralized or decentralized.…”

“…The purpose of our paper is to extend this line of inquiry in two important ways. First, in both Batabyal and Beladi (2023) and Batabyal and Yoo (2023), the number of cities studied that undertake Ganges water pollution cleanup is two, namely, Kanpur and Varanasi. Yet, we know from the work of Sharma et al (2014), Shukla (2017), and Mani (2020) that the city of Prayagraj (formerly called Allahabad) which is situated in between Kanpur and Varanasi on the Ganges---10…”

“…That said, the spillovers studied by Batabyal and Beladi (2023) and Batabyal and Yoo (2023) are implicitly assumed to be positive. However, in general, there is no reason to believe that these spillovers must necessarily be positive.…”

Decentralized vs. Centralized Water Pollution Cleanup in the Ganges in a Model with Three Cities

“…The subject of water pollution regulation 9 in the Ganges caused by tanneries in Kanpur has lately been studied from several vantage points by Batabyal (2023), Batabyal and Yoo (2022), and Batabyal et al (2023b). Similarly, the topic of how pollution in the Ganges in Varanasi ought to be managed has been addressed by Batabyal and Beladi (2017, 2020 and Xing and Batabyal 5 Go to https://www.bqprime.com/business/why-kanpurs-tanneries-are-at-the-centre-of-a-fight-to-save-the-ganga for additional details on this point.…”

“…(2019). Batabyal et al (2023b) have examined the effect that global warming has on the regulation of pollution caused by the activities of tanneries in Kanpur. 10 In India, centralized planning has been the norm in water resources management for many decades.…”