| By: |
Batabyal, Amitrajeet;
Beladi, Hamid |
| Abstract: |
We study two probabilistic approaches to cleaning the Ganges river when the
underlying goal is to use the cleanup to sustain tourism in Varanasi, India.
The first approach models the idea that because resources are scarce and
cleanup is costly, not all pollutants in the Ganges can be removed. Therefore,
a cleaning agency first establishes a benefit-cost ratio rule and then it uses
this rule to remove from the Ganges only those pollutants whose removal
satisfies the ratio rule. In contrast, the second approach focuses on removing
all pollutants from the Ganges but the emphasis now is on the frequency of
cleanup given that pollutants accumulate temporally and hence water quality
deteriorates over time. Finally, we compare and contrast these two approaches
and discuss the connections between the two approaches and the sustainability
of tourism in Varanasi. |
| Keywords: |
Cleanup, Ganges River, Tourism, Uncertainty, Varanasi |
| JEL: |
L83 Q53 |
| Date: |
2018–03–03 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:86649&r=tur |