Sociocultural Dimensions in Water Resources Management: Policies, Practices, and Challenges critically explores the complex challenges of ensuring sustainable development and effective water governance
For better management and improved access, there are several tools and instruments available to the water manager. This training manual focuses on economic and financial instruments. Economic instruments provide incentives for more efficient water use, either in terms of reduction of water quantity or increasing
Punjab takes up the challenge THE repair of a canal normally would not have attracted much notice but for the fact that it is for the first time since Independence that a government in Punjab has undertaken to revamp the dilapidated canal system. The embankments along a 25-km stretch of the Patiala feeder, which irrigates large parts of Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa districts, have been strengthened and 4-5 feet of silt has been removed from its bed within just three weeks at a reduced cost of Rs 25 crore. It shows that collective effort and can-do attitude with right motivation from the top can work wonders. The canal network in Punjab has been in bad shape for long. Because of high levels of silt accumulating over the years and broken embankments, the water supply in the canals has sharply reduced. As a result, the area under canal irrigation has come down from 42 per cent in 1990-91 to 28 per cent now. The farmers at the tail-end of the canals are the worst sufferers. They have to depend more on tubewells, particularly in view of the increased cultivation of paddy. Besides, seepage from the ill-maintained canals has aggravated the problem of water-logging in the Malwa region. Political posturing and social conflicts over water issues notwithstanding, not much has been done either in Punjab or Haryana to preserve the existing water resources. Lack of funds due to Punjab's precarious financial condition and the non-levy of user-charges due to policies of appeasement have hit canal maintenance work. Realising the gravity of the situation, the Punjab government has formulated a Rs 3,243-crore plan to repair canals, check water-logging, control floods and recharge ground water. This is commendable, but is not enough. A mass movement is required to conserve and revive water resources, harvest rainwater and encourage the use of sprinklers and drip irrigation to overcome water shortages in the long run.
The National Water Award and the Bhoomijal Samvardhan Puraskar-2007 were awarded by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India in September 2007 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
With a click of the mouse, you can obtain plenty of information on any. topic, from the internet. Knowing the English language is necessary in most cases - but not so in the case of this portal - www.indiawater-portal.org/kannada. The water portal, which is co-ordinated by Arghyam, a non profit trust headed by Rohini Nilekani, supplies information - in Kannada -on various aspects of water. It was formally launched by K Jairaj, Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, here on Friday Arghyam launched the portal in January this year, and intends to launch more vernacular portals. The Kannada portal, which is totally funded by the trust to the tune of Rs one crore, is also a forum for citizens to air their views concerns and suggestions on water-related issues. The content has been developed by involving practitioners and experts in the field. The government, which has data on water and its related projects, should upload its in: formation on the new website, suggested Ms Nilekani. Interactive forum Trust CEO Sunita Nadhamuni said the website will serve as an interactive forum where discussions, debate and exchange can happen. Citizens can post questions related to water issues, which will be answered by water professionals. Jairaj said that Karnataka has to do a lot of work on accessibility of water, its quality and sustainability. Various projects to improve water supply to villages have been taken up and the government would welcome social audit of the same.
Ten ideas for sustainable water management in layouts and apartments Play it safe: Check quality of water before use. As urbanisation spreads, layouts with individual sites and apartments are coming up all around our cities. It is clear that the mere presence of a large overhead tank or a brochure promising 24 hours water supply is not sufficient enough for buyers to be convinced that they will have water when they need it. What are the key questions that a potential site buyer or apartment owner should ask regarding water before making the big investment decision? What are the 10 key things that a developer has to address before a potential owner is satisfied with the way things are handled with water and its sustainability? 1) What is the source/s of water and how sustainable are they in the long run? Clearly multiple sourcing of water has come to stay. Water will be sourced through city mainlines, borewells, private tankers, bottled water and recycled water. How does one know that this mix is stable and will be available all through the year? Quality 2) What is the quality of water in the borewell? What are the treatment systems for the various waters sourced? As borewells are the main source of water in the periphery of the cities, the quality of water from them becomes important. What are the measures of monitoring water quality for everybody to know and take action accordingly. 3) What is the dependency of supply during failures of electricity on site? Are there back up generators or overhead tanks to assure you that water will be available even when there is no electricity? 4) Does the layout have sewage collection and treatment plants? Is it ensuring a quality of water high enough for it to be reused for at least non-potable purpose thus reducing demand on higher quality water? 5) Does the layout have rainwater harvesting systems? Has it put into place good rainwater harvesting systems to either collect or recharge water for reuse? Is this being measured or is this only a token gesture? 6) Is the storm water collected and recharged? Storm water drains can pick up, treat and recharge the groundwater so that it can be drawn again from open wells or bore wells for use. Is this system designed well and is it working? Are there measurements for its success? 7) What is the landscape plan to minimise water consumption? Does the landscape demand high water use? Will this cause water problems such as over draw from the ground water or high bills for private water tankers? 8) Are there separate water meters for each site and each flat? Will the system reward me for low water use and punish those who use more of it? This will only be possible if individual connections are metered and bills served individually. 9) Is there a good garbage management plan for the entire layout/apartments? Weak collection and disposal of waste is a problem that contaminates not only the landscape but also surface water and groundwater. Have adequate precautions and systems been put in place, for example, for source segregation composting and recycling. S.Viswanath, Bangalore
The conclusions of the recent report of the Planning Commission's expert group on groundwater management and ownership, from an earth-science perspective, are poorly informed and simplistic. The report is conspicuous in its failure to seek counsel from the nation's scientific, professional and public institutions that have expertise and interest in a wise utilisation of groundwater resources. Feb 16-22, 2008
Systems for management of water throughout the developed world have been designed and operated under the assumption of stationarity. Stationarity-the idea that natural systems fluctuate within an unchanging envelope of variability-is a foundational concept that permeates training and practice in water-resource engineering.
This paper aims to raise awareness and capacity among member organizations of the Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO) and their interested groups on the issues surrounding water rights and allocation. This paper examines in more detail the definitions, principles, and characteristics of water rights and water allocation; two approaches to water allocation are outlined
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">Hiware Bazar, a village in Maharashtra's drought-prone Ahmednagar district, was sliding into an abyss after degrading its environment. But in less than a decade it turned itself around into one of the most prosperous villages of the country. There was no magic wand, just common sense. It used funds from government schemes, to regenerate its natural resources--forests, watershed and soil--led by a strong village body. It had a role model in the district--Ralegan Siddhi, the village Anna Hazare turned around. Now Hiware Bazar is in turn an exemplar for the whole of Ahmednagar district, where others have used the same scheme to conserve and prosper. </span><font class="UCASE" style="text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;">NEHA SAKHUJA</font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px;"> travelled the district and came back with an inspirational story.</span></p>
<p>This paper examines the Saurashtra recharging movement as a response to growing water scarcity conditions and increasing agrarian-based livelihood challenges.
