Open Forum
New Delhi, 6 May 2016
Water Management
DON”T BLAME GOD, PLAN
By Dr.S.Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New Delhi)
Over 54 crores farmers in 13 States
are in the grip of drought facing relentless multi-dimensional water crisis. In
fact, drought has not spared any State resulting in crop failure, distress
migrations, closure of small industries, extended vacation for educational
institutions, shifting of venues or schedules of popular events and
celebrations etc.
Tragically, farmers’ suicides have become
common occurrences wherein the acute water scarcity is competing for space with
political news in newspapers and television.
Notably, drought is no longer a
problem exclusively of the poor notwithstanding they spend about 15 per cent of
their income on water in some areas but the rich too are affected in many ways
and use their money power to grab available water. Consequently, famine is putting obstacles in
the way of reaching the Millennium Development Goals (2010-15).
Water shortage does not distinguish
between rural and urban areas. Incredibly, areas that suffered the wrath of
floods a few months back are face to face with water scarcity today, counting
the number of days water is sufficient in the reservoirs even as they pray for
rains!
Where has the water gone? Indeed, a legitimate
question in flood-hit areas. Why can’t we manage available water resources
better? An important query raised to our
deaf and mute authorities everywhere.
Last month, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Odisha, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh were declared drought-affected
with over 300 million people and half of the country’s districts affected by it.
Worse, the World Bank’s prediction of a “turbulent future” vis-à-vis the inevitable
water crisis seems to be coming true earlier than expected.
Questionably, to put the entire
blame on failure of rains as the cause for water shortage is incorrect against
the backdrop that human failure is equally responsible. Thanks to lack of foresight and water
planning, deficiency in water management,
criminal neglect of duties and responsibilities on the part of all
concerned which have combined to aggravate the situation resulting in this unprecedented
crisis in terms of extent and severity.
Significantly, water management is
today an independent area of study under Environment administration of as it is
crucial for development of water bodies, their protection from pollution and
over-exploitation as also for fair distribution and prevention of disputes.
It requires integration of several
disciplines: water and civil engineering to augment supply and storage,
chemical, bio-physical and hydrological knowledge to take care of quality
along-with politics, economics, social work and law to address sharing and
distribution.
Undoubtedly, administrative ability
is indispensable for every task in building infrastructure, institutional and
service management alongside policy-making as bureaucratic failure might nullify
benefits acquired from knowledge and experience. Specialization includes management of
resources, quality, services, and conflicts.
Besides, water management has two
important parts --- supervision of supply and demand. Pertinently, availability, quality and
management are the three key water issues. Especially as it is universally
acknowledged that water is a basic need and therefore a basic right for
all.
According to a water expert the crisis
is not one of short supply but of mismanagement in India and globally a crisis of
rapacity which requires a sound water management system combined with national
planning and local action.
True, the National Water Mission is
one of the eight missions in the National Action Plan on Climate Change
launched by Prime Ministers to tackle global warming in December 2013. The Mission’s objective is to
conserve water, minimize wastage and ensure more equitable distribution across
and within States through integrated water resources development and
management.
Towards that end, the Mission
identified five goals comprising collection of a comprehensive water data base
in the public domain and assessment of the impact of climate change; promotion
of citizen-State action for conservation, augmentation and preservation of
water; focused attention on vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas;
increase of water use efficiency by 20 per cent; and promotion of basin level
integrated water resources management. Last, the very substance of water
management.
However, missions, goals and targets
remain disconnected with reality. What
we perceive is a literal scramble for water along-with increasing disparities vis-à-vis
access to water. Think. Water management requires full public cooperation
devoid of any in-fighting. Even we are
conditioned to think of water disputes as inter-States and international
problem, conveniently forgetting that disputes start near community wells and
taps among neighbours.
Interestingly, we need to take a
leaf from the US
where a non-profit professional association, American Water Resources
Association (AWRA) was founded in 1964 to tackle the problem and is dedicated
to improvements in water resources management, research and education. Its
members include professionals from diverse fields. Similar associations to work
with proper recognition and support are the need of the hour.
Additionally, the idea of trading in
water and treating it as a commodity appeals to some people. The World Bank
also is in flavour of leaving water to market forces wherein water business has
already become popular in many parts of the world. Namely, US, Chile, South
Africa and Australia et al. In fact, the Australian
system is considered to be most efficient.
This has spread to India too, but
is alas, accompanied with omnipresent trade malpractices --- supply of polluted
water and diversion of free water for commercial purposes in many places. Leading to closure of several water plants
and sales outlets.
It some places farmers have discontinued
their agricultural occupation and engage in water trade as a more profitable
venture to meet the needs of water-starved
cities, thereby making a mockery of agriculture and its accompanying subsidies.
Clearly, with water management being
a problem in every country, we need to learn from abroad. Singapore is very efficient in
water management despite having few resources of its own. It imports water to
meet most of its requirements and is able to achieve round-the-clock
availability of quality water by scrupulously following three principles: It captures
every drop of rain; traps every drop of used water and recycle every drop more
than once. In some South-East Asian countries, their Constitutions provide for
public participation in water management.
Sadly, such integrated water management
is missing in India.
Since water is nature’s endowment, we are unable to realize its value despite
its limited supply. Under Indian law,
ownership of land gives ownership of groundwater in that land.
In sum, planning and executing
infrastructure needs to be in the hands of the Government. However, public participation too has a
crucial role to play. There are already
several thousands of users’ associations which could be involved in more
constructive and planned work.
Traditional practices of water
management which are prevalent, effective and costless in many States should be
revived. Above all, we must shed our habit of attributing human failure to
divine will, instead seriously take up water management. ----- INFA
(Copyright, India
News and Feature Alliance)
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