From K N Vajpai
Dear members,
This sounds a commendable initiative by working on such report. Given the scenario of looming water crisis with disrupted ecosystem functions due to various anthropogenic and climatic factors following are the observations and suggestions:
On areas of information collection:
It will be best if we collate data from various sources like DDWS, CGWB, CPCB, and other Government owned water related institutions, international agencies (those have first-hand data) and get an overall understanding of the issues and severity of the problem. In case you wish to rely on data from only one agency e.g., DDWS, it will be repeating the same story about water availability, scarcity, demand and quality issues. We should have a solid rationale on this issue particularly that will highlight the actual problem people are facing due to scarce water and unsafe water across country and specifically in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, among others.
On the issue of MUS and pressure and drivers of change, it would be pertinent to put forward such working examples from around the developing world and how they are helping the communities as such, so that people and institutions could learn from such examples and make them happen here in India. The second issue of pressure and drivers of change is very important and I feel this has been well considered for the book, which should highlight such cases from the country and way forward that who could be the players those could become change agent on water issues as such. We can't continue to rely upon a few handful of agencies in India, and if we do, they should be asked about their history of success and such projects implemented, those we can quote as examples (landmark examples of change in water related issues).
Water conservation has always remained a neglected issue, and despite the efforts in various states on watershed management, catchment area development and protection, developing conservation measures, majority of the projects failed in sustaining the momentum and finally it's written in a donor's proposal, but no efforts are there to see on ground. There, is more recognition of personal level conservation measures, than at the community level, given the changing scenario in cities and rural areas of solitary living and lesser community interaction. So, we could focus on measures like RWH and other personal level efforts during agriculture and household practices.
The issue of partnerships needs to be highlighted at community or local government, state, national and regional levels among various state, national and regional players including the international agencies working in India. We must highlight this has led to in the recent past and if not what should be the way forward. For example, what if all UN agencies worked together in sync on water issues. Similarly, what if various regional institutions / research agencies (government and other) worked together on water issues and in sync with implementing agencies in the region. We could also highlight the failure terms of partnership and what are precautionary measures to make it more sustainable and workable.
The workable solutions should include institutional issues, capacity building needs, planning related issues, implementation processes and future operation and maintainable for sustaining all such efforts.
On your three specific points, following are the suggestions:
Given that in the region itself climate science is still growing science and we must not conclude with handful of data in case we are not very much sure about climatic impact in water scarcity in a region or watershed. There are anthropogenic and various ecosystem processes that need to be considered while concluding the impact of climate change on water resources and the best way is that we rely on peer reviewed scientific studies or research. Various developmental processes and population related factors might have led to a situation of water scarcity and poor quality, but this needs solid evidences.
MUS is still needs to be practiced in India, and I am not sure that there are many examples around. This again needs quoting the example from practiced areas where institutional and other factor led to success of such efforts. e.g., the working model of MPRLP and other such could be useful.
Over the last one decade I am sure that there are gender disaggregated data on various water resource related issues. Unfortunate part may be that, we don't have access to such projects, even if we ask to the agencies those implemented or funded them. There is reluctance in sharing such data in general, which is not good and it becomes futile exercise to generate new data.
I must congratulate SaciWATERs for this and hope that these observations are useful in some way.
Warm regards
K N Vajpai,
Climate Himalaya