Water Resources

Resources we have..Ravages we make…

Resources: Major & minor

•Water–Natural–Managed

•Land–Forests–Mines

•Air•Energy

–Renewable–Non-renewable

Water resources

• Statistics– Surface cover– Fresh water – Available water

• Realistic– Population– Inefficient irrigation– Pollution

• Water shortage

• Water crisis

• Where it is going:

• Global agriculture – 70%

• Indian agriculture – 90%

• Precision irrigation

• Less water-intensive crops

• Desalination

• Drought tolerant varieties

• Water wars• Example of yellow river• The example of Aral sea• Game turns violent• First documented cyber-

terrorism in water industry

2008

ARAL SEA SATELLITE IMAGES

1985

Managed water resources

•Dams•Turbine – 1832•Peak 1970•Purpose

–Irrigation–Hydro-power – 19%–Flood control–Inland navigation

•Effect–Loss of forests–Loss of wild life–Loss of habitat–Human induced erosion–Sedimentation–Displacement – a process rather than an event–Loss of livelihood of culturally vulnerable ethnic groups

•Narmada river Dam NVDP – 30+ 135 +3,000•Deforestation in the catchment areas•Compensation / life of destitution•Rehabilitation•EIA since 1987•Arid regions•Irrigation budget

•Droughts•Biomass putrification•Costing•Siltation

Hydro power & the concerns

Narmada river Dam

Narmada river Dam

Case studiesThe Times September 27, 2007Three Gorges Dam is a disaster in the making, China admits

Reservoir-induced seismicity—may have been what happened at California's Oroville Dam, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The largest earthen dam in the U.S., it was constructed on an active fault line in the 1950s and filled in 1968. Seven years later, when the reservoir's water supply was restored to full capacity—after engineers lowered it 130 feet (40 meters) for maintenance—the area experienced an unusual series of earthquakes. U.S. Geological Survey seismologists subsequently found a strong link between the quakes and the refilling of the reservoir.

Scientific American:

March 25, 2008China's Three

Gorges Dam: An Environmental Catastrophe?

The Yangtze river is a breathtaking collection of cliffs and mountains. Ancient writings cover the walls, and beautiful natural scenery abounds - all submersed by the dam reservoir. Due to the remoteness and underdevelopment of the Three Gorges area, little has been done to protect and excavate the roughly 1208 cultural relics which the dam reservoir obliterated.

Paradise Lost?

China admits Tsangpo dam plans(TibetanReview.net, Apr24, 2010)

After denying it for years………..

Most discussed international issue •China to divert waters from the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo, the upper reach of River Brahmaputra of India and River Jamuna of Bangladesh• north of the McMahon Line

•agreements signed in 2005, 2008

•mammoth dam - bigger than the Three Gorges Dam, the biggest in the world.

Solutions

• Engage in participatory, multi point analyses

• Transform project-effected to beneficiaries

• Access of information to all stake holders

• Participation in decision making

• Corrupt practices

Sustainable Water Management

1.Building several small reservoirs.2. Small catchment areas&

protecting the wetlands3.Soil management4.Preventing leakage from dams,

canals and municipal pipes5.Pricing water –responsible use6. In deforested areas-soil

management by bunds and nalla plugs.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0Pi61SyVSM