climate change and water resource management in India

BIPSS Peace and Security Review , 2018

Water has been a much discussed topic in India in recent years. Starting from the government’s decision on inter-river linking, construction of dams to localised state conflicts over sharing, water touches a chord across religion both ethnically and politically. Hence if water becomes skewed owing to continuous lack of rainfall and simultaneous exploitation for human consumption, it could soon attain a national narrative that would have a bearing on the national economy, agricultural output, religious tourism (given that river is the religious lifeline of the country) subaltern conflicts and much more. The report illustrates five contributing factors/parameters/issues to water insecurity such as: ground water depletion, glacial retreat, rainfall, temperature fluctuation, national water governance and civil society initiatives such as various water conservation practices. The issues were then studied in each ecological zone to understand the broader link between the causes of water scarcity and climatic variability

Environmental Management, 1997

In an arid to semiarid country, such as Namibia, water may be the single most important limiting resource in sustainable development. The planning and operation of surface water supply must therefore take into account the natural variability and unpredictability of the rainfall and river flow. Environmental water requirements of unique wetlands at the mouths or deltas of internationally shared rivers have to be duly considered should any form of development be undertaken. Historically the westward flowing rivers were opportunistically utilized by nomadic people and their cattle. An increase in population has resulted in increased pressure on the limited available resources. In the event of construction of dams on the ephemeral rivers, careful consideration has to be given to the possible effects on the downstream sites in these linear oases. All of the above factors point to the need for improved hydrological monitoring and modelling in arid zones with inherently uncertain hydrological regimes.

In the case of developing economies, climate change and its economic consequences presume vital importance in the process of realizing sustainable development in the longer timeframe. Land and water are the two major ingredients of the successful realization of this process. It is needless to say that land and water cannot be disconnected while addressing the issue of sustainable development. Here, this paper would concentrate on the issue of water where many issues would be equally relevant to the issues of land. It has been concluded in the Natural Resources Defense Council report that, the global warming may increase the risk of floods, so an efficient and conservative water use will be of paramount importance for future water supply. The main motivation of this paper is to discuss the water management challenges that can handle the threats or stresses like Global Environmental Change (GEC), climate changes, natural disasters like flood, drought or even an extreme climatic event like cyclone. The current paper focuses on the broad area of water management issues such as the major river system of India, condition of ground water resources, the current water utilization, water losses, water under stress, water pollution and increased population & its impact on the problem of scarcity of water. It also focuses on the water policy, land and water rights and act, Interstate Water Dispute Act etc. An attempt has been made to illustrate the environmental interface between land, water and climate. The paper assumed an interdisciplinary approach combining knowledge from environmental sciences with social sciences.

2014

Water is essential for every life on the earth and for many forms of socioeconomic development activity. Freshwater scarcity is a major issue in the developing world in terms of human consumption and irrigation. Water is not evenly distributed therefore some regions (particularly in South Asia and Africa) will experience intensified water scarcity in coming years. The stressors on water are population growth and climate change. These stressors are exacerbated by poor management and policy on the part of ruling governments. Climate change is of keen interest as it will impact water availability in unpredictable ways. In this context, it is essential to develop efficient adaptive tactics (e.g., water storage) to anticipate these changes. The paper, then, will look into the global scenario of water demand, as well as examine regional conflicts that may become worse under the stress of water scarcity.

Cross-Border Trade and E-commerce, 2022

A period of increasing competition for water supplies has increased the risk of water contamination and environmental deterioration, and rising social, economic, and environmental expenses are all affecting water resources. The water shortage in India seems to be becoming worse rather than better. In order to meet the challenges posed by this situation, water professionals and managers need to adapt their thinking about water in a way that is sustainable. Due to the distinctive characteristics of water, which include its necessity for human existence, economic growth, and environmental conservation, as well as the large number of stakeholders involved, this is particularly challenging. A number of difficulties confront those in charge of these essential resources today, highlighting the significance of managing water resources sustainably. This study aims to provide an overview of water scarcity and its sustainable development in the context of India. The significance of this study is to avert this crisis by applying sustainable development, a water management concept that emphasizes the significance of using less water than could be produced or replaced, maximizing positive economic benefits, minimizing negative social and environmental impacts, protecting natural systems, and ensuring that future generations will not have to compromise on their water needs.

Current …, 2006

In recent times, several studies around the globe show that climatic change is likely to impact significantly upon freshwater resources availability. In India, demand for water has already increased manifold over the years due to urbanization, agriculture expansion, increasing population, rapid industrialization and economic development. At present, changes in cropping pattern and land-use pattern, over-exploitation of water storage and changes in irrigation and drainage are modifying the hydrological cycle in many climate regions and river basins of India. An assessment of the availability of water resources in the context of future national requirements and expected impacts of climate change and its variability is critical for relevant national and regional long-term development strategies and sustainable development. This article examines the potential for sustainable development of surface water and groundwater resources within the constraints imposed by climate change and future research needs in India.

2012

With growing scarcity of water and deteriorating quality, water resources management in India is becoming more challenging with the passage of time. This article discusses the likely impacts in the water sector and the overarching actions that India need to initiate to overcome/manage them. Keywords: Climate change, impacts, sustainable water management, water scarcity.

Water is an important component of sustainable development; without it survival is not possible. Though it is available in great quantity but accessibility to fresh water is limited, which makes it an important element for lives. Water supply has become unhygienic to people due to reasons like lack of economic infrastructure and poor conditions. There are several countries in the world which face acute water shortage as well as poor water quality. It hampers their water security and also brings negative impacts on food security and the livelihood of people as well. Lack of water resources invites droughts which further make lives of people more miserable, exacerbate starvation and causes malnutrition. Global warming has made water a restricted resource which is very much important for human lives. Therefore the proper management of water resources is must to bring sustainable development. Water plays a vital role in strengthening the economic and social existence of human beings.

Water Resources Development and Management, 2016

This book pursues a comprehensive approach so as to arrive at a better understanding of the implications of climate change on sustainable development, focusing on the perspective of water. Climate change is one of today’s most pressing global issues and will become increasingly important in the decades to come, as societies will feel its pervasive impacts in many aspects of their lives. Given that the majority of these climate change impacts will be felt through the medium of water, the book explores the interrelationships and inter-linkages between water, climate change and sustainable development.