Interlinking of Rivers

The Chinese experience

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 08, 2005

 
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The south-north transfer project in China includes three different routes that are to interlink the Yangtze river ( which has relative "surplus" water) and the yellow river ( which is severely overcommitted). The North China plain is home to a population of over 300 million and is undergoing critical water scarcity, with the common patterns of declining acquifiers, reduced allocation to agriculture, shortages in supply to cities and severe environmental problems of pollution and siltation. The first phase aiming at the diversion of 20 Bm2 has started with an estimated cost of $ 17 billion and the likely displacement of 3,00,000 people.

Interlinking of Rivers

The Thailand Experience

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 08, 2005

 
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Pilot Projects worth US $ 1 million are expected to be kickstarted soon. This will consist of a diversion of Mae Klong water to Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. According to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, "whatever the outcome of the pilot project" the government will finish all 13 schemes within five years.

Interlinking of Rivers

The Indian Experience

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 08, 2005

 
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has sought the cooperation of all the political parties, non-Governmental Organisations and people of the State to fully harness the potential of Godavari and Krishna river basins by completing the irrigation projects. The Chief Minister said that the significance of the gigantic task taken up by the Government should be understood from the fact that 700 tmcft of Godavari water was already let into the sea and 500 tmcft of Krishna water would also join the sea. The only strategy for over all development of agrarian economy was to fully tap Godavari floodwater and divert a part of it to the Krishna basin, he added.

Dr. Reddy said tenders to the tune of Rs. 30,000 crores had been finalised and 33 major irrigation projects had been prioritised for completion at a whopping cost of Rs. 50,000 crores.

In accordance with the Cabinet decision, the Chief Minister deputed Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah and Home Minister K. Jana Reddy to perform Gangamma puja at Nagarjunasagar project on Thursday. The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Laxmaiah, would perform a similar puja at Srisailam reservoir, while the Sports Minister, M. Satyanarayan Rao, would visit the Sriramsagar project. The Higher Education Minister P. Venkateswara Rao and Panchayat Raj Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy would perform puja at the Prakasam barrage.

Interlinking of Rivers

The American Experience

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 06, 2005

 
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Dams in 11 States being pulled out in 2005 ( Source: Environment News Service 1 Sep 2005)

 56 Dams in 11 States in the U.S are being removed in 2005 according to the latest survey conducted by the Conservation Group "American Rivers".

This trend is the result of renewed appreciation for free flowing, healthy streams and ageing of much of the nation's dams infrastructure. 185 dams have been removed since 1999. Only about 3% of the dams in the U.S have hydroelectric turbines. Most were built for purposes such as running mills, controlling floods and creating water supplies or recreational parks.

"While dams can provide valuable services, the ecological price is high", American Rivers said. "Dams drown valuable habitat under reservoirs, block the annual migration of fish and can create downstream conditions inhospitable for fish and wildlife. Dams also create several safety hazards, some of which increase with age".

Interlinking of Rivers

Nepal: East Rapti River Basin

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 05, 2005

 
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The East Rapti River basin includes the Royal Chitwan National Park of Nepal.

Two researchers from the International Water Management Institute ( Srilanka) have suggested that linking social preferences -read rural livelihood-to eco-hydrological science -read planning for water allocation- is the challenge of the future. Their research has come to the conclusion that arriving at acceptable limits for water resources exploitation must consider the relationship between river flow and eco-system, in order to be viable.

The research report is available online at the website

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org

nature/wildlife films

Survey on 24 Hour Channel

Posted by Mithun on September 04, 2005

 
Forum Post

A survey was conducted in the year 2003 by the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC) for their 24 hour Higher Education Channel.

Out of 481 sample students whose responses have been tabulated, more than 75% students preferred programmes with a focused approach to widen their horizons; India’s place in World Heritage, Nature related issues and People of India are subjects close to their heart. 90% of the students surveyed wanted programmes on contemporary issues with a window to the world.

Young India views itself as a global citizen! A very positive development indeed.

 

Environment Awareness

Let us share what we know and think!!!!

Posted by Mithun on September 04, 2005

 
Forum Post

A community approach to looking at conservation problems fosters an ability to consider sustainability issues from the view of different stakeholders.

"Awareness" happens through sharing of information.

 A common claim about group settings is that they foster an effective combination of learning with understanding and are therefore likely to support conceptual change. Environment concerns pervade all activities in the adult world. We need to broaden our concept of Environmental awareness to include the general public- the adult population who are in charge of the planet right now. The process by which experiences are shared through collective action and reflection both builds a community and defines it.

Unwillingness to share, especially difficult and controversial aspects of one’s work, tendency to follow the leader, tendency to arrive at a consensus by covering up intriguing layers of disagreement-these are some of the issues which plague healthy debates in conferences and even in face to face discussions.

WE HAVE TO SEE differences of opinion as a resource rather than a liability. Criticisms and disagreements as a source of learning and enrichment.

Interlinking of Rivers

The American Experience

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 03, 2005

 
Forum Post

The delta of the Colorado river basin has shrunk to 5% of its historic size thanks to intensive river diversions that have spelt a death knell to the people, flora and fauna of the region.

Since 1960, the river has reached the sea only during rare flood years, more usually ending just south of the US border in a few stagnant pools of pesticide and salt- laced agricultural runoff. Due to intensive irrigation in desert lands, waters have become extremely saline.

A $256 million desalination plant was set up at Yuma, Arizona to desalinate the water in 1992. It was shut down in 1993 after floods destroyed drains and brought in saline water. The Bureau of Reclamation’s ‘salinity control program’ had cost tax-payers $660 million by 1993.

An $8 billion plan has been passed in California to revive some of its rivers. ( source: The Environmental Magazine)

Interlinking of Rivers

The Russian experience

Posted by Susan Sharma on September 03, 2005

 
Forum Post
The Aral Sea of Russia is a large inland sea. Already, the Amudarya and Syrdarya, which once had combined flows greater than that of the Nile, have been largely emptied by massive irrigation projects to grow the cotton. As the rivers died, so has the Aral Sea into which they drain. It has lost three-quarters of its water since 1960, leaving former ports up to 150 kilometres from the receding shoreline, and a salty wilderness where the sea used to be. Russian scientists are reviving an old Soviet plan to divert some of Siberia's mightiest rivers to the parched former Soviet republics of central Asia.

Wildlife

Man elephant conflict

Posted by Susan Sharma on August 30, 2005

 
Forum Post

It is well known that some parts of Jharkhand State in India face the threat of elephant attacks, especially in the night.

The people of these regions spend their nights on machans on trees to get some sleep. Recently, a documentary film maker, who was in this area was asked by the people of this area whether he can help them find a

"laser light"

to ward off the elephants at night. Does anyone know where these lights can be procured?

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