Dams and irrigation schemes have benefited the world’s people But downstream populations have often suffered reduced water availability About 20 per cent saw an increase in water while 24 per cent saw a decrease [NEW YORK] Reservoirs, dams and irrigation systems have increased water availability for much of the global population, but they have also created scarcity in many places downstream, a new study suggests.
The researchers found a significant portion of the population either benefitting or losing when it comes to the availability of freshwater resources.
The system approach, according to the researchers, allowed them to come up with an estimate that is more realistic than previous approaches, and which also shows greater water scarcity than previous estimates.
On average, approximately 20 per cent of the global population has experienced a significant increase in water availability, says Veldkamp.
But, it’s not so straightforward.
Seasonal changes in precipitation and water storage make it difficult for modellers to estimate water availability and impacts of interventions,” says Veldkamp, adding that the effects of climate change can be “difficult to tease out from other impacts like human activities.” Veldkamp says the bottom line of the study is that “human interventions — the total package of irrigation activities and water withdrawals for domestic and industrial purposes, land use and land cover changes, and dam and reservoir operations — drastically change the critical dimensions of water scarcity.” “Downstream decision-makers have the responsibility to look up.
In an ideal case, both players would try to optimise (together) their stakes and come to an optimal allocation of fresh water resources that serves their collective needs best,” he says.
“The study is an excellent example on how fast growing global data availability can help to understand the potential upstream – downstream conflicts in data-poor regions, such as large parts of Africa and Asia,” says Matti Kummu, professor at the Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Finland.
“National and international (in case of transboundary river basins) river basin organisations can use the results to have objective, scientific knowledge of the potential impacts of upstream water use to better negotiate treaties between the interest groups,” adds Kummu.
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Asia & Pacific desk.

‘Green Spiti’ mission to start in Lahaul-Spiti district: Virbhadra.
To adorn Spiti with green cover in times to come, a ‘Green Spiti’ mission will be started by the state government.
The Forest Department would now be given the task of planting more and more trees, he said, adding that the government would keep a separate budgetary provision for the same.
He stated that he was well aware of the water scarcity problem in the area.
Furthermore, with the objective to provide higher education at the doorstep, CM announced a government degree college to be opened at Kaza.
He also announced installation of 22 hand pumps in the valley and construction of separate godown of LPG in Pin Valley.
Issuing directions he said that within one year all the electricity towers should be installed so that the power can be transmitted from Pooh.
He also reiterated for distribution of ‘Nautod’, to the landless within two months and said that all the formalities should be completed.
He directed the officers concerned to work overtime for completing necessary paper work.
He also listed other developments of the area.

Himachal to launch ‘Green Spiti’ mission.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Saturday said a ‘Green Spiti’ mission would be launched for the Spiti Valley to increase forest cover to overcome water shortage.
A Desert Development Programme was launched in the valley in 1977-78 to take up forestation and increase the green cover," he said at a public function in Kaza in the Lahaul-Spiti district.
He said the Forest Department would now be given the task of planting saplings.
The government would keep a separate budgetary provision for the plantation programme.
A ‘Green Spiti’ mission would be started, he said, adding that he "wants to see Spiti adorned in green cover in times to come".
He announced that a government degree college will be opened at Kaza, the headquarters of Spiti which is about 320 km from the state capital Shimla.
"Since the youth from Kaza have to go to either to Rekong Peo or Rampur to pursue higher studies, it becomes difficult for them, especially for girls to go far from home," he said.
The Chief Minister dedicated development projects and announced a community centre to be opened at Kibber village, and a bailey bridge at Losar and channelisation of a rivulet at Losar.
vg/vgu/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Himachal to launch ‘Green Spiti’ mission.
“We are well aware of the water scarcity problem in the Spiti area.
A Desert Development Programme was launched in the valley in 1977-78 to take up forestation and increase the green cover,” he said at a public function in Kaza in the Lahaul-Spiti district.
He said the Forest Department would now be given the task of planting saplings.
The government would keep a separate budgetary provision for the plantation programme.
A ‘Green Spiti’ mission would be started, he said, adding that he “wants to see Spiti adorned in green cover in times to come”.
He announced that a government degree college will be opened at Kaza, the headquarters of Spiti which is about 320 km from the state capital Shimla.
“Since the youth from Kaza have to go to either to Rekong Peo or Rampur to pursue higher studies, it becomes difficult for them, especially for girls to go far from home,” he said.
The Chief Minister dedicated development projects and announced a community centre to be opened at Kibber village, and a bailey bridge at Losar and channelisation of a rivulet at Losar.
This is published unedited from the IANS feed.

Morocco Offers ‘Green Growth Model’ in MENA region- Climate Tracker.
Morocco stands as a model in the MENA region when it comes to promoting green growth, said Climate Tracker, the world’s leading climate journalism portal, in an article entitled “Climate Change Threatens Uninhabitable Conditions for the Middle East and North Africa.” “Morocco has been a good example,” wrote Lina Yassin on Climate Tracker highlighting that the North African Kingdom made “climate change adaptation a national priority” and set “the country on a path to green growth”.
The author shed light on Morocco’s efforts to adapt to climate change, notably in the agricultural sector, citing the Green Morocco Plan, which is focused on agricultural adaptation and sustainable water and land management.
She added that Morocco’s investments in clean-energy and innovation will effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and halt rising temperature that threatens to make large swathes of the MENA region uninhabitable.
With less than 2% of the world’s water supply, the MENA region is rapidly depleting its water resources.
The region is home to six percent of the world’s population yet it contains 12 countries that face extreme water scarcity – including Maghreb countries such as Tunisia and Algeria.
Reports by international research centers warn that extreme heat due to climate change will make some countries like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia uninhabitable because it will create humid heat conditions at a level incompatible with human existence.
Therefore, the MENA region has no option but to go “green” taking adaptation along with mitigation measures to build up the resilience needed to cope with the dangers of climate change.

Modi In Israel: A Pernicious Alliance.
The visit was more than symbolic.
At the heart of the strategic alliance is a military and security collaboration with Israel which reinforces the colonial occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.
The hawkish Ariel Sharon became the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India in 2003 to strengthen military and counter-terrorism relations.
The joint statement issued by Modi and Netanyahu refers to the “Israel-Palestine” peace process without any mention of the two-state solution.
For Modi, the way the Israelis are tackling the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank and Gaza, can be emulated in Kashmir.
Under the Israeli occupation, the people in the West Bank and Gaza have access to less than 20 per cent of their water resources.
India is one of the biggest sources of sustenance for the Israeli armed forces and the defence industry by buying billions of dollars worth of arms.
The strategic alliance with Israel is part of the rightwing foreign policy shift under the Modi government.
They are both pro-imperialist and proponents of an exclusivist Hindu nationalism which is inimical for democracy and national sovereignty.

Protected wetland invaded.
The east side of Monavale Vlei wetland in Harare is under threat after yet-to-be-identified individuals started developments on the area possibly for residential purposes.
Zimbabwe ratified the Ramsar Treaty in 2011 and has domesticated provisions for the protection of wetlands under the Environmental Management Act.
Residents had to call the police to evict the invaders after they had resisted instructions from EMA officials who had earlier on been called to stop their illegal developments on the land.
A representative of the Harare Wetland Trust told NewsDay Weekender that they were extremely concerned over the threats being posed to the survival of Monavale Vlei wetland.
According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), destruction of wetlands has led to a drastic fall in the water table levels within Harare.
Commenting on the threat to Monavale Vlei, Birdlife Zimbabwe said in a statement that water insecurity in Harare was increasing due to the destruction of wetlands.
“The Monavale Ramsar site represents the model of a restored wetland that can and should be duplicated around Harare to ensure the future provisioning of water to the City of Harare in the face of a growing City and a changing climate,” Birdlife Zimbabwe said.
EMA spokesperson Steady Kangata described the developments in Monavale as illegal.
Harare wetlands are among the primary sources of water for residents of Harare.

Climate change resulting in migration of people in developing nations Saturday, 08 July, 2017, 08 : 00 AM [IST] Rome Climate change poses a major risk for rural people in developing countries, often leading to distress-driven migration, and bolstering sustainable agriculture is an essential part of an effective policy response.
“Although less visible than extreme events like a hurricane, slow-onset climate change events tend to have a much greater impact over time,” he said, citing the drying up over 30 years of Lake Chad, now a food crisis hotspot.
“Many migrants will come from rural areas, with a potentially major impact on agricultural production and food prices,” Swing said.
FAO and IOM, chosen as co-chairs for 2018 of the Global Migration Group – an inter-agency group of 22 UN organisations – are collaborating on ways to tackle the root causes of migration, an increasingly pressing issue for the international community.
Such vulnerabilities have been worsened by years of underinvestment in rural areas.
“We need to systematically integrate migration and climate change into national development and poverty reduction programmes, disaster risk reduction and crisis planning and develop agricultural policies and practices that enhance resilience in the face of climate-induced forced migration,” Swing said.
FAO and IOM called for explicit recognition of migration – both its causes and its potential – in national climate change and rural development policies.
Role of agriculture Farming and livestock sectors typically bear more than 80 per cent of the damage and losses caused by drought, underscoring how agriculture stands to be a primary victim of climate change.
Other impacts include soil degradation, water scarcity and depletion of natural resources.
“Agricultural and rural development must be an integral part of solutions to weather and climate-related challenges, especially as they link with distress migration,” Graziano da Silva said.

Safe water provided despite drought: Government.
CHENNAI: DESPITE severe drought conditions, the government has managed to ensure supply of safe drinking water to more than 99 per cent of the people in the State by taking various measures on a war footing, the Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani told the State Assembly on Friday.
Responding to the issue raised by members of all parties, the minister said `1,077.10 crores was earmarked for completing 31,747 works which included sinking new borewells and cleaning and deepening the existing ones, increasing the horsepower of motors, replacing the damaged motors and supplying drinking water through lorries etc.
Of these, so far works for 27,233 had been completed.
Giving separate details about the steps taken for mitigating the water scarcity in Chennai Corporation area, urban local bodies and rural local bodies, the minister said that within Chennai Corporation limits, 470 million litres of drinking water had been supplied through various methods including lorries.
From July 15 onward, water from Porur lake would be supplied to the residents of Chennai.
In Chennai alone, 4,090 works had been taken up for `105 crores, he said.
The minister said that after the southwest monsoon, the water supply in Coimbatore and surrounding areas as well as in Kanniyakumari district had gone up.
Raising the issue, the DMK MLA and former Chennai Mayor M Subramanian alleged that the claims made by the Government and mere announcements won’t deliver goods to the people.
The Congress floor leader K R Ramaswamy also spoke on the issue.

Water scarcity hits Aloochi Bagh, residents block road to alert authority.
Srinagar: Scarcity of drinking water in Aloochi Bagh, Srinagar Friday forced residents of the area to come out on streets and block the traffic movement on the road.
The Aloochi Bagh residents have been facing water scarcity from past one year, protesters said.
The residents took to streets on Friday and blocked the road affecting the vehicular movement for about two hours.
“We have been facing water shortage for the past one year, and we get use water only two days in a week.” said Haleema, a resident of Aloochi Bagh “We have talked to the authorities regarding this matter but there is no response from their side.
We have blocked the road earlier as well but to no avail,” said Firdous Shah, a local.
Shah further added: “We know that coming on streets and blocking the road is creating a lot of mess, but authorities are responsible for all this as they have turned deaf ears on our pleas.” Chief Engineer Public Health Engineering (PHE), G.M Bhat said: “We have received the complaints before as well and we are trying to resolve this issue as soon as possible.” “We have to install a pipe there and the problem will be solved forever,” added Bhat Meanwhile, a commuter Ishfaq Ahmad said: “This is a major concern as the residents have blocked the road several times.
It is creating a lot of problems for everyone because this route is part of a current diversion plan and people’s precious time is being wasted.”