Water Governance and Management in Indus Basin - Challenges & Threats

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marium Sara Minhas Bandeali
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
The State ◽  
Indus Basin

Water governance and management are important challenges for the River Indus Basin in Pakistan. Water governance refers to social, political and economic factors that influence water management. The water scarcity and water security are a major concern for the state to control its water resources. The study aims to give Sindh water policy by exploring the challenges to Indus Basin in managing water resources and to identify opportunities Indus Basin can look to improve water management. Interviews were conducted from water experts and analysts having 5 years’ experience or more in the water sector of Pakistan through a semi-structured self-developed questionnaire using purposive sampling technique and transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings show that increasing population, climatic change and rising demand of water are major challenges Indus is facing and Indus with time is getting water-scarce therefore need strong institutions, civil society and legislatures to ensure equitable distribution of water and maintain the ecosystem. The study emphasizes that water governance and management are necessary for sustainable use of water. Pakistan, the water stress country needs to address ‘governance’ at a wider scale to solve problems in the Indus Basin for the livelihood of people. The research will benefit the state, water experts, institutions as well as civil society to promote efficient use of water in Indus Basin.

scholarly journals O papel das mulheres na governança das águas:

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 64-74
Author(s):  
Alice Bouman
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Meaningful Participation ◽  
Traditional Societies ◽  
Gendered Roles

Water security is a global challenge and a collective responsibility for all humanity. The way in which people are affected by or impact on water availability, quality and management is quite heterogeneous; and it has a distinct gender dimension. Social relations between women and men result in gendered roles that vary between social strata, cultures, ethnicities and generations. In traditional societies women are often the water seekers and carriers, while their involvement in decision-making is limited. This article focuses on women’s agency for sustainable use and management of water resources. It provides examples from Armenia and Ukraine demonstrating women’s civil society contributions to the development and implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health. It shows how women’s meaningful participation has made a difference, and sheds light on the preconditions for meaningful involvement of women’s civil society in processes of water cooperation and participatory water governance.

scholarly journals Water Security and Inclusive Water Governance in the Himalayas

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-178
Author(s):  
Admin Admin
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Eastern Himalaya ◽  
Water Access ◽  
Large Dam

How does a social justice framing help understand local peoples’ claims over natural resources?  How do power relations shape water access and distribution between core and fringe areas in Nepali towns ? What dynamics of conflict over water resources are emerging in the urbanising mid-hill towns of Nepal? How are civil-society groups responding to large dam projects in the Eastern Himalaya region of India? What issues and opportunities the newly formed local governments in Nepal are facing in implementing inclusive water governance ? How can participatory community engagement transform gender relations in agriculture and water management? How do agrarian structures affect groundwater access for irrigation in Nepal’s Tarai Madesh? How can local experts contribute to inclusive water governance?

Water Security

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farhad Mukhtarov ◽  
Aleh Cherp
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Food Energy

In the post–Cold War era, the concept of water security referred to the potential dangers of conflict over water resources and safety of drinking water infrastructure from attacks by military enemies or terrorists. By the 1990s, water security increasingly became discussed together with human security and such concerns as economic security, environmental security, energy security, and food security. The use of security jargon in the field of water resources signaled the importance of this resource for the survival of nations. Definitions of water security prominent in the 1990s focused on the quantity and quality of water supply for human welfare and economic development. More recently, an additional requirement for water management emerged, namely, the functioning of the biosphere as the basis for human well-being. The most recent definitions of water security embrace both human and ecosystem access to water, most often in the form of the so-called water-food-energy nexus with the emphasis on the links between these resources. However defined, the use of the “water security” concept is clearly on the rise in the circles of academics, government officials, and policymakers. However, it is not without its critics who challenge “water security” as failing to add value to the discussions of water governance. Indeed, the pre-eminence of intricate links between water, food, energy, and eco- and social systems has already been widely marked within the integrated water resources management (IWRM) discourse. The proponents of “water security,” in turn, argue for the complementarity of these two concepts. Another major debate running throughout the emerging “water security” literature is on whether it should be defined and operationalized in a broad sense as a framework for water management at multiple levels, or in a narrow sense, as a quantifiable index or a set of indicators.

A step forward toward the high-resolution assessment of virtual water flows at the company’s scale

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena De Petrillo ◽  
Marta Tuninetti ◽  
Francesco Laio
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Virtual Water ◽  
The State ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Food Trade ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Final Consumer

<p>Through the international trade of agricultural goods, water resources that are physically used in the country of production are virtually transferred to the country of consumption. Food trade leads to a global redistribution of freshwater resources, thus shaping distant interdependencies among countries. Recent studies have shown how agricultural trade drives an outsourcing of environmental impacts pertaining to depletion and pollution of freshwater resources, and eutrophication of river bodies in distant producer countries. What is less clear is how the final consumer – being an individual, a company, or a community- impacts the water resources of producer countries at a subnational scale. Indeed, the variability of sub-national water footprint (WF in m<sup>3</sup>/tonne) due to climate, soil properties, irrigation practices, and fertilizer inputs is generally lost in trade analyses, as most trade data are only available at the country scale. The latest version of the Spatially Explicit Information on Production to Consumption Systems model  (SEI-PCS) by Trase provides detailed data on single trade flows (in tonne) along the crop supply chain: from local municipalities- to exporter companies- to importer companies – to the final consumer countries. These data allow us to capitalize on the high-resolution data of agricultural WF available in the literature, in order to quantify the sub-national virtual water flows behind food trade. As a first step, we assess the detailed soybean trade between Brazil and Italy. This assessment is relevant for water management because the global soybean flow reaching Italy may be traced back to 374 municipalities with heterogeneous agricultural practises and water use efficiency. Results show that the largest flow of virtual water from a Brazilian municipality to Italy -3.52e+07 m<sup>3</sup> (3% of the total export flow)- comes from Sorriso in the State of Mato Grosso. Conversely, the highest flow of blue water -1.56e+05 m<sup>3</sup>- comes from Jaguarão, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, located in the Brazilian Pampa. Further, the analysis at the company scale reveals that as many as 37 exporting companies can be identified exchanging to Italy;  Bianchini S.A is the largest virtual water trader (1.88 e+08 m<sup>3</sup> of green water and 3,92 e+06 m<sup>3</sup> of blue water), followed by COFCO (1,06 e+08 m<sup>3</sup> of green water and 6.62 m<sup>3</sup> of blue water)  and Cargill ( 6.96 e+07 m<sup>3</sup> of green water and 2.80 e+02 m<sup>3</sup> of blue water). By building the bipartite network of importing companies and municipalities originating the fluxes we are able to efficiently disaggregate the supply chains , providing novel tools to build sustainable water management strategies.</p>

scholarly journals Basic criteria for a sustainable water management at the U.S.-México border: the case of ambos Nogales

2003 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 35-60
Author(s):  
Luis Ernesto Cervera Gómez ◽  
Rodolfo Rubio Salas
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Development Environment ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Ambos Nogales

This article aims to analyze some basic criteria for a sustainable use of water in an international watershed shared by Mexico and the United States. The study area comprises the region of Ambos Nogales, which is located inside the Upper Santa Cruz River Basin. This portion of the watershed represents the main ecosystem and the main source of water for urban and rural populations located in this region. Following criteria of sustainability the authors revise and adapt to the case of Ambos Nogales, a set of guidelines proposed by the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. These guidelines include the following elements: basic water requirements needed to maintain quality of life in the population and the health of ecosystems; water quality that meets certain minimum standards; human actions and their impact on long-term renewability of freshwater stocks and flows; collection of data concerning water resources, use and quality of water; institutional mechanisms to prevent and resolve conflicts; and a democratic process of water-planning and decision-making. These twin cities have a long history of cooperation and conflict linked to water resources, which makes available enough information to create a diagnostic about the water management inside a binational arena, and allowing to explore possibilities for a better water resources management under a sustainable regime and from an international perspective. Keywords: Sustainability, binational water management, ambos Nogales region.

WATER POLICY STRATEGY OF UKRAINE: PROSPECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

2021 ◽  
pp. 6-15
Author(s):  
Mykhailo Khvesyk ◽  
Lyudmila Levkovska ◽  
Valeriy Mandzyk
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Economic Regulation ◽  
Sustainable Water Management ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Water Strategy ◽  
Territorial Water

The article is devoted to the development of theoretical approaches to the formation and implementation of the strategy of water policy of Ukraine in the context of climate change. As a result of the conducted research, it is proved that because of influence of various external factors there are changes of basic imperatives of functioning of modern systems of management of water resources. The need to consider these changes by improving the strategic documents that define the priorities and principles of national water management policy is substantiated. It is established that one of the main reasons for the lack of water of good quality is its low value compared to other natural resources. This leads to a lack of legal, organizational, and financial and economic grounds for ensuring the payback of water and water-dependent ecosystem services, which is the reason for lack of funds and relevant work to improve and restore environmental and hydro morphological characteristics of reservoirs and repair and modernization of existing hydraulic structures. In this regard, emphasis is placed on the need to improve methods of economic regulation and the development of mechanisms and tools for financial support of sustainable water management. In the context of the above, it is proposed to include in the list of main tasks of the draft Water Strategy of Ukraine two groups of economic levers to increase the financial base of investment support for sustainable water management. The first group is aimed at improving the rent regulation of special use of water resources and provides for raising standards for unauthorized groundwater production, for companies that produce beverages and sell bottled drinking water, as well as limiting various benefits and preferences when paying special water use fees. The second - to change the system of water resources management, the development of institutional and legal support for their use in a globalized market environment, the implementation of modern instruments of financial and economic support for the formation of territorial water resources on a corporate basis.

Water Resources Management

2014 ◽  
pp. 180-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabyasachi Nayak
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
The State ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Partnership Approach ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

This chapter explores grassroots interventions by forging partnerships with stakeholders in improving the management of water resources at the community level. In order to gain insight into the nuances of managing water resources in partnership, a pilot study was instituted in the State of Rajasthan, India. The efficacy of the partnership approach in ensuring equitable water management is demonstrated. The analysis is supported by data collected through the administration of a questionnaire for five different stakeholders. The impact of the intervention reiterates the positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes in a more sustainable manner.

The myth of abundance: water resources in humid regions

Water Policy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1065-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Praskievicz
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Riparian System ◽  
Anglophone World ◽  
Effective Water

Abstract Water resources in humid regions are perceived as abundant, and water-governance systems are based on the expectation of consistent availability of water to meet all needs. In arid regions, in contrast, the operating assumption is that water is a scarce resource that must be allocated systematically to avoid conflict. The ‘myth of abundance’ common in humid regions is counterproductive to effective water governance. This paper provides an overview of the concepts of water scarcity and water security and explains how water governance in humid regions fits into these frameworks. It then addresses the riparian system for allocating water rights and how this system promotes the myth of abundance. Three case studies are presented from humid regions of the Anglophone world, highlighting the shortcomings of abundance-based water-governance systems in these regions. Finally, the water-security framework is advocated as an alternative that addresses fundamental flaws of the abundance-based approach, namely issues related to ecosystems, water quality, disasters, and conflict. Using a goal of water security, rather than a perception of abundance, as the basis for water governance will lead to improved outcomes, especially given future climate change and population growth.

Land-Water-Security Nexus: Changing Geopolitics in the Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-87
Author(s):  
David Ross Olanya
Keyword(s):  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
The State ◽  
Nile Basin ◽  
Framework Agreement ◽  
Joint Coordination ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
Gulf States ◽  
Land Water

This article extends the debate on the shift in water security governance in the Nile Basin countries. Water as an object of analysis was previously embedded in a depoliticized governance framework now faces politicization in the context of food, energy and climate change. In considering land-water-security nexus, population and climate variations drive Middle East and North Africa (mena) policies for the return of the state primacy in water governance. As Egypt and Sudan maintain their dynamics of hegemony in Nile Basin countries, Gulf States however are deploying proxy water diplomacy through investment in agricultural farmlands in Nile Basin countries. Increasing number of actors alter water access and security across formal and informal domains. The Nile Basin Cooperative Agreement (cfa) remains contested between upstream and downstream riparian states as being uncoordinated water management and development policies. Incorporating market and local users beyond the state gets politicized in securing water security. In view of this, this article hence suggests that power relations are not static, but subject to the changing circumstances. Egypt’s water security would be more sustainable when it engages cfa countries in a joint coordination and development projects.

Good water governance and IWRM in Zambia: challenges and chances

Water Policy ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Uhlendahl ◽  
Pritam Salian ◽  
Claudia Casarotto ◽  
Jakob Doetsch
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Hydropower Production

The implementation of principles for water governance is widely accepted but challenging for the whole water sector of a developing country like Zambia, because of the legal and administrative changes and organizational requirements involved. In February 2010, a revised water policy for Zambia was approved by the Cabinet. The revised National Water Policy 2010 aims to improve water resources management by establishing institutional coordination and by defining roles as well as responsibilities for various ministries. Taking into account the previous political and administration changes, this paper points out the problems and challenges of the implementation of good water governance mechanisms in Zambia. Focusing on the Kafue River Basin, from which water is abstracted for a variety of conflicting purposes (like municipal supplies, industrial use, mining, irrigation of agricultural land, fishery activities, wetland reserves and hydropower production), the gaps in implementing good water governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Zambia are identified, as well as the factors causing these gaps in the Zambian water sector. The paper finishes with a overview of the opportunities given by the new water policy through Water User Associations (WUAs) at a local level.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document