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Society, Culture, Religion and History
Living rivers, dying rivers: Bagmati river in Nepal
Posted on 05 Jan, 2012 06:07 PMBagmati river in Kathmandu: From holy river to unthinkable flowing filth
Ajaya Dixit initiated his presentation with a general account of how rivers shape the landscape and how riverine ecosystems have nurtured society and kept civilisations vibrant, cultured and creative. Dixit went on to discuss the basin characteristics of the Bagmati, a tributary of the Kosi that rises in the Shivapuri hills, north of the Kathmandu valley. Around fifteen percent of the basin area (3700 sqkm) lies in Nepal, while the remaining is in India. The average annual rainfall in the basin is 1400 mm and is more than 2000 mm in the hills. Bagmati is a seasonal river with rainfall and springs as its main source. Its mean flow is 15.6 cubic metre/second and low flow is 0.15 cubic metre/second in April.
Kathmandu lies in the Upper Bagmati basin and studies suggest that an ancient lake called the Paleo-Kathmandu lay within the Kathmandu valley as a lacustrine formation. Early settlers lived in lower slopes and used springs and river in the upper reaches. When they moved to the valley floor, they built dongia dharas, which are stone water spouts fed by the unconfined aquifers and delivered water through surface channels. Even today, dongia dharas dated back to 1500 years exist. The state built canals (raj kulo) tapped the upper stretches of the rivers close to the mountains. Rivers and irrigation helped recharge aquifers and ponds.
However, rising urbanisation has damaged these ancient artifacts. Over the last sixty years Kathmandu has expanded massively and its population has increased from 0.41 million in 1951 to 2.6 million in 2011. The city has a huge transient population aside from this, reducing it to a concrete nightmare. Seismologists suggest that Kathmandu is a rubble city in the making. Though the Bagmati river flow has not changed significantly in the last seventy years, the character of the river has been transformed significantly during the period 1970 to 1990. The river has been canalised while the dumping of the city’s garbage into it continues. Dixit identified a plethora of problems faced by the river such as upstream water diversion for drinking water needs, disposal of untreated liquid waste, disposal of solid waste, river jacketing for roads and commercial activities, sand mining and physical encroachment.
The state of the river is an outcome of the current approach to waste management particularly liquid waste management. Three types of waste water namely yellow water flux, grey water and yellow black flux are being generated and flowing water is being used as a vehicle to dispose these. The idea of a water based disposal system e.g. flush toilet embedded in Victorian engineering has led to a technological lock-in with the result that the notion of a natural hydrological cycle has undergone a fundamental transformation.
All the same, the bulk of the load in the river is biological though there are some factories releasing effluents. In the last 20 years some of them have been closed or relocated and the river now stands a chance of being salvaged.
![Bagmati River at Pashupatinath Temple (Source:Wikipedia)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/1024px-pashupatinath2.jpg?itok=GNZEEzzH)
IWMI-Tata Policy Research Program invites research papers on gender equity and irrigation - Anand – Apply by January 15, 2012
Posted on 05 Jan, 2012 06:56 AMIWMI-TATA Water Policy Research Program is a collaborative initiative between a research institution and a corporate body, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Sir Ratan TATA Trust (SRTT). This partnership emerged from a shared concern regarding the growing water stress in different parts of India.
While the issues and problems related to water have been well articulated by several stakeholders over time, the IWMI-TATA program aims at evolving fresh perspectives and sustainable solutions by drawing from the vast research carried out across the country and take these in the form of policy recommendations to the policy makers at the national, state and local level.
Training workshop on understanding and resolving water conflicts In the North East India, January 23-26, 2012, Guwahati, Assam
Posted on 04 Jan, 2012 01:48 PM Organizer: Forum for Policy Dialogue,
Aaranyak (Guwahati),
Centre for the Environment, IIT ( Guwahati),
Arghyam (Bangalore),
SaciWATERs-CapNet Network (SCaN),
Cap-Net
Venue: Guwahati, Assam
Performance audit of water pollution in India – A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Posted on 03 Jan, 2012 11:44 AMThe issue was examined by CAG because various stakeholders working in the field of environment flagged water pollution as the most important environmental issue that concerns us.
The audit was conducted through document analysis, collection of responses to questionnaires, physical collection and testing of samples. The results of audit, both at the Central level and the State level, were taken into account for arriving at audit conclusions.
A plan for resolving Mullaperiyar conflict in Kerala - Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
Posted on 31 Dec, 2011 12:56 PMGuest Post: Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India
The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India has been closely following the Mullaperiyar issue for the last several years. The polarisation of views around the Mullaperiyar has hardened over the years. The Tamil Nadu government insists that the Mullaperiyar dam is safe and that the water level must be maintained at the maximum level as per the agreement. The Kerala government insists that a new dam, downstream of the present dam, must be built because the present dam is unsafe. The recent tremors with their epicentres near the dam and the already diminishing trust and rising fears and apprehensions on both sides have created a grave situation needing immediate intervention and your initiative in getting the two parties together is a welcome move.
15 tanks and 151 toilets built in 2011 to provide schools with water and sanitation': bRAINstorming
Posted on 30 Dec, 2011 02:34 PMArticle and Image Courtesy: International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA)
The newsletter focuses on all activities concerning rainwater harvesting, the International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) and its partners. This issue summarizes work done during 2011.
First international advocacy planning meeting for water and sanitation activists'- 'WASH News and policy update
Posted on 30 Dec, 2011 12:31 PMContent courtesy: India WASH Forum
Managing natural resources through simple and appropriate technological interventions for sustainable mountain development - Current Science (2011)
Posted on 30 Dec, 2011 10:07 AMThe initiative on management of natural resources through appropriate interventions aimed at:
National Alliance for People s Movements condemns arrest and harassment of anti-dam protesters in Assam
Posted on 28 Dec, 2011 12:10 PMContent courtesy: National Alliance for People's Movements
On the 26 December, 2011, at 2:15 am, Assam Police in collusion with other security forces swooped down on the protesters at Ranganadi who have been blockading the Highway since December 16 and thwarting state’s attempt to carry turbines and dam materials to project site of Lower Subansiri Dam. Nearly 200 people have been arrested and earlier also security forces have been harassing the protestors. In past too, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti fighting against the big dams on Brahmaputra have faced government’s ire and often been attacked and jailed. NAPM stands in solidarity with KMSS and other students groups of the region who have been consistently opposed to the big dams in highly sensitive seismic zone. We condemn the sustained action and harassment of KMSS and their activists and targeting of Akhil Gogoi for constantly opposing the destructive development policies and corruption of the government machinery.
Life, livelihoods, ecosystems, culture: Entitlements and allocation of water for competing uses
Posted on 27 Dec, 2011 05:10 PMThis report has been prepared by the members of the working group set up by the Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India on the issue of “Entitlements and allocations for livelihoods and ecosystem needs". The introductory chapter sets out the context of the report. The immediate context is the work of the Forum over the last 4-5 years, and the learning that this particular issue leads to many water conflicts in India.