07 - June - 2003

Report of the

Seminar Organized by Eco Friends and CPCB
on
World Environment Day- June 05, 2003

Scientists from IIT, HBTI, academicians, activists and officials from various government departments attended the seminar jointly organized by Eco Friends and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at Merchants Chamber, Kanpur. The participants discussed and debated the various aspects of water crisis at the macro and micro level and also deliberated on strategies and measures to mitigate the crisis.

Mr B P Shukla, the Zonal Officer, CPCB, while welcoming the guests and the participants introduced the theme “Water – two billion people are dying for it ”. He presented the alarming statistics and forecasts of the impending water calamity. Mr Shukla described the users’ water manual features, emphasizing how much water of what quality is required for human use but lamented the gulf between the actual availability and the ideal supply.

Dr Vinod Tare, Professor Department of Civil Engineering, IIT, Kanpur, while delivering the inaugural address as the Chief Guest of the seminar said water is a precious gift of nature and one must remember that all life forms are dependent on water, and all life forms are dependent on each other. Humans must learn to preserve and protect water bodies and use water for their essential needs. There is enough water available to satisfy our needs, and misuse and wastage of water must be stopped. It is regrettable that the high standard of living is associated with high consumption of water. Much of the water we use (misuse) for conveying our wastes from the point of generation to the point of disposal. This practice must end, and we should look at alternative means for sanitation and waste management. We must look at options of dry sanitation which will reduce our water consumption substantially and regenerate our soil resource. With this concept, we will not need to plan for more water supply schemes, we will not need resources for larges sewerage systems, we will not need huge land areas or highly mechanized wastewater treatment plants. Similarly we must stop excessive use (misuse) of water for agriculture. This is again possible if we keep feeding organic matter to soil resource which is depleting very fast as against the practice of sending our wastes to water resources, the present practice of waste management. Increasing organic content of soil will make it alive, will allow it to retain moisture for a longer time, and subsequently will need much less water for agriculture. Savings in water or stopping misuse of water for domestic and agriculture will enable us to fulfill the needs of all people, not only of present generation, but also of future generation.

Dr A C Shukla, a water security expert and a visiting scholar with Arms Control Disarmament and International Security (ACDIS), University of Illinois, while speaking on interlinking of rivers in India said that is it the judicial activism of Supreme Court directing the executive in matters of waters and environment or populist move of the government for electoral benefits or despair over water, prompting government for execution of this mega project as an answer for quenching the thirst of millions of Indians. The supply driven linear model of governance under negative response of civil society over the issue has in store success or failure of the project in the lap of future which needs a consensus among the prominent state power and the agency of civil society.

Dr Vandana Asthana, researcher with NRES, University of Illinois and an expert on water security and conflict resolution discussed the challenges facing the mega projects with special reference to inter-linking of rivers in India and specified culture of expert knowledge, global capital mobilization, risk assessment and conflict associated with the project needing attention before plunging into the execution.

Dr Shiv Rattan Gupta, former Divisional Head, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi expressed concern over the shrinkage of pond system in the country and emphasized on revival of the same.

Prof. Ch. Harish Chandra remarked on the pathetic scenario in several big and small Indian cities over scarcity of water. He gave examples of vanishing water reservoirs and questioned the propriety of policy planners to take measures for their revival.

Dr Mukesh Sharma from IIT, Kanpur observed that water should not be treated as a free commodity and it should be treated like any other market based commodity. Mr Sharma expressed his concern over the water losses and said that it is very high (30 %– 40 %) in Kanpur. He suggested that the technology should be used to reduce these unaccounted losses. While commenting on the pricing aspect of the water, he said that the poor people can not be taxed any further. A judicious mechanism needs to be devised so that the rich pay more for using the excess water. Industrial water should not be subsidized. Full water costing for the industries (including opportunity costs) should be done and the revenue so generated should be deployed for modernizing the treatment and distribution of water system.

Mr Arvind Kumar, District Magistrate, Kanpur City was the special guest of the seminar. He informed the participants about the practical measures being taken by the government to overcome the problem of water scarcity as well as quality in Kanpur. He emphasized the need of a partnership between the government and the civil society for mitigating the water crisis. He also stressed on the urgency of an education, awareness and mass mobilization programs and assured the participants to lend full support to NGOs like Eco Friends in their endeavor.

Mr Rakesh K Jaiswal, Executive Secretary, Eco Friends while extending a vote of thanks to the guests and the participants of the seminar observed that there is no scarcity of water as such but it’s the unequal and uneven distribution and mismanagement of water which need to be managed. He observed that the water is the most mismanaged and abused natural resource. People need to value water. Suggesting measures to mitigate water scarcity, Mr Jaiswal said that concerted efforts are needed to increase supplies as well as balance the demands of agriculture, domestic use, industry and the environment through economic measures, regulations and campaigns to motivate and equip users to conserve. Achieving such concerted efforts to water is challenging, but essential for our survival and survival of the planet earth.

Eco Friends with an active support from District Magistrate, Kanpur city is putting up 5 huge hoardings (20 ft * 10 ft) at prime locations of the city.

Click Here to see the hoarding format.