Department of Regional Water Studies

The aim of this paper is to study the anthropogenic inputs of nutrients and potential management of eutrophication in Sanjay van lakes. This case study was attempt to demonstrating that nutrient loading restriction is the essential cornerstone of aquatic eutrophication control. In addition, presenting results of a preliminary qualitative analysis of the causes and correlating it to the secondary analysis of the potential stress to biodiversity and finally made an attempt to recommend the possible interventions as per the knowledge and results obtained from the study

Barmer area of Rajasthan is situated in the central part of the Thar Desert and is represented by extreme arid condition. Ground water exploitation in the area is unique in many senses and is sustaining the Kharib & Rabi crop in the area. Geologically the area is occupied by Quaternary Aeolian sand overlaying on the Fatehgarh Formation sandstone. This Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene sandstone forms aquifer in the area. These semi confined aquifers having static water level in the range of 60 to 130 mbgl and are fresh to brackish to saline in nature, where the electrical conductivity (EC) varies from 700-12000µs/cm. The groundwater in southern part of Barmer area is more mineralized than the northern part. The wells having discharge in the range of 110-220 /d for a moderate draw down of 20-30m. However field investigation shown that the well construction practice in the area is very poor and not much scientific thus well efficiency in the area always remains in the lower side. Water well drilling is through deploying rotary drilling rigs with circulating mud in the area. At many place instead of bentonite mud local aeolian mud is being used. In place of quartz pea gravel, crusher stones are largely used. Many a time it has been found the material used as gravel is over size and basaltic in composition. For casing purpose, cement pipe and slotted pipes of cement are used in place of galvanized iron casing to negotiate the salinity problem. However the slot cutting is locally made and the openings are not adequate, all this resultant poor well efficiency and higher electricity consumption for pumping of ground water. Since the water levels are deep, 20-40 HP submersible pumps are used. Pumps are placed between 90 and 120m depth.

As the world grapples with the catastrophic loss of lives and livelihoods in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become evident that this shock to our health and socioeconomic system stems from our deteriorating relationship with nature. New research suggests that environmental degradation may make pandemics more likely and less manageable.

Tsunami disaster of 2004 resulted in unprecedented damage to lives and property across coastal areas of South India. Varied approaches were followed by different agencies guided by their agency mandates, socio-cultural context of reconstruction and policy frameworks provided by the State. This paper presents an analysis of twelve case studies from across the Tsunami affected areas in South India to derive lessons on ‘good practices’ for reconstruction policy and program design & implementation. The case studies have been analyzed from the perspective of technical and social responses to needs of the people and how these have contributed to institutional capacity building, knowledge systems and environmental improvement. In particular, the research attempted to understand good practices related to: • Risk Reduction: structural strengthening, site planning as well as knowledge development. • Contextual appreciation and response: cultural, climatic and local political appreciation; res...

India is currently at a crucial juncture where it is aiming for economic growth to meet the basic needs of its 1.2 billion people. However, so far this growth has resulted in energy shortages and the increasing use of limited resources. This policy brief series is about decoupling, i.e. improving efficiency to reduce the resources and energy needed for this growth and meet the country's increasing development needs. The construction sector is highly resource and energy intensive; it is therefore imperative that it moves towards a path of environmental sustainability. This transition is likely to be achieved by decoupling both resource and energy use from the sector's growth. Decision-makers in the sector will play a crucial role in achieving this. The aim of this policy brief series is to inform decision-makers in India at central government and state level about the current status of research, policy and institutions in the Indian construction sector and to identify key dri...

This document is an outcome of a project titled; "Achieving resource synergies for a rapidly urbanizing India" funded by Heinrich Böll Foundation, for the economic development, social empowerment and environment management of our society. This Background paper is intended for use by policy-makers, academics, media, government, non-government organisations and general public for guidance on matters of interest only and does not constitute professional advice. The opinions contained in this document are those of the authors only. However, the decision and responsibility to use the information contained in this Background Paper lies solely with the reader. The author(s) and the publisher(s) are not liable for any consequences as a result of use or application of this document. Content may be used/quoted with due acknowledgement to Development Alternatives.

Front cover photo credit: Development Alternatives India with its unprecedented movement towards economic growth and development has to incorporate a pathway that indicates an appropriate future for the country. While the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is on an upward curve, the two other aspects of sustainability, i.e., social and environmental, don’t paint as colourful a picture. This is where it is necessary to differentiate pathways for transitioning towards a ‘Super Power’ with the highest demographic dividend which ensures the well-being of people and the planet, or treading on its historic pathway that encompasses multidimensional poverty, vast inequality, and severe environmental damage. There are available various pathways to overcome barriers and hurdles that are stagnating the movement achieving a sustainable future in the country.

Global economic and social development over the last two centuries has been largely achieved through intensive, inefficient and unsustainable use of the earth’s finite resources. Over the course of the 20th century global resource extraction and use increased by around a factor of 89. Global population grew around half as fast and GDP grew at a significantly higher rate (by a factor of 23). Given a world population that grows by 200,000 people each day and especially a rapidly growing global “middle class” associated with resource-intensive consumption patterns, the demand for natural resources will continue to increase. According to the Global Footprint Network, if current economic and production trends persist, we will need the equivalent of two Earths to support us by 20301.

Building resilience in the face of increasing frequencies and intensities of disasters has become a major challenge of the 21 century. South Asia’s people, a majority of them living in rural areas have to face this challenge within a context of large development deficits increasing their vulnerabilities manifold. A durable, safe and sustainable habitat is a manifestation of a resilient society. However, shelter-less-ness has been a bane of our societies, and each of the South Asian countries is grappling with the multiple challenges of an increasing housing gap due to population pressure, poverty that reduces the access of poor to quality housing and recurrent disasters that continue to cause large scale damage to life and habitats. Increasing resource constraints leading to negative environmental impacts of development further add to the burden. In India, rural housing has been viewed by public policy through the lens of ‘social housing’ alone. The public sector in the first sixty ...

Front cover photo credit: Development Alternatives By 2050, Indian cities will be home to 900 million people (FICCI, 2011). The rapid pace of urbanisation owing to the rural–urban migration is resulting in a strain on the urban infrastructure in these cities. As urban development steams ahead, a growing concern for urban planners is the massive urban housing shortage plaguing the country. The shortage, prominent within the EWS (economically weaker sections) and LIG (lower income groups), is estimated at 18.78 million households in 2012 (Ministry of Housing and Poverty Alleviation, 2012). It is opined that this trend is likely to continue on the back of robust economic development across the country. Given this scenario, it becomes critical to fill the existing gaps in the country’s strained urban infrastructure and in particular, housing. Primarily, it would be important to address the need in the EWS (economically weaker sections) and LIG (lower income groups), which currently acco...

Front cover photo credit: Development Alternatives The paradox of India’s story is that the economic growth has not translated into fully solving the most pertinent problems of the nation and some of the rudimentary needs of its people. The one side of the growth story shows the ever growing India with sustained high GDP growth rate while on the other end; poverty, inequality, unemployment and environmental exploitation are posing continuous challenges for India to sustain the current growth trajectory. The present systems are either not in capacity to deliver what India aspires for its people or some people’s aspirations have put the systems in place out of capacity.

7 Chapter 1 Agriculture Production Systems and Food Security: India’s Current Scenario 8 Chapter 2: Framework for reviewing semi-arid rain-fed agriculture systems 12 Chapter 3: Assessing the role of science and technological interventions in agriculture systems 17 Chapter 4: Assessing role of community models on agriculture systems 29 Chapter 5: Learnings from assessment of interventions in agriculture systems 39

Tsunami disaster of 2004 resulted in unprecedented damage to lives and property across coastal areas of South India. Varied approaches were followed by different agencies guided by their agency mandates, socio-cultural context of reconstruction and policy frameworks provided by the State. This paper presents an analysis of twelve case studies from across the Tsunami affected areas in South India to derive lessons on 'good practices' for reconstruction policy and program design & implementation. The case studies have been analyzed from the perspective of technical and social responses to needs of the people and how these have contributed to institutional capacity building, knowledge systems and environmental improvement. In particular, the research attempted to understand good practices related to: • Risk Reduction: structural strengthening, site planning as well as knowledge development. • Contextual appreciation and response: cultural, climatic and local political appreciation; response to the need for timeliness and participation of affected communities. • Social and livelihood concerns: concerns of gender equity, social disparities and vulnerabilities within sections of society; promotion of habitat-based livelihoods. • Environmental responsibility: response to local ecological as well as national and global concerns of climate change and resource optimization in habitat construction. • Institutional anchoring of systemic interventions: addressing long-term sustainability of efforts, growth and development through partnerships, institutional strengthening, capacity building, and knowledge support systems. These have provided the basis for identifying guiding principles for a practical and futuristic habitat planning approach for reconstruction.

India's present development trajectory is at a crucial juncture with a requirement to meet the demands of a population of over 1.2 billion along whilst ensuring environmental sustainability. The resulting economic growth over the past two decades has over-exploited finite natural resources and led to tremendous environmental degradation. Therefore, decoupling economic growth from resource consumption is crucial in the transformation towards a green economy. Building construction is one of the most resource-intensive sectors, as well as creating high impact on the environment. This study analyzes existing mechanisms in India's building construction sector that attempt to decouple economic growth from resource use and environmental impacts. The key contributors for decoupling are analyzed. Recommendations for regulatory, market incentives, transparency and data monitoring, capacity building are provided for an array of policy initiatives targetted at political and financial decision makers at the national, state and local level, for different building