Latest news with #InternationalCommissiononIrrigationandDrainage
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Ganesha devotees vs historic lake: PIL in NGT to urge authorities to protect Dhamapur lake in Maharashtra
More than 500 years ago, in the lush forests of Sindhudurga district, two villages, Dhamapur and Kalse, came together and constructed an earthen dam, creating a water reservoir that acted as a flood mitigation measure. The Dhamapur lake, which is a World Heritage Irrigation structure of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, is now under threat from immersed Ganesha idols. A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Pune on June 10 against the immersion of idols and washing of utensils and clothes in Dhamapur lake, and to urge authorities to take greater ownership. 'If you take a bird's eye view of Dhamapur village, you will see that there is a Karli creek on one side and a plateau on the other. The region receives heavy rainfall, around 3,000 mm, and we can understand that there would have been flooding in those days. The earthen dam was built to stop the water flow, and a huge lake was created. After creating the lake, the villagers realised that the water could be channelled through the farm fields and then connected to the Karli creek. We see that the dynamics of this engineering were compatible with the biodiversity and ecosystem,' said Sachin Desai of the University of Life, a centre for sustainable livelihood and lifelong learning run by Syamantak Trust in Dhamapur. He further said that the canal that winds from the field is connected to the creek. 'So, the salinity of the creek water is reduced because fresh water continuously flows into it from the field,' Desai added. Around 15 years ago, the Syamantak Trust realised that the dynamics of the lake were not well-known among the local people, largely due to migration. 'We saw that they were constructing a skywalk inside the lake. This was something abnormal, and a student from our organisation, who went on to become a lawyer, filed a petition in the NGT against the skywalk,' said Desai, adding that they did a complete documentation of the entire village at the time. The result was that the court gave a stringent order against the skywalk. It was during this time that the organisation observed that over 200 idols were immersed in the lake. 'At one point, the villagers and even the people of Malvan town were complaining that there was significant siltation in the lake, which was reducing its water-carrying capacity. According to the Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency – Vol. X, published in 1880, and old scriptures, the lake's depth was around 38 feet. In its history of 500 years, the lake has never shrunk. In 2019, for the first time, the water reached the dead level. We see the wisdom of old engineering and how modern techniques and technology have been harmful to the water body,' said Desai. A further survey revealed that the clay for Ganesh idols was being brought to the Konkan from Gujarat and Rajasthan. Ganeshotsav is a major festival in the Konkan, and though the use of Plaster of Paris in making idols is not allowed by law, shadu mati was not helping either. Yet, truckloads of the clay were coming to the region. 'Then second thing we found was that the idol makers were putting some kind of hard plastic to create the ornamentation for the idols. All this was being immersed in the lake,' said Desai. 'The collector sanctioned around Rs 10 lakh to the irrigation department, and an immersion tank was constructed. But which authority would ensure that idols were immersed in the tank? For the last two years, local volunteers have been trying to encourage villagers to immerse the idols in the tank. 'We have some statistics; Around 70 per cent of idols are going into the immersion tank. The rest are still going into the lake,' added Desai. On the request of the organisation, a few eminent Marathi actors like Anand Ingle, Parna Pethe, Pratima Kulkarni, Suhas Paranjpe, Umesh Jagtap, and the late Atul Parchure made video bites to appeal to villagers to immerse their idols only in the designated tank. The organisation also removed the clay and encouraged a local idol maker to recycle it into another idol. 'He made some miniature small clay idols and earned around Rs 70,000 from that,' said Desai. 'Our petition in the NGT is based on the fact that the irrigation department and the district collector are the trustees of the water bodies and all the natural resources. As a trustee, they have to protect this natural wealth and take steps to conserve it, which they are not doing,' Desai further said. There are eight tonnes of clay immersed in the lake. Desai said they are hoping that the irrigation department will take steps to stop further deterioration of the lake, and barricades and security personnel will be installed at the lake to prevent people from immersing idols in the water. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kalingarayan Anicut in Erode to restored at ₹1.34 crore
The 742-year-old Kalingarayan Anicut, one of the oldest river-linking projects still in use, is all set to be revamped, as the State government will soon carry out restoration works estimated at ₹1.34 crore. The anicut was constructed across River Bhavani, just above its confluence with River Cauvery, at Mettunasuvampalayam in Bhavani. The Kalingarayan Canal, which originates from the right side of the anicut, runs for 91.10 km, irrigating 15,743 acres in the district before joining River Noyyal at Kodumudi. The construction of the anicut and canal was carried out between 1271 and 1283 by the Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan Gounder. It is the second and last anicut across the river below Bhavanisagar Dam. In recognition of its historical significance, the anicut system was declared a 'World Heritage Irrigation Structure' by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) in 2021. A memorial, including a statue of the chieftain, stands near the anicut and is visited by many. Though restoration works have been undertaken over the years, the lack of basic amenities for visitors, students, and farmers has long been a concern. In 2024–25, the Water Resources Department (WRD) decided to address these issues by providing facilities such as toilets, parking, and water supply. It also proposed the establishment of a museum to exhibit old photographs, 3D models, and materials highlighting the history of the heritage structure. Additionally, all components of the anicut are to be renovated, as per Government Order No. 50 issued by the WRD on November 12, 2024. As part of the project, the anicut structures will be revamped, a museum will be set up to educate the public about its history, a tourist park will be developed, and a three-dimensional schematic model will be installed. The project also includes the renovation of canal shutters and the provision for drinking water, toilet facilities, and vehicle parking space. The estimated cost of the work is ₹1.34 crore, and the WRD, Bhavani Basin Circle, has recently floated a tender for its execution. The last date for submission of e-tender is June 10, and the tenders will be opened on the same day. The selected contractor will be given a 12-month period to complete the project.
Shafaq News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
New life for ancient rivers: Iraq's water initiative gains UN acclaim
Shafaq News/ Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani unveiled a regional initiative to protect the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as Iraq faces one of its most critical water crises in decades. Speaking at the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference, held on Saturday under the theme Water and Technology: Partnership for Development, al-Sudani outlined a strategy focused on joint water management, modernized irrigation, and cross-border cooperation. 'We live through economic, social, and security challenges, all of which depend on the availability of water,' al-Sudani said. 'This is not just an infrastructure issue—it touches every part of life and demands collective responsibility.' The initiative drew praise from Marco Arcieri, president of the UN-affiliated International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), who commended Iraq's historic leadership in water systems. 'Iraq has always been a pioneer in water management,' Arcieri said. 'With today's technologies and regional collaboration, it can lead once again.' He emphasized that global partners are actively supporting Iraq in deploying advanced technologies to bolster water and food security. Iraq's water supply has been shrinking rapidly. Flows from the Tigris and Euphrates—its main water sources—have dropped by up to 40% due to upstream dams, climate change, and prolonged droughts, leading to shrinking reservoirs, dying farmlands, polluted water, and the growing displacement of rural communities. Supporting the prime minister's call, Water Resources Minister Aoun Diab described Iraq as one of the most water-stressed nations in the world, grappling with 'complex and overlapping challenges.' 'The biggest threat isn't just water scarcity—it's the lack of cooperation,' Diab said, urging neighboring countries to engage in joint river basin management. Diab also noted that Iraq is pursuing a plan to improve water governance and align with sustainable development goals. Speaking on behalf of President Abdul Latif Rashid, Presidential Advisor Mohammed Amin underscored Iraq's downstream vulnerability in both river basins, calling for a binding agreement with Turkiye to secure a fair water share. 'This is not a temporary challenge—it is a national crisis,' Amin said, adding that climate change and unregulated water usage are accelerating the problem.
Iraqi News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
resources Ministry reveal the contents of its 5th BIWC from May 24 to 26
Baghdad-INA The Ministry of Water Resources revealed today, Friday, the details of its fifth Baghdad international water conference (BIWC) scheduled from May 24 to 26. "under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and under the supervision of Minister of Water Resources Aoun Diab Abdullah, the Ministry of Water Resources is organizing its5th BIWC, which will host the eleventh conference on precision irrigation of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage from May 24 to 26 of this year,' The ministry stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) . The head of the scientific and technical committee for the conference, Hatim Hamid Hussein, stated in the statement that "the conference witnesses wide participation from local and international political figures, international organizations, and civil society organizations, in addition to Iraqi ministries, experts, and academics in the fields of water resource management and climate change," indicating that "the conference aims to highlight the challenges facing the water sector and propose practical solutions to overcome it." He explained that "the ministry is set to launch the initiative 'Protection of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers' during the conference, in collaboration with government agencies, international organizations, and civil society organizations several memoranda of understanding will also be signed with local and international technical and scientific entities to implement strategic projects, he pointed out that "the conference will also address issues related to marshlands, and the role of women and youth in water resource management, in addition to holding specialized workshops with the participation of the Supreme Council for Youth and local and international research centers."
Business Mayor
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Come to a Pakistandstill: India wields Indus Treaty as strategic weapon to isolate Pakistan over terror
Pakistan was bestowed rights to receive for unrestricted use all those waters of the western rivers that India was under obligation to let flow under the extant provisions. Thus, by design, India was magnanimous in providing water to Pakistan. India has always helped nations in the neighbourhood – Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. This benevolence yielded results for the economic renaissance of these countries. But Pakistan was the odd one out, digging a deep trench for itself even as India tried its best to engage with it for peace and prosperity. The benevolent, tactical 'Sada-e-Sarhad' bus diplomacy of the Vajpayee government, initiating a passage of people's movement through borders, promising to foster abundant trade and commerce, never fructified. Successive military rules, directly or by proxy, orchestrating anti- India moves, ensured only frosty results. Such non-economic intervention has ensured that Pakistan GDP has grown at a snail's pace, flip-flopping from $339 bn in FY17 to $373 bn in FY24. Average growth comes to less than 1.5% in the intermittent period, even as average inflation since FY21 stands at 16.8% with red-hot high price prints of 29.2% and 23.4% in FY23 and FY24, respectively. The Pakistani rupee, mirroring internal fractures of a failed state, depreciated by 100% between September 2021 and August 2023 in a vicious cycle. While both food and energy have retraced in recent days, there are apparently fault lines in the calculation methodology, as share of food and beverages comes at just 36% in its CPI Pakistan stands 13th in terms of countries with highest defence spending as percentage of GDP. Market capitalisation of the KSE-100-led Pakistan Stock Exchange is only 15% of total GDP, undermining investors' lack of confidence even as KSE-100 has remained flat International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) report puts the rural population percentage at about 63% for the fifth most-populous country on the planet, its current population estimated to be more than 25 cr. Livelihoods of Pakistan's rural population are mainly agriculture-based, which, in turn, is dependent chiefly on irrigation. This, even as close to 40% of the population lives BPL. Read More Adani Enterprises weighs stake sale in Wilmar | ET Now analysis There lies the economic significance of IWT, as Punjab remains the largest economy in Pakistan, contributing close to 60% in national output. Sindh, second-largest province in terms of population and GDP, factors close to 25%. Share of agriculture in GDP stood at 24% in 2024, falling from a high of 30.6% in 2000-01. But it continues to shoulder around two- third of the population, directly or indirectly. Two of Pakistan's largest exports, textiles and basmati rice, depend on irrigation dynamics even as trade deficit threatens to vault in a volatile tariff- induced environment. The road to Brussels goes through Rome, is a well-accepted preamble, cementing the belief that long-term peace comes at the cost of innumerable sacrifices. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee wrote in the visitor's book at Lahore's Minar-e-Pakistan in 1999 that a 'stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan is in India's interest. Let no one in Pakistan be in doubt. India sincerely wishes Pakistan well,' Islamabad mistook it as Indian weakness, surreptitiously preparing to capture Kargil. It's time the people of Pakistan realise that India can be a friendly neighbour. Or be made to revisit 1971. The choice is completely in their hands. As for agencies like IMF, which have frequently bailed out Pakistan, they would do well to introspect if common, scarce global resources should be put in the hands of a rogue nation on the brink of anarchy.
