SMDS III

WaterThe discussions of 26 September

Topics for discussion

● Ecosystems● Water supply and infrastructure● Hydropower● Climate change● Disasters● Policy, governance

Ecosystems

● Inadequate knowledge about dying springs ● Loss of forests and grasslands affects water

availability and storage● Water conservation,including rainwater

harvesting necessary● Environmental flows in Himalayan rivers not

taken into account

Water supply and infrastructure

● Inadequate water availability : quality and quantity

● Ensuring sustainable access to water for urban areas

● Ensuring sustainable supply for agriculture● Degradation of source

Hydropower

● Decision making processes :

non-transparent and non-inclusive● Focus on demand management ● What interests push hydropower despite risks?● Cumulative impact assessment a must● Neutral and technically sound EIA agency● Promote small hydro under community

ownership

Climate change

● Receding glaciers● Erratic rainfall leading to changes in

agricultural patterns● Mountain population more vulnerable● Increasing water disputes● Increasing hydro-meteorological disasters

Disasters

● Disasters are increasingly anthropogenic ● Lack of compensation of land lost to disasters● Lack of early warning systems, including

community owned ones● Vulnerable and risk prone areas are not

identified

Policy and governance

● State experiences with policy● Policy process : not based on science and peoples'

feedback● Governance: Water ownership, institutions● Policies need to take advantage of state-relevant

acts and suggest reforms where necessary● Lack of capacity development for policy awareness

and implementation. ● Lack of data availability and access