Ajaya Dixit

Floods and Vulnerability: Need to Rethink Flood Management

Responses to flooding in the Himalaya-Ganga region have conventionally beensought under the hierarchic mode using the strategy of control. Because it has notgiven due consideration to diverse contexts of the region and thereby the specificapproaches that such context necessitate, the particular approach has not broughtabout security from flooding. Three responses are seen in the terrain of flooddisaster. These are the hierarchic manager, individualistic innovator and theegalitarian social activist. The hierarchies define control as the solution to theproblems of flood: this is the approach preferred by state agencies. At theindividualistic level the sought strategy is flexibility to cope with the situation.The response by social activists is guided by egalitarian critiques of the hierarchicapproach. Each pursues his/her own styles and continuously contests the policyterrain. This paper reviews the nature of flood disaster in the Himalaya-Gangaby focussing on plains Nepal. It argues that conventional approach has not beenable to provide the security envisaged. The paper suggests that vulnerability ofpeople in risk-prone areas must be addressed by enhancing resilience capacity.For this to happen the approach must be pluralistic that gives space to eachmanagement style with varying obligations at varying scales.

Water and science: hydrological uncertainties, developmental aspirations and uningrained scientific culture

Abstract Responses to water management needs in the Himalaya–Ganga region have traditionally been sought under the hierarchic mode by defining science in a unitary sense. Because it has ignored the pluralistic contexts and thereby the specific approaches that each demands, the particular notion of science has led to entrenched positions exacerbating disputes. In the realm of water use and management, the hierarchic manager, individualistic entrepreneur and the egalitarian social activist continuously contest the policy terrain; each articulates his/her own management style. A pluralistic approach that gives space to each management style with varying obligations at varying scales may avoid the pitfalls of the past. By allowing forces of entrepreneurial innovation, egalitarian caution and governmental regulation their due institutional participation, interventions become less dispute-ridden in an increasingly uncertain and stressful future.

Hydrogeological typologies of the Indo-Gangetic basin alluvial aquifer, South Asia

The Indo-Gangetic aquifer is one of the world’s most important transboundary water resources, and the most heavily exploited aquifer in the world. To better understand the aquifer system, typologies have been characterized for the aquifer, which integrate existing datasets across the Indo-Gangetic catchment basin at a transboundary scale for the first time, and provide an alternative conceptualization of this aquifer system. Traditionally considered and mapped as a single homogenous aquifer of comparable aquifer properties and groundwater resource at a transboundary scale, the typologies illuminate significant spatial differences in recharge, permeability, storage, and groundwater chemistry across the aquifer system at this transboundary scale. These changes are shown to be systematic, concurrent with large-scale changes in sedimentology of the Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial aquifer, climate, and recent irrigation practices. Seven typologies of the aquifer are presented, each having a distinct set of challenges and opportunities for groundwater development and a different resilience to abstraction and climate change. The seven typologies are: (1) the piedmont margin, (2) the Upper Indus and Upper-Mid Ganges, (3) the Lower Ganges and Mid Brahmaputra, (4) the fluvially influenced deltaic area of the Bengal Basin, (5) the Middle Indus and Upper Ganges, (6) the Lower Indus, and (7) the marine-influenced deltaic areas.RésuméL’aquifère de l’Indus et du Gange est une des ressources en eau transfrontalière la plus importante au monde et un des aquifères le plus exploité au monde. Pour mieux comprendre le système aquifère, des typologies ont été caractérisées pour cet aquifère ; elles intègrent pour la première fois un jeu de données disponibles sur l’ensemble du bassin de l’Indus et du Gange à une échelle transfrontalière, et apportent une conceptualisation alternative de ce système aquifère. Traditionnellement considéré et cartographié comme un simple aquifère homogène aux propriétés aquifères similaires et comme une ressource d’eau souterraine à l’échelle transfrontalière, les typologies mettent en évidence des différences significatives spatiales de la recharge, de la perméabilité, de la capacité de stockage et de la chimie des eaux souterraines sur l’ensemble du système aquifère à une échelle transfrontalière. Ces changements sont systématiques coïncidant aux changements à large échelle de la sédimentologie de l’aquifère alluvial du Pléistocène et de l’Holocène, du climat et des pratiques récentes d’irrigation. Sept typologies de l’aquifère sont présentées, chacune ayant un ensemble distinct de défis et d’opportunités pour le développement des eaux souterraines et une résilience différente à l’exploitation et au changement climatique. Les sept typologies sont: (1) la marge de piedmont, (2) Le haut Indus et le Ganges moyen supérieur, (3) le Ganges inférieur et le Brahmapoutre moyen, (4) la zone deltaïque du bassin du Bengale sous influence fluviale, (5) l’Indus moyen et le Ganges supérieur, (6) l’Indus inférieur, et (7) la zone deltaïque sous influence marine.ResumenEl acuífero Indo-Gangético es uno de los recursos hídricos transfronterizos más importantes y el acuífero más explotado del mundo. Para comprender mejor el sistema acuífero, por primera vez se han caracterizado tipologías para el acuífero, integrando los conjuntos de datos existentes a través de la cuenca hidrográfica Indo-Ganges a una escala transfronteriza, y proporcionando una conceptualización alternativa de este sistema acuífero. Tradicionalmente consideradas y cartografiadas como un solo acuífero homogéneo de propiedades acuíferas y recursos de agua subterránea comparables a escala transfronteriza, las tipologías iluminan diferencias espaciales significativas en la recarga, permeabilidad, almacenamiento y química del agua subterránea a través del sistema acuífero a esta escala transfronteriza. Estos cambios son mostrados por ser sistemáticos, coincidentes con cambios en gran escala en la sedimentología del acuífero aluvial del Pleistoceno y del Holoceno, en el clima y en las prácticas recientes de riego. Se presentan siete tipologías del acuífero, cada una con un conjunto distinto de desafíos y oportunidades para el desarrollo del agua subterránea y una diferente resiliencia a la extracción y al cambio climático. Las siete tipologías son: (1) el margen del piedemonte, (2) el Indus superior y el Ganges superior-medio, (3) el Ganges inferior y el Brahmaputra medio, (4) el área deltaica fluvialmente influenciada de la cuenca de Bengala, (5) el Ganges superior, (6) el Indo Inferior, y (7) las áreas deltaicas con influencia marina.摘要印度-恒河含水层是世界上最重要的跨界水资源之一,也是世界上开采量最大的含水层。为了更好地了解含水层系统,结合现有的印度-恒河流域盆地数据,第一次在跨界尺度上对含水层的类型进行了特征描述,提供了这个含水层系统供选择的概念模型。传统上,被认为并被绘制为可比较含水层特性的单一均质含水层及跨界尺度上地下水资源,类型学阐明了这个跨界尺度上含水层系统补给、透水率、储存量和地下水化学上的重要空间差别。这些变化显示与更新世和全新世冲积含水层、气候和最近灌溉实践沉积学上的大尺度变化是系统性的、也是一致的。展示了含水层的七个类型,每个类型都具有一套独特的地下水开发的挑战和机会以及针对抽水和气候变化的不同恢复力。七个类型为:(1)山前边缘;(2)印度河上游及恒河中上游;(3)恒河下游及雅鲁藏布江中游;(4)孟加拉流域洪积影响的三角洲地区;(5)印度河中游及恒河上游;(6)印度河下游;(7)海相影响的三角洲地区。ResumoO aquífero do Indo-Gangético é um dos recursos hídricos transfronteiriços mais importantes do mundo, e o mais explorado. Para melhor entender o sistema aquífero, tipologias foram caracterizadas para o aquífero, que integram pela primeira vez bancos de dados existentes sobre a bacia de abastecimento Indo-Gangética em uma escala transfornteiriça, e fornecem uma conceptualização alternativa desse sistema aquífero. Tradicionalmente considerado e mapeado como um aquífero homogêneo de propriedades aquíferas comparáveis e recursos subterrâneos em escala transfronteiriça, as tipologias elucidam diferenças espaciais significantes na recarga, permeabilidade, armazenamento, e química das águas subterrâneas pelo aquífero nessa escala transfronteiriça. Essas mudanças aparentam ser sistemáticas, concorrentes com mudanças em larga escala na sedimentologia do aquífero aluvial do Pleistoceno e Holoceno, clima e práticas recentes de irrigação. Sete tipologias do aquífero são apresentadas, cada uma tendo conjuntos de desafios e oportunidades distintos para o desenvolvimento das águas subterrâneas e uma resiliência diferente nas mudanças de extração e clima. As sete tipologias são: (1) a margem piemonte, (2) O Alto Indo e o Alto-médio Ganges, (3) O Baixo Ganges e o Médio Brahmaputra, (4) a área deltaica influenciada fluvialmente da Bacia de Bengala, (5) o Médio Indo e o Alto Ganges, (6) o Baixo Indo, e (7) as áreas deltaicas com influencia marinha.

Addressing Disjunctures in water and irrigation

ING FROM DIVERSITY Water problems are as diverse as the human settlements that depend on water availability. In a region as large as Asia, the number of water-related problems is so vast that it is impossible to engage with any crisis, whether flood or drought, pollution or displacement, without paying homage to water. The region spans every known climatic and hydroecological zone, including deserts, tropical floodplains and tundra. The challenge of providing varied human dwellings in such diverse habitats with safe and reliable water, for both human consumption and economic activities promoting general well-being, will have to engage the sum total of known global ingenuity. Despite this diversity, it is necessary to identify and address common problems if we intend to forge any intelligent plan for collective action to solve water and settlementrelated problems. This effort will require us to step back from specifics, which are different in every hamlet and town in every clime, and deduce general lessons. It is precisely in drawing such lessons that those of us engaged in redressing social or environmental wrongs face our biggest challenge. Water problems, especially those that pertain to social equity and environmental sanity are often very local concerns that demand actions at the local level, but regional and global cooperation on such local issues are difficult to define unless the problems have been generalised for a global audience. This generalisation is not an easy thing to do, but without it, no agreement is possible on how to proceed forward with collective action. Social and environmental activists are intimately in touch with their grassroots and they function most effectively in local situations. But, in all honesty, they are not very effective at the global level where they have to confront problems abstracted to several levels above the grassroots. Often, activists find themselves confronting a situation in which the issues that they have dealt with at the field level have been re-cast in such a manner that they are hardly recognisable. In some cases of resetting, sharp multinational