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Everard M, Sharma OP, Vishwakarma VK, et al. Assessing the feasibility of integrating ecosystem-based with engineered water resource governance and management for water security in semi-arid landscapes: A case study in the Banas catchment, Rajasthan, India. Sci Total Environ. 2017;612:1249-1265doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.308.
Everard, M., Sharma, O. P., Vishwakarma, V. K., Khandal, D., Sahu, Y. K., Bhatnagar, R., Singh, J. K., Kumar, R., Nawab, A., Kumar, A., Kumar, V., Kashyap, A., Pandey, D. N., & Pinder, A. C. (2018). Assessing the feasibility of integrating ecosystem-based with engineered water resource governance and management for water security in semi-arid landscapes: A case study in the Banas catchment, Rajasthan, India. The Science of the total environment, 6121249-1265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.308
Everard, Mark, et al. "Assessing the feasibility of integrating ecosystem-based with engineered water resource governance and management for water security in semi-arid landscapes: A case study in the Banas catchment, Rajasthan, India." The Science of the total environment vol. 612 (2018): 1249-1265. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.308
Everard M, Sharma OP, Vishwakarma VK, Khandal D, Sahu YK, Bhatnagar R, Singh JK, Kumar R, Nawab A, Kumar A, Kumar V, Kashyap A, Pandey DN, Pinder AC. Assessing the feasibility of integrating ecosystem-based with engineered water resource governance and management for water security in semi-arid landscapes: A case study in the Banas catchment, Rajasthan, India. Sci Total Environ. 2018 Jan 15;612:1249-1265. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.308. Epub 2017 Sep 08. PMID: 28892868.
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Sci Total Environ. 2018 Jan 15;612:1249-1265. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.308. Epub 2017 Sep 08.

Assessing the feasibility of integrating ecosystem-based with engineered water resource governance and management for water security in semi-arid landscapes: A case study in the Banas catchment, Rajasthan, India.

The Science of the total environment

Mark Everard, Om Prakash Sharma, Vinod Kumar Vishwakarma, Dharmendra Khandal, Yogesh K Sahu, Rahul Bhatnagar, Jitendra K Singh, Ritesh Kumar, Asghar Nawab, Amit Kumar, Vivek Kumar, Anil Kashyap, Deep Narayan Pandey, Adrian C Pinder

Affiliations

  1. University of the West of England (UWE), Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
  2. Wells for India, 1139, Hiran Magri, Sector No 4, Udaipur 313002, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  3. Department of Civil Engineering, JK Lakshmipat University, Near Mahindra SEZ, P.O. 302 026, Ajmer Rd, Mahapura, Rajasthan 302026, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  4. Tiger Watch, Maa Farm, Sherpur Khiljipur, District Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan 322 001, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  5. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan 322 001, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  6. Forest Department, Van Bhawan, Opp. Mohta Park, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313-001, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  7. Department of Chemical Engineer, JK Lakshmipat University, Near Mahindra SEZ, P.O. 302 026, Ajmer Rd, Mahapura, Rajasthan 302026, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  8. Wetlands International - South Asia, A-25, Second Floor, Defence Colony, New Delhi 110024, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  9. Biodiversity, Rivers, Wetlands and Water Policy, WWF-India, 172-B, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  10. Department of Civil Engineering, JK Lakshmipat University, Near Mahindra SEZ, P.O. 302 026, Ajmer Rd, Mahapura, Rajasthan 302026, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  11. IIT Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  12. University of the West of England (UWE), Coldharbour Lane, Frenchay Campus, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
  13. Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Rajasthan), Aranya Bhawan, Jhalana Institutional Area, Jaipur 302004, Rajasthan, India. Electronic address: [email protected].
  14. Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset BH12 5BB, UK; Mahseer Trust, c/o The Freshwater Biological Association, East Stoke River Laboratory, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6BB, United Kingdom Director of Research, Mahseer Trust, Bournemouth University, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 28892868 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.308

Abstract

Much of the developing world and areas of the developed world suffer water vulnerability. Engineering solutions enable technically efficient extraction and diversion of water towards areas of demand but, without rebalancing resource regeneration, can generate multiple adverse ecological and human consequences. The Banas River, Rajasthan (India), has been extensively developed for water diversion, particularly from the Bisalpur Dam from which water is appropriated by powerful urban constituencies dispossessing local people. Coincidentally, abandonment of traditional management, including groundwater recharge practices, is leading to increasingly receding and contaminated groundwater. This creates linked vulnerabilities for rural communities, irrigation schemes, urban users, dependent ecosystems and the multiple ecosystem services that they provide, compounded by climate change and population growth. This paper addresses vulnerabilities created by fragmented policy measures between rural development, urban and irrigation water supply and downstream consequences for people and wildlife. Perpetuating narrowly technocentric approaches to resource exploitation is likely only to compound emerging problems. Alternatively, restoration or innovation of groundwater recharge practices, particularly in the upper catchment, can represent a proven, ecosystem-based approach to resource regeneration with linked beneficial socio-ecological benefits. Hybridising an ecosystem-based approach with engineered methods can simultaneously increase the security of rural livelihoods, piped urban and irrigation supplies, and the vitality of river ecosystems and their services to beneficiaries. A renewed policy focus on local-scale water recharge practices balancing water extraction technologies is consistent with emerging Rajasthani policies, particularly Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan ('water self-reliance mission'). Policy reform emphasising recharge can contribute to water security and yield socio-economic outcomes through a systemic understanding of how the water system functions, and by connecting goals and budgets across multiple, currently fragmented policy areas. The underpinning principles of this necessary paradigm shift are proven and have wider geographic relevance, though context-specific research is required to underpin robust policy and practical implementation.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Banas; Bisalpur; Community-based recharge; Ecosystem services; Vulnerability; Water resources

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