Dams and Irrigation

There are few issues that have greater impact on the life of mankind and the planet as a whole than the management of our most important natural resources water. This has only been realised in detail more recently by the general public as well as by many planners and decision-makers. Around the world they have begun to appropriate the critical importance of a reliable water supply for their future survival and sustainable development. Rivers are lifelines in countries like India serving different uses such as transport, agriculture, fisheries, personal hygiene and others. Conflicts over use of water resources must be settled through better water management policies. In many localities of the earth water-related problems have become extremely acute, even critical. In some places they are the source of social instability and are a threat to international security. There is not the slightest doubt that, with further population increase and under the "water business-as-usual" scenario, these problems will become ever major acute, thus creating ever more instability. After decades of water waste, water pollution, and inability to provide basic water services to the poor we must fundamentally change the way we think about and manage water. We have to realise that water can no longer be considered to be a cheap and plentiful resource, which can be used abused or squandered without much concern for further human welfare.