The importance of lakes as sustainers and enrichers of life has been recognized by humans from pre-historic times. Prefixing terms of affection or reverence such as ‘mother’, or ‘holy’ with the names of lakes as rivers has been common to most ancient civilizations. So has been the wisdom that protection of lakes amounts to protection of one’s own life and well-being. India’s being among the oldest and richest of civilizations, creating or developing lakes, and protecting the existing ones, have been regarded as pious activities; acts of Punya. There is equally strong condemnation for all the acts which may damage a lake or pollute its waters. Concern for natural resources, in general, and of rivers and lakes in particular, is reflected in all ancient Indian texts. But as the 21 century unfolds, bringing in its wake the spectre of global warming and the imminent loss of freshwater resources, we are forced to look back at our rots and to all the traditions of conservations that had kept the roots strong and healthy till now. Luckily for us, the same technology which, when misused and overused, had led to the neglect of our natural resources, now can be called to our rescue. If used judiciously, the technology can help as in reversing the harmful trends. This book, authored by the internationally acclaimed environmentalist Prof. S.A. Abbasi and the GIS expert Dr. K.B. Chari is a mine of information. The do-how, and know-how contained in the book would be invaluable to all those interested in studying urban lakes and in devising strategies for their protection.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR S.A. Abbasi
Dr. S.A. Abbasi, senior Professor & Director, Centre for Pollution Control & Energy Technology has taken MS (Miami, USA), Ph. D. (IIT Bombay) and DSc Cochin University of Science & Technology) and had his post doctoral training at Japan specializing in environmental engineering and energy systems. Beginning his professional career in 1970, Prof. Abbasi has taught at IIT Bombay, BITS Pilani, and Bhopal University before joining Centre for Water Resources, kozhikode. There he headed Water Quality & Environment Division for eight years (1979-87). In 1984 he was honoured with Visiting Professorship of California State University, USA and held that position till 1987. In 1987 Prof. Abbasi moved to a professorial chair at Pondicherry (Central) University becoming Director, Centre for Pollution Control & Energy Technology, in 1991 and Director-cum-senior Professor in 1997; a position in which he continues till now. He is consultant, International Foundation for Water Science & Technology, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Environmental Works. Al-Khobar; and Member of Honorary Advisory Board, Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems, being published for UK. Prof. Abbasi has been chairman/member of numerous national and international expert committees and has been session chairman of international conferences at USA, Europe, Asia and Africa on several occasions. He is Member; Editorial Board. International Journal of Energy-Environment-Economics published from USA., Journal of Industrial Population Control (India), Pollution Research (India), Journal of Environment, Ecology& Conservation, Chemical and Environmental Research, and Journal Mendale. He is on the panel of referees of Environmental Pollution (USA/UK), Indian Journal of Chemical Technology, Current Science etc., and has been called upon to vet R&D projects by DST, MOEn, DBT, CSIR, DOE, and others. In 1995 Prof Abasi was conferred national Hydrology Award instituted by Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. He was awarded $ 2000 IDA Prize by International Desalination Association based in USA, 1996. In 1998 Prof Abbasi was honoured with a Gold Metal at the International Energy Conference ENERGEX ’98; and was conferred S.K. Mitra Memorial Award by Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers, Calcutta. Recently he has been given the Goldstar Award and has been declared as the “2000 most important people of the current millennium†by International Biographical Institute, Cambridge.
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