The Elixir of Life - SAR-CLIMATE

CAREing for the Elixir of Life

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Water is quite aptly called the ‘elixir of life’. It is a known fact that water is always on the move through the water cycle processes. Global warming has a significant effect on this cycle, altering the quantity, timing, distribution, and quality of available water.

Countries in South Asia face different levels of water stress. The United Nations Water Development Report 2020 suggests that snowmelt and the loss of glacial buffering in the Hindu Kush–Himalayas will affect the seasonal water supply for a significant proportion of South Asia’s population.

Globally, South Asia is the most extensive user of groundwater resources, with irrigation accounting for 80% of the groundwater extraction. Even though the region hosts several of the high groundwater- producing aquifers, it is running short of water.

With 23.7% of the global population, South Asia has only 4.6% of the world’s renewable water resources. According to the World Bank, the key challenges, on one hand, are ensuring a reliable supply of water for daily life and managing the consequence of extreme hydrometeorological disasters on the other. In addition to the regional challenges in the water sector, countries have contrasting challenges and needs.

Bangladesh being the largest dynamic delta of the world, along with a large and growing population base, envisages enhanced water security and efficiency of water usage to achieve optimal and integrated use of land and water resources. Additionally, most of the rivers in Bangladesh are transboundary.

Under the CARE for South Asia project, water-sector activities are being piloted in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, which aim to improve the availability of regional data, knowledge, tools, and capacities.

They also aim to promote climate-resilient decisions, policies, and investments in climate-sensitive sectors. The water sector interventions will help strengthen water resources management, water governance, and long-term resilience through robust institutions.

The Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 will be the guidance document for the implementation of the project’s interventions. The development of Monitoring & Evaluation framework and capacity enhancement on project monitoring under Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 will contribute to the successful implementation of the plan.

In Nepal, challenges revolve around agriculture and hydropower needs. Around 85% of Nepal’s annual rain fall (between 1500 and 3000 millimeters) between June and September, leading to floods. A severe shortage of water occurs during the rest of the year resulting in the drying up of springs and other natural water sources.

Retention of water can help mitigate water scarcity and supply water for multiple purposes. The CARE for South Asia project intends to assist the government in developing a water harvesting strategy in the context of Integrated Water Resources Management. It will further enhance stakeholders’ capacities in mainstreaming climate information into planning, design and investments in the water sector.

Pakistan, on the other hand, is categorized as a water-scarce country. The annual water availability is less than 1,000 cubic meters per person. It is likely to drop to 860 cubic meters by 2025 as documented in the National Water Policy 2018. Climate Change is also compounding the depletion of groundwater resources of the country by disrupting the natural hydrological process of groundwater recharge combined with over-extraction.

The project will support developing a strategy for groundwater management in water-scarce areas of the country (e.g., Lower Indus Basin) and documenting water conservation best practices. CARE for South Asia project will also support stakeholders’ capacity enhancement for better drought risk management in the country’s drought-prone areas.

The project’s water sector interventions will build the region’s resilience against the effects of climate change and develop a strategy to adapt to the changes. The project plans to support public policies on climate change through national and inter-country dialogues and the development of regional guidelines unique to the challenges faced by countries in South Asia.

The writer is Integrated Water Resources Management Specialist at ADPC.

Email: niladri.gupta@adpc.net

About Post Author

Saravanakuma Ramalingam

saravana@abu.org.my

http://abu.org.my

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