Jaipur 13 May 2016

Integrated River Basin

Management: Case study

on Holy River Pamba

Dr George ChackacherryDirector

Institute for Climate Change Studies

Government of Kerala

(Project Director, Pampa River Basin Authority)

1. Integrated River Basin Management –General Perspectives

2. Need for River Basin Approach –International & National Level

3. Pampa River Basin – EU Study

4. Prerequisites for better River Basin Management

River Basin

Natural entity in which freshwater appears

It is the ultimate source of nearly all water used & receptor of most wastewater.

• River basins play important role in sustaining communities/civilizations & other forms of life

Integrated Water Resource Management &

Integrated River Basin Management

• somewhat elusive terms that can end up

meaning almost the same

• IRBM - spatial & ecosystem focus (emphasises river

basins as natural hydrological units within which

sustainable water resource management can be achieved)

• IRBM as a sub-set of IWRM, which tends to

stress the need for integration at all levels

• but, concepts, procedures adopted, etc. almost

the same

Basis of IWRM –

different uses of water are

interdependent

need to consider different

uses of water together for

efficient management of WR

AgricultureWater supply & wastewaterMiningIndustryEnvironmentFisheriesTourismEnergyTransportetc

Negative impacts of water use may

be made worse by:

-poor management practices

-lack of regulation, or

-lack of motivation in the water

governance regimes

a process, which promotes coordinated development & management of water, land & related resources

in order to maximize the resultant economic & social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising sustainability of vital ecosystems

IWRM?

to improve

efficiency in water

use (economic

rationale)

to promote equity

in access to water

(social or

developmental

rationale)

to achieve

environmental

stability

(environmental

rationale)

SUSTAINABILITY

IWRM Principles

The four Dublin principles (1992)

- Fresh water is a finite &

vulnerable resource, essential to

sustain life, development &

environment

- Water development &

management should be based on a

participatory approach, involving

users, planners & policy markers at

all levels

- Women play a central part in the

provision, management &

safeguarding of water

- Water has an economic value in

all its competing uses & should be

recognized as an economic good

Constituents

of IWRM.

HolisticManagement

Sustainability

Equity

Gender

Economic value of water

Governance

Competing uses

Water for

people

Water for

food

Water for

nature

Water for

otheruses

Cross-sectoral integration

• Enabling environment

• Institutions

• Management tools

Integration

• environmental objectives• all water resources• all water uses, functions & values• disciplines, analyses & expertise• water legislation into common & coherent

framework• significant management & ecological aspects • stakeholders & civil society• different decision-making levels• management from different States

Integration

of:

Navigation

Integration of activities of

multiple actors

Industry

Urban WSS

Agriculture Department

Irrigation Department

Water Supply Agency

Power Department

Livestock Department

Industries Department

Environment Department

Fisheries Department

Transport Department

Tourism Department

Reservoir

Recreation

Hydropower

Forest Department

Fishing

Rainfed Agr

Livestock

Forest

Rural WSS

Irrigation

Return Flow

Ocean

LSG Department

Groundwater

Department

This calls for River

Basin as the logical

geographical unit for

implementation

Urgency of River Basin Approach

World’s freshwater

resources under

increasing pressure

Increased competition

Inefficient governance

Sectoral approaches

Fragmented &

uncoordinated development

& management of WR

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

India Asia World

2200 m3

3240 m3

7400 m3

Percapita Availability of Water

Per capita water availability

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

1960 1990 2025

Africa

Asia

MEast & NAfrica

World

Climate change is happening

Our Earth is warming

1880 to 2015, average global temperature up by 1°C

By 2100, this increase will exceed 4°C compared to 1850 to 1900

Small changes in average temperature of Earth lead to large and potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather

The evidence is clear. Rising global temperatures + Changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen:

Changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves

Climate Change

India leave

14 % of

people with

no water

The Indian situation

Groundwater is the major source of water in India with 85% of the population dependent

Groundwater table declines – 33 cm per year

The Indian situation

• Groundwater [Depleted]• Surface water [Polluted]• Rainfall [Wasted]

• Population [ ]• Demand [ ]• Consumption [ ]

SCARCITY

• Agriculture [ ]• Health & Environment [

• Future [ ? ]

• Industrial Growth [ ]• Economy-Industry [ ]• Water Business [ ]

IWRM is thought to be a solution

- Better coordination of sectors

- Demand based water allocation

- Local level management

Pampa – A Case Study

Water Resources of Kerala

• 1% of total area of India, but:

– contains 3% of country’s

population

– accounts for 5% of water

resources

• Average rainfall – 3,000 mm

• 44 rivers

• 68 lakh wells

Rain for 6

months

Rivers

rainfed/Dry

during non-

monsoon

season

• Area - 38,863 km²

• Population - 33.38 million

• Population density - 898

Drainage Map of Pamba River Basin

1Ambalapuzha

2 Alleppy

3 Mancombu

4 Haripad

5 Kayamkulam

6 Thiruvalla

7 Chenganassery

8 Kottayam

9 Chengannur

10 Adur

11 pathanamthitta

12 Vadasserikkara

13 Kanjirappalli

14 Maniyar

15 Konni

16 Koruyhodu

17 Vellathumuzhi

31 Kakki

32 Punnamedu

33 Paratodu

34 kumili

35 Santhanpara

18 Triveni

19 Mooziyar

20 Adur

21 Perumthenaruvi

22 Azhutha

23 Seethathodu

24 Kochandy

25 Kishmum

26 Lower Pamba

27 Lower Kakkad

28 Kallar

29 Pamba

30 Anamoozhy

Pampa

River

3rd largest river in Kerala

Originate from: Pulachimalai, Western Ghats

Drain at : Vembanad lake (Ramsar Site)

Length : 176 km

Avg. discharge: 109 m³/s

Basin area : 2,235 km²

Average rainfall - 3,658 mm

Pampa has a powerful

religious significance

since pilgrims (50 million)

who trek to Sabarimala

inevitably camp on its

banks & take bath in the

river before final ascent

- Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple is one of the

main forest temples in the World.

- Situated on hilltop (Sabarimala) inside deep forest

of Western Ghats.

- Surrounded by lush tropical jungles & 18 hills, the

shrine is over 1260 m/4135 feet above MSL.

Pampa River Basin

Famous Christian

Convention in Asia,

Maramon Convention &

biggest Hindu Convention

in Kerala, Cherukolppuzha

Hindumatha Parishath,

are held on the sand beds

of Pampa

Aranmula Boat Race &

Valla Sadya (feast) as part

of rituals at Aranmula

Temple

Pampa River Basin

Vembanad-kol Ramsar

wetland gets most of the

water needed for salinity

extrusion & flushing from

Pampa

Pampa River Basin

Pampa River Basin has a

hydroelectric scheme,

which is the second

largest in Kerala, with

two parallel reservoirs -

Pamba & Kakki - on the

upstream & an irrigation

scheme in the lower

reaches

Around 30 lakh people in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta

& Idukki districts depend on Pampa for daily use

Major Issues

• High population

density

• Low per capita

availability of water

• Deforestation

• Sand mining

• River bank

agriculture

Large scale sand mining

Major Issues

• Degraded water quality

• Bacteriological

contamination of drinking

water sources

• Point & non-point pollution

of water bodies

• Threats to aquatic ecology

• Land reclamation of water

bodies for construction

• Low water flow during

summer/River dry up at

many placesSolid waste disposal in the river catchment

People bathing in contaminated water

Pampa River DegradingAyroor-KWA Pumping Station

(Feb,2004) (Feb,2007)

(Feb,2010) OCT 12, 2014

Chathankeri thodu,

Peringara

Kolarayar- Niranam

Blocked Tributaries

Spatial water balance of Pampa River Basin

Physiogra

phic

region

Season Utilizable

water

potential

(MCM)

Present

utilization

(MCM)

Future

demand

(MCM)

Water

surplus/de-

ficit (MCM)

High land Monsoon 2840 0.5 13.8 Surplus

Non

monsoon

343 10.5 13.8 Surplus

Midland Monsoon 149 1.5 50.5 Surplus

Non

monsoon

93 11.5 1205 Deficit

Lowland Monsoon 107 13 175 Deficit

Non

monsoon

104 25 2387 Deficit

Institutional Setting:

Observations prior to EU Study

River basin

development

involves

coordinated

&

harmonious

development

of various

works in

relation to all

reasonable

possibilities

of the basin Forest

Conservation

Land

Restoration

AgricultureFisheries

River

Maintenance

Recreation

Water

Resources

Conservation

Wildlife

Protection

Requires

reform

Presently

Sector dominated

Govt. Managed-Governance

-Financial objective

-Execution Mode

-Accountability pattern

Less participatory

Gender neutral

Institutional

&

legislative

frameworks

- Integrated

- Joint Management

- Participatory

- Gender sensitive

Constraints to Implementation of IWRM

• Lack of information & systematized data for sharing

amongst stakeholders

• Compartmentalized functioning/sectoral barriers

• Lack of tools for system integration

• Unwillingness to change

• Separation of surface water & ground water &

separation of quantity from quality

• Low stakeholder participation

• Lack of capacity at all levels

• Apprehensions regarding centralisation, pricing &

private sector involvement

• Lack of Political & Administrative Will

Data Management

We have to do better than this!

Lack of co-

ordination &

contradictory

objectives led

to unwise,

unsustainable

& destructive

exploitation of

water

resources

‘Triple c’

- Confusion

- Conflict

- Chaos

Several Deptts. play significant roles in

management & utilization of water resources

-Irrigation

-Water Supply

-Groundwater

-LSG

-Forest

-Environment

-Agriculture

-Fisheries

-Revenue

-Rural Development

-Transport

-Industry

-Health

-Tourism, etc.

• Inadequacy of horizontal & vertical

coordination

– Competition among sectors on the dwindling resource

– Overlap of responsibilities among sectors

– Uncoordinated plans of action

– Lack of incentives for coordination

– Power politics

– Lack of transparency & fear of exposure

– Lack of mechanisms for follow-up

– Lack of forum for coordination

Low Participation

Bureaucracy

• Lack of sufficient training/awareness

• Extent of interaction & coordination among agencies poor

• Inadequate infrastructure facility

• Short time horizon

• Accountability pattern (community-officer)

• Anxiety of officials

Community

• Lack of sufficient training/awareness

• Politicization (committees,

beneficiary selection)

• Individualistic attitude

• Less attraction for WRM

• Paucity of funds

• Economic rationality (remain as passive recipient,

than active participant)

Outcome of EU Study

Pampa River Basin in the Context of IWRM

Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats

Water Policy 2008

supports IWRM

principles

Existing legal

framework not

enforced (eg: sand)

Water policy & Act

provides enabling

environment

Continuous change at

political &

administrative level

result in lack of

institutional memory

& in focus shift

Legal framework

sufficient to regulate

important issues

Water policy not

address ecosystem

needs

Skilled technical

capacity available in

CWRDM

Political &

Administrative Will at

top level

Poor

interdepartmental

coordination

Data on water

quantity & quantity

available

Undue bureaucratic

delays causing

implications for

keeping momentum

in initiated IWRM

process & addressing

high priority water

resources issues

Pampa River Basin

Act in place

Lack of stakeholder

participation

Interest from multi-

lateral donors

Pampa has not trans-

boundary implications

Technocentric

approach

Govt. of India support

Pampa IWRM

High technical

capacity at

centralised level

Presently focus only

pollution abatement;

no reform process

Govt. willing to

provide funds for

IWRM of Pampa

Funding limitations to

prepare & implement

IWRM roadmap

CWRDM for capacity

development

Lack of data sharing Piloting Pampa IWRM

can be replicated

Lack of sufficient

awareness

IWRM planning process: Actions proposed

Step Description Present Situation Comments and suggestions for the Pampa River

Basin Authority1. Awareness

and political

will

Awareness of IWRM

concept and principles

relatively limited.

Moderate to strong

political will to bring

water management into

line with international

best practices.

Conduct targeted awareness raising of policy-

makers, water sector managers, local councils, NGOs

and CBOs.

2. Framework

for

participation

of

stakeholders

Presently non-existent Take necessary steps to establish legal and

regulatory framework for stakeholder participation.

Development of communication strategy to help

solve problems in a participatory manner and to

explore opportunities of improvements in the water

sector.

3. Knowledge

of the

situation

Data scattered between

different institutions

monitoring quantity and

quantity. Knowledge

gaps e.g.

environmental-flows

Establish common databases and information

systems so that a situation analysis can be

conducted based on existing data.

4. Problems and

challenges of

IWRM identified

Problems and challenges

identified

In general well known. Future planning

towards a full IWRM Action Plan can

benefit from the data and findings of the

current pilot project, especially the

identified water resources issues and

management issues as defined by the

stakeholders.

5. WRM functions

defined

Present WRM functions

defined, including the Pamba

Basin Authority

Continued support required for reform

process within IWRM paradigm.

Short term focus should be given to

setting up and operationalize the Pampa

River Basin Authority

6. Opportunities

and constraints

identified

Done under present Pamba

Pilot Project

A future situation analysis should benefit

from this project output.

7. IWRM Action

Plan drafted

Pollution abatement plan

exists.

No IWRM plan drafted

IWRM plan to be developed as part of

implementing the Roadmap

8. IWRM Action

Plan adopted

No IWRM plan adopted Future action plan to be adopted

Step Description Present Situation Comments and suggestions for the

Pamba River Basin Authority

9. Capacity

strengthened

Ongoing capacity building

but accumulation rates quite

low.

Capacity needs assessment and

capacity building at all levels required

10. Projects

portfolio and

financing plan

elaborated

To be developed Part of implementing the Roadmap

Management

Constraint

Suggested Response Responsibil

ity Enabling

Environment

Institutional

Framework

Management Instruments

Weak staff capacity

both in number and

expertise in IWRM

- Identify a nodal

department to

coordinate all staff

capacity

development

activities

Identify ways and means

of promoting community

involvement

RBO, LSG

Weak linkages of WR

department with

important catchment

organizations,

resulting in fragmented

responsibilities at the

field level (e.g.

forestry and revenue

departments)

The culture of

integrated

working of

various

departments

at the cutting

edge level

needs to be

promoted

Pamba RBO to take

a lead role in

catchment area

treatment and

ensure integrated

working, thus

avoiding overlaps

and gaps in

working

Develop, promote and

institutionalize technical

competence in IWRM

working (e.g. silt

management, bio-

fencing, community

participation in basin

management etc)

RBO, LSG,

Department

of Forestry

Management constraints and suggested responses

Lack of scientific

method and systems to

assess demand for eco-

system management

- RBO to play a nodal

agency role and

institutionalize

required scientific

systems in

participating

departments

Standardize assessment

methods to understand

demand-supply situation.

Develop models for

ensuring minimum flow in

the river. Institutionalize

capacity development

RBO and

related

departments

Weak policy

framework

Defining clear

policies. Making

multiple technology

choices available

for on-site and off-

site sanitation

Enacting laws

and enforcing

regulations

STP systems,

decentralized sewage

management

RBO, LSG,

KWA, SPCB

Inadequate sewage

and waste

management

systems and

methods

Defining waste

management policy

and tuning it to

meet area specific

needs

Institutionalizing

decentralized

waste

management

solutions

Supportive systems at

local level. Public

education

RBO, LSG,

District

Administration

Absence of policy

framework to

prevent reclamation

of productive

wetland for non-

farming activities,

resulting in man-

made disasters

Enacting laws,

rules and

regulations

- Capacity development

systems

Capacity

development

systems

Management

Constraint

Suggested Response Responsibility

Enabling

Environment

Institutional

Framework

Management

Instruments

Form

operational

body for

WRM

Capacity

Building

Communication

strategy

Enforcement

of legal

framework

Assessment

of quantity &

quality of

basin water

Set up

sustainable

M&E and

MIS

Adoption of

Action Plan

for IWRM

DPRs for

different

actions

Financing

Plans &

investment

Implementation

of Action Plan

IWRM at Pampa

Basin: Roadmap

No Scope of Work Objectives Responsible

Executors

Expected

Source of

Financing

1. Form an

operational body

for water

resources

management in

the Pamba River

Basin

To establish a de-centralised operational body

for management of the Water Resources in the

Pamba Basin to assure fulfillment of the

objectives stated in the Pamba Basin Authority

Act.

Government/

Pamba Basin

Authority

Government,

Development

partners

2. Capacity building

in IWRM

To strengthen the human capacity at all levels

(central and de-central) to assure adequate

implementation of integrated water resources

management in the Pamba River Basin.

Pamba Basin

Authority,

CWRDM,

regional/

nternational

experts

GOI MOEF,

Development

partners

3. Development of a

communication

strategy

To establish and maintain clear and regular

channels of communication between

stakeholders to support the objectives of

IWRM, thus providing a platform for

stakeholder participation.

Pamba Basin

Authority

Government

4. Enforcement of

existing legal

framework

Enforcement of existing legal framework to

mitigate to present water resources issues in

the Pamba Basin

Government Government

Roadmap

5. Adjustment of

existing legal water

framework for Kerala

state

Updating existing legal framework

to assure compliance with IWRM

principles and the Water Policy

from 2008.

Government, Ministry

of Law/Ministry of

Revenue/Ministry of

Water Resources

Government

6. Setting-up a

sustainable

monitoring and

evaluation system for

water resources

management

& Establishment of a

information system

on water resources

Improvement of quality of

measurements and reliability of

forecasts of water resources

availability and quality

& Develop a information and

database system supported by

GIS

Pamba Basin

Authority/Water

Resources

Dept/KWA/Groundwate

r Dept/SPCB/ Kerala

State Remote Sensing

Agency, consultant

Government,

Development

partners

7. Full assessment of

the water resources

situation (quantity &

quality) in the Pamba

Basin

Elaborate a full assessment of the

water quantity and quality based

on integration of available data

from the numerous departments

involved in monitoring of the

resource.

Pamba Basin Authority

/ consultant

Government,

development

partners

No Scope of Work Objectives Responsible Executors Expected

Source of

Financing

8. Initiation of elaboration

and adoption of an

IWRM Action Plan for

the Pamba Basin

Development and adoption of an IWRM

Action Plan based on stakeholders

participation

Government

and consultant

Government,

Development

Partners

9. Elaboration of DPRs

(Detailed Project

Reports) for

implementation of

different actions

identified

Development of detailed DPRs by

corresponding governmental sectors and

coordinated by the Pamba Authority to

ensure collaboration and

communication between departments

Corresponding

Government

bodies and

Pamba Basin

Authority

Government /

GOI

10

.

Elaboration of

financing plan and

investment strategies

Develop a financing plan for prioritized

actions.

Government,

Pamba Basin

Authority

Government

11. Implementation of the

IWRM Action Plan for

the Pamba River Basin

To implement prioritized actions in the

IWRM plan

Pamba Basin

Authority

Government,

Development

partners

12

.

Development of IWRM

indicators to monitor

the effects from

implementing the IWRM

plan

To monitor that the effects from

implementing the action plan comply

with the vision stated in the Water Policy

Pamba Basin

Authority

Government,

Development

partners

N

o

Scope of Work Objectives Responsible

Executors

Expected

Source of

Financing

• River Basin

• Basis of IWRM/IRBM

• Principles of IWRM/IRBM

• Details of integration required

• Urgency for IWRM/IRBM at International &

National level

• Pampa River & Major Issues of Pampa River

Basin

• Constraints to implementation of

IWRM/IRBM

• Outcome of EU Study

• Roadmap for IWRM at Pampa River Basin

What public

demands is good

water governance

– Equity

– Transparency

– Accountability

– Rule of law

– Democracy

– Participation

• Political & Administrative Will

• Attitudinal & Behavioural

Change

• Organisational & Procedural

Change

• Inter – departmental

Coordination (vertical &

horizontal)

• Platform for

dialogue/coordination

• Tribunals for solving

controversial water issues

Pre-requisites

IWRM/IRBM intends that

Thank You