The most significant body of work on wetlands and water is available within the
Ramsar Convention. A number of resolutions have been adopted by Contracting
Parties which have been summarized in four handbooks (Ramsar 2010a, b, c, d).
A common element in all these guidelines is recognition of two important facts:
(a) water resources management is dependent to a large degree on the hydrological
functions of wetlands, and (b) wetland ecosystems need a certain amount of water
allocated for maintenance of ecological character, in order to maintain these
hydrological functions. The Ramsar guidelines on integration of wetlands in river
basin management are structured around eight principles (sustainability such as a
goal, clarity of process, equity in participation and decision-making, credibility of
science, transparency in implementation, flexibility in management, accountability
for decisions and cross-sectoral cooperation in policy development and implementation) and recommend a critical path approach to achieve the integration
(Ramsar 2010d; Rebelo et al. 2013). The guidelines on allocation of water for
wetlands stress upon an enabling policy environment, supported by appropriate
legal arrangements and a framework for assessing the merits of different allocation
options (Ramsar 2010a). Similarly, the guidelines for integrated management
planning encourage site managers to take into account the role of wetlands in wider
catchments while defining wise use strategies (Ramsar 2010e).
3 Water Resources Development Trajectories
and Consequences for Wetlands
The centrality of water resources development in shaping up of Indian state is well
recognized (Whitcombe 2005). Wetlands were accorded special status (referred as
‘anupa’, or incomparable lands) in religious texts (Rangarajan 2005), many wetlands species such as fish and lotus were considered sacred, and these ecosystems
formed an essential source of water for domestic use and irrigation (Agrawal and
Narain 1997; Bhattacharya 2015). With high temporal and spatial variability and
heterogeneity in rainfall and availability of water resources, Indian society has
adapted to the situation, by either living along the banks of rivers and wetlands, and
carefully husbanding water resources (World Bank 2005). The agrarian society was
mostly dependent on surface water storages within natural as well as human-made
wetlands, and gravity flow irrigation to water crops. In the alluvial plains of the
north, monsoon floodwaters were diverted and managed to enable riverine agriculture. The Deccan Plateau of peninsular India, which did not have an abundance
of perennial rivers, had a long tradition of constructing tanks to conserve rainwater
(Raju and Shah 2000; Van Meter et al. 2014). The cascading tank systems of
southern India are an important reference point as multi-functional systems providing seasonal water storage, along with being centres of settlements and as
providing social and cultural identity to the communities (Mosse 1997; Van Meter
et al. 2014).
Wetlands and Water Management: Finding a Common Ground
111
Ramsar Convention. A number of resolutions have been adopted by Contracting
Parties which have been summarized in four handbooks (Ramsar 2010a, b, c, d).
A common element in all these guidelines is recognition of two important facts:
(a) water resources management is dependent to a large degree on the hydrological
functions of wetlands, and (b) wetland ecosystems need a certain amount of water
allocated for maintenance of ecological character, in order to maintain these
hydrological functions. The Ramsar guidelines on integration of wetlands in river
basin management are structured around eight principles (sustainability such as a
goal, clarity of process, equity in participation and decision-making, credibility of
science, transparency in implementation, flexibility in management, accountability
for decisions and cross-sectoral cooperation in policy development and implementation) and recommend a critical path approach to achieve the integration
(Ramsar 2010d; Rebelo et al. 2013). The guidelines on allocation of water for
wetlands stress upon an enabling policy environment, supported by appropriate
legal arrangements and a framework for assessing the merits of different allocation
options (Ramsar 2010a). Similarly, the guidelines for integrated management
planning encourage site managers to take into account the role of wetlands in wider
catchments while defining wise use strategies (Ramsar 2010e).
3 Water Resources Development Trajectories
and Consequences for Wetlands
The centrality of water resources development in shaping up of Indian state is well
recognized (Whitcombe 2005). Wetlands were accorded special status (referred as
‘anupa’, or incomparable lands) in religious texts (Rangarajan 2005), many wetlands species such as fish and lotus were considered sacred, and these ecosystems
formed an essential source of water for domestic use and irrigation (Agrawal and
Narain 1997; Bhattacharya 2015). With high temporal and spatial variability and
heterogeneity in rainfall and availability of water resources, Indian society has
adapted to the situation, by either living along the banks of rivers and wetlands, and
carefully husbanding water resources (World Bank 2005). The agrarian society was
mostly dependent on surface water storages within natural as well as human-made
wetlands, and gravity flow irrigation to water crops. In the alluvial plains of the
north, monsoon floodwaters were diverted and managed to enable riverine agriculture. The Deccan Plateau of peninsular India, which did not have an abundance
of perennial rivers, had a long tradition of constructing tanks to conserve rainwater
(Raju and Shah 2000; Van Meter et al. 2014). The cascading tank systems of
southern India are an important reference point as multi-functional systems providing seasonal water storage, along with being centres of settlements and as
providing social and cultural identity to the communities (Mosse 1997; Van Meter
et al. 2014).
Wetlands and Water Management: Finding a Common Ground
111