As I was driving along the Ribandar Causeway towards Old Goa from Panaji in the early evening hours before Sunset, my eyes witnessed a troubling site along the Banks of the Mandovi River.
While it is no secret that scenic the route is flanked by River Mandovi on one side and salt pans embedded in Khazan lands on the other, what was distressing to observe was the dried up river bank while the waters of the Mandovi river silently receded.
The phenomenon of the river banks getting exposed may be on account of the low tide in the river at the time, as the Cranes, Storks and Albatrosses waited patiently to prey on the fish that had run aground.
Currently, with the decision of the Centre in approving the DPR pertaining to the waters of Mhadei River, the receding of river banks due to tributary diversification works by the Karnataka Government seems like an inevitable outcome when the volume of water flowing through the Mandovi River would be reduced drastically.
The present Union Government appears to be intent on diversifying the Mhadei waters for benefiting a wider Indian Population to the disadvantage of Goans.
In the recent address by President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu to Parliament on the 31st of January, 2023, she expressed the following statements as transcribed from her Speech:
“I would like to place before all of you the example of water, which is the most important resource in the lives of citizens. To provide ‘Har Ghar Jal’, my government has started ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’. In the seven decades before the launch of the Mission, water connections were available only to about 3.25 crore houses in the country. However, in these three years, about 11 crore families have been covered with piped water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The poor families are benefitting the most from this scheme, and it is providing a permanent solution to their problems.”
Additionally, she also went on to observe that:
“Similarly, more than 100 new waterways are also being developed across the country. These new waterways will help transform the transport sector in the country.”
Therefore, the statements by the President of India seem cohesive with the actions of the Union Government in relation to water.
Incidentally, India being a signatory to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, remains committed to participating in the international review of the progress of Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) on a regular basis.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are 17 in number represents the world’s best plan to build a better world for people and the planet by 2030.
Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, the SDGs resonate a call for action by all countries whether poor, rich and middle-income so as to promote prosperity while protecting the environment.
Specifically, Sustainable Development Goal 6 is about “clean water and sanitation for all”.
The Open Working Group at the 2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference proposed goal 6 to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”
The highlights of the Goal are as follows:
6.1 by 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
6.2 by 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
6.3 by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated waste water, and increasing recycling and safe reuse by x% globally.
6.4 by 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity, and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
6.5 by 2030 implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
6.6 by 2020 protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
6.A by 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water and sanitation related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.
6.B support and strengthen the participation of local communities for improving water and sanitation management.
In light of Goa hosting the first ‘International Environment and Sustainability Summit’, the importance of SDGs to Goa becomes indispensable and imperative to weave into the ethos of the Goan conservationism journey.
In this context, the 1st International Environment and Sustainability Summit Goa 2023 which has been organised by the Goa State Pollution Control Board in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Radeecal Communications, CSIR, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) aims to:
Present sustainability solutions and best practices.
Sharing of experiences, success stories and innovative ideas.
Build network and enhance the learning experience.
If water sustainability is supposed to be the way forward in achieving the 2030 agenda, then the Central Government ought to consider that every region’s water balance is unique. Simply endeavouring to divert the natural course of nature in order to demonstrate improvement on the targets that are connected to the Goals reeks of rudimentary compliance with international treaties while causing havoc to the ecology of a natural resource in this case: the Mhadei River which flows through Goa.
India’s motto of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’ (Collective Efforts for Inclusive Growth) which reflects its commitment to the SDGs cannot function on the mere redistribution of resources based on compensatory approaches in political governance.
