Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Sunday, 20 August 2023

India’s Water ( Di - ) Stress

 


 

 

Context :

Why one in four countries around the world is facing extreme water stress   .. First Post / 17 Aug 2023

Extract :

India is among the 25 countries, which house a quarter of the global population, that face extremely high water stress each year, according to a report published by World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas on Wednesday (16 August). Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman are the top five worst-affected nations.

‘Extreme water stress’, as per the report, means that the country uses more than 80 per cent of its renewable water supply for irrigation, livestock, industry and domestic purposes.

Water stress measures the demand for the resource in an area as compared to its available water supply. If the water stress is greater, the country is more prone to experience water shortages, particularly when demand is higher such as during a heatwave, noted Sky News.

 

What are the other findings of the report? How worried should we be? What can be done? Let’s take a closer look.

Global water demand to soar

The report says that the worldwide demand for water has more than doubled since 1960.

The highest increase in water demand – 163 per cent – is expected to occur in sub-Saharan Africa. “While most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are not extremely water-stressed right now, demand is growing faster there than any other region in the world,” as per the WRI’s report.

It attributes a rise in water demand to increasing populations and growing demands of industries such as agriculture, energy production and manufacturing. Moreover, the research says that unsustainable water use policies, a lack of investment in water infrastructure and climate change can also affect the available water supply.

Most water-stressed regions

Middle East and North Africa are the most water-stressed regions, with a whopping 83 per cent of the population exposed to extremely high water stress.

In South Asia, 74 per cent of the population is vulnerable to such conditions.

As per Charles Iceland, director of Freshwater Initiatives at the WRI, “If a country is using 100 per cent of its available supply, usually you’re going to start to see a few bad things happen,” reported Sky News.


Groundwater levels drop, rivers dry up, lakes dry up, wetlands dry up and we’re seeing that across places in the Middle East, like Iraq and Iran.”

Water shortages can trigger industrial disruptions, power outages as well as losses in agricultural production, says the report.

According to water risk research, heightened water stress can also harm the economic growth of countries. It also puts global food security at risk.

About 60 per cent of global irrigated agriculture is facing extremely high water stress, especially sugarcane, wheat, rice and maize. “Yet to feed a projected 10 billion people by 2050, the world will need to produce 56 per cent more food calories than it did in 2010 — all while dealing with increasing water stress as well as climate-driven disasters like droughts and floods,” the report’s authors say.

“Water is arguably our most important resource on the planet and yet we’re not managing it in a way that reflects that. I’ve been working in water for close to 10 years, and unfortunately, the story has been the same almost the entire 10 years,” Samantha Kuzma, Aqueduct data lead from WRI’s water program and a report author, told CNN.

 

Water stress will worsen

 

Currently, half the world’s population – four billion people – is exposed to extremely high water stress at least one month a year. This is set to worsen by 2050 when 60 per cent of the population could be subjected to such conditions.

The researchers have sounded alarm that an additional one billion people are likely to witness extremely high water stress by that time even if the global warming threshold is limited to 1.3 to 2.4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

As per Aqueduct’s data, 31 per cent of global GDP – $70 trillion – will be exposed to high water stress by 2050, an uptick from 24 per cent in 2010. India, Mexico, Egypt and Turkey will account for over half of this exposed GDP in 2050.

“Without better water management, population growth, economic development and climate change are poised to worsen water stress,” the WRI report warns.

“People like to talk about climate change as the biggest existential threat to humanity, but water stress is climate change’s deadliest and most used weapon,” Crystal Davis, global director of WRI’s Food, Land and Water programme, was quoted as saying by The Messenger.

 

What can be done ?


WRI report calls for better water management to reduce water stress. Citing the example of Singapore and the United States’ Las Vegas, it says that methods such as getting rid of water-thirsty grass, desalination, and wastewater treatment and reuse show how to manage scarce water resources.

It notes that political will and financial backing are necessary to implement these “cost-effective” solutions.

With climate change, “water challenges are only going to become more frequent and more intense,” Heather Cooley, director of research for the Pacific Institute, told The Washington Post. “That needs to motivate us to begin preparing and implementing projects.”

 

My  Take :

My past ( 17 ) blogs on WATER SCARCITY ( as on March 2022 )


 2022 ( 2 )

Procuring Technology for “ CASCADE WATER FILTRATION “  ..[ 03 Mar 2022 ]

 Procuring Technology for “ Drinking Water “ …………………………..[ 17 Feb 2022 ]

 

2021 ( 2 )

Mumbai Desalination Plant / a White Elephant ?.....................[ 24 Nov 2021 ]

With a pinch of Salt ?......................................................... [ 29 June 2021 ]

 

 2019 ( 3 )

 A candid admission ? ………………………………………………………………….[12 July 2019 ]

The Biggest FREE Desalination Plant:Sun+Sea………………………… [ 09 July 2019 ]

Water above our heads……………………………………………………………….[ 29 Mar 2019 ]

 

2018 ( 7  )

A Desperate Measure ? ………………………………………………………………[ 18 Nov 2018 ]

Making Water from Air ?...................... ………………………………….[ 26 Oct 2018 ]

Water  Mutiny  of  2020……………………………………………………………..[ 17 June 2018 ]

Water Wars Are Looming !..................................................[ 09 June 2018 ]

Writing  is  on  the  Wall ……………………………………………………………[ 08 May 2018 ]

Replicating   Nature  ?........................................................[ 23 Mar 2018 ]

Deja Vu ? #Latur #Marathwada #Waterwar……………………………..[ 28 Feb 2018 ]

 

2017 ( 2 )

Water Water Everywhere ? Even in Latur ?.............................[ 15 Apr 2017 ]

Not a straightforward Answer !.......................... …………………….[ 03 Mar 2017 ]

 

2016 ( 1 )

Water Wars ?  …………………………………………………………………………. 08 Apr 2016 


Extract :

What  is  the  permanent  solution  ?

 

 #  At the level of Central Government

 

*   Make " Water Conservation / Usage " , a  CENTRAL SUBJECT  in our

     Constitution . Remove it from the list of STATE SUBJECTS

 

*   Declare all existing sources of water ( Rivers and Lakes ) , as National

    Resources belonging to entire Nation and not to the particular State

     where these are  located

 

*   Make it Center's responsibility to decide which State shall use how

     much of each of these resource ( allocation / rationing )

 

*   Center will also be responsible for developing of future resources by

     digging lakes & ponds / building dams / interlinking rivers & lakes etc

     Use MNREGA funds for creating such assets

 

*   Center will not need permission of any State to implement such projects

 

*   Center will implement " River Interlinking " Project by 2025 , and for this,

     it will not require permission of any State

 

     As repeatedly lobbied by me , please find a way to divert BLACK MONEY

     to this Infrastructure SPV ( Tax haven or local - which is 100 times ! )

 

*   Mercilessly , shut down all factories dumping polluting effluents in rivers

 

 #   At the level of State Governments

 *   Make following mandatory for ALL buildings ( existing or future )

 

    +  Rain water harvesting system ( this tank to supply toilets / sinks etc )

 

    +  Recycling of water from Kitchen / Shower / Wash Basins, for use in

        toilets , by installing a simple sand filtering tank in society compounds

 

    +  Installation of water flow restricting devices in all taps

 

    +  Mechanism which stops water flow when hands are removed under tap

 

    +  Water Supply Cut of 25 % , round the year

 

         Do not raise Water Charges . The higher the charges , more ways will

         be found to evade ( as in case of Personal Income Tax ! )

 

         Water meters will get tempered or bypassed !

 

Note the following :

*   Of all the water that rains bring , 99 % flows out to seas, leaving 1 %

     on land

 

*   Out of this 1% , 99 % percolates into the ground , leaving 1 % ( of that

     1 % ) , into lakes above the ground !

 

*   75 % of earth's surface is covered with seas / oceans . So , really , there

     is PLENTY of water

*   Nature ( Sun ) has gifted the Earth with evaporation / condensation cycle

    which converts the salty sea water into distilled potable water,

    automatically / continuously , and deliver onto the land masses

   
Amount of water falling as rain on land each year is 2.4 trillion meter cube ,
   
more than 10 times the annual requirement of 7 billion earthlings , at the
    rate of 100 litres per person per day
!

     

 

    As far as India is concerned , all that is required , is to dig 700,000

    ponds / lakes ( one in each village ) , where we capture / store rain water

 

*   These 700,000 ponds must be lined with Geo-Synthetic Fabrics to ensure

    that the captured water does not seep underground - a simple technology

 

*   Capturing most of rain water in these ponds , will raise the water table in

    bore wells

 

*   None of the above suggestions require Rocket Science !  But , even if it

    does , our Scientists who have sent Mars Orbital Mission , are quite

    capable of finding appropriate solutions !

 

 

I hope the Center / the State Governments and all the political parties , rise

above their differences and join hands , to avoid a CIVIL WATER WAR !

 

 

Highlights from speech of PM Shri Narendra Modi on 15 Aug 2023 :

Our work culture of aspirational mind-set, thinking big, farsightedness, Sarvajan Hitaya: SarvajanSukhaya: Such has been our working style. And with this energy we work on how to achieve beyond and more than a resolution.

We had resolved to make 75 thousand Amrit Sarovar in the Amrit Mahotsav of independence.

At that time, we had resolved to make 75 Amrit Sarovar in every district.

Around 50-55 thousand Amrit Sarovars were conceived.

But today the work of construction of about 75 thousand Amrit Sarovar is going on.

This in itself is a humongous task. This strength of manpower and water power is also going to be useful in safeguarding India’s environmental wealth.

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  20 Aug 2023

================================================

Following is ChatGPT's evaluation of my suggestions :

 Your suggestions for addressing water scarcity and improving water management are comprehensive and address various aspects of the problem. Let's evaluate each of your suggestions:

1. Making Water Conservation a Central Subject:

  • Advantages: This would allow for a unified and coordinated approach to water management at the national level.
  • Challenges: Shifting water management from state to central jurisdiction might face resistance from states due to regional water distribution differences.

2. Declaring Existing Water Sources as National Resources:

  • Advantages: Centralized management can help ensure equitable distribution and reduce inter-state disputes over water resources.
  • Challenges: Some states might resist giving up control over resources within their territories.

3. Implementing Water Projects by Central Government:

  • Advantages: Centralized projects can ensure optimal utilization of resources and quicker decision-making.
  • Challenges: States may feel that their autonomy is compromised, and local issues might not be effectively addressed.

4. Mandatory Water Conservation Measures for Buildings:

  • Advantages: Mandating water-saving measures at the building level can significantly reduce water usage.
  • Challenges: Enforcement and compliance might be challenging without strict monitoring and penalties.

5. Rainwater Harvesting and Recycling:

  • Advantages: These measures can significantly increase water availability and reduce pressure on freshwater sources.
  • Challenges: Implementation might require investments in infrastructure and educating the public.

6. Water Flow Restricting Devices and Mechanisms:

  • Advantages: These measures can prevent water wastage and promote responsible water usage.
  • Challenges: Public awareness and acceptance of these measures might take time.

7. Reduce Water Supply and Maintain Charges:

  • Advantages: Water conservation can be promoted through pricing incentives.
  • Challenges: The challenge lies in finding a balance between affordability and conservation.

8. Building Ponds and Lakes:

  • Advantages: Creating water storage facilities can help in capturing rainwater and recharging groundwater.
  • Challenges: Land acquisition, engineering, and maintenance might pose challenges.

9. Lining Ponds with Geo-Synthetic Fabrics:

  • Advantages: Preventing seepage can enhance water storage in ponds.
  • Challenges: Proper installation and maintenance of the lining would be crucial.

10. Increasing Awareness and Collaborative Efforts:

  • Advantages: Raising public awareness and collaboration can lead to a collective effort towards water conservation.
  • Challenges: Sustaining public interest and cooperation might require ongoing campaigns.

Overall, your suggestions cover a wide range of measures that could collectively address the water scarcity issue. They involve a combination of policy changes, technological solutions, and behavioral shifts. However, successful implementation would require strong political will, coordination among various stakeholders, and continuous monitoring and adaptation based on changing conditions. The challenge lies not just in proposing these measures, but also in overcoming the hurdles that may arise during execution. Addressing water scarcity is indeed a complex task that demands multifaceted solutions.

 

Saturday, 19 August 2023

My past ( 17 ) blogs on WATER SCARCITY ( as on March 2022 )

 


 

2022 ( 2 )


Procuring Technology for “ CASCADE WATER FILTRATION  ..[ 03 Mar 2022 ]

 

Procuring Technology for “ Drinking Water “ …………………………..[ 17 Feb 2022 ]


 

2021 ( 2 )


Mumbai Desalination Plant / a White Elephant ?.....................[ 24 Nov 2021 ]


With a pinch of Salt ?......................................................... [ 29 June 2021 ]


 

2019 ( 3 )

 

A candid admission ? ………………………………………………………………….[12 July 2019 ]


The Biggest FREE Desalination Plant:Sun+Sea………………………… [ 09 July 2019 ]


Water above our heads……………………………………………………………….[ 29 Mar 2019 ]


 

2018 ( 7  )

 

A Desperate Measure ? ………………………………………………………………[ 18 Nov 2018 ]


Making Water from Air ?...................... ………………………………….[ 26 Oct 2018 ]


Water  Mutiny  of  2020……………………………………………………………..[ 17 June 2018 ]


Water Wars Are Looming !..................................................[ 09 June 2018 ]


Writing  is  on  the  Wall ……………………………………………………………[ 08 May 2018 ]


Replicating   Nature  ?........................................................[ 23 Mar 2018 ]


Deja Vu ? #Latur #Marathwada #Waterwar……………………………..[ 28 Feb 2018 ]



 

2017 ( 2 )

 

Water Water Everywhere ? Even in Latur ?.............................[ 15 Apr 2017 ]

 

Not a straightforward Answer !.......................... …………………….[ 03 Mar 2017 ]


 

2016 ( 1 )


Water Wars ?  ……………………………………………………………………………….[08 Apr 2016 ]

 

Where there is NO will , there is NO way

 


 

 

Context :

Not all ministries reporting project completion milestones and revised cost estimates: MoSPI  ..  ET .. 19 Aug 2023

Extract :

Cost overrun in central government projects (Rs 150 crore and above) declined marginally in July to 19.46% compared with 19.48% in June. However, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation reported that not all projects are reporting completion milestones and revised cost estimates making it difficult to determine actual progress and extent of cost and time overruns.

“It has also been observed that project agencies are not reporting revised cost estimates and commissioning schedules for many projects which suggests that time / cost overrun figures may be under-reported “, the Ministry reported for its report for July

 

 

 

My  Take :

 

Ø  Infra Projects : How to control TIME – COST over-runs   …………. 05 June 2022

 

Extract :

 

Dear Narendrabhai,

Whereas it is not possible to totally eliminate all TIME-COST overruns , it is

certainly possible to bring these overruns down to 5 % or less, provided you insist

that PROJECT PROPOSING MINISTERS / OFFICERS, strictly follow the procedure

described in my following earlier e-mail :

 

 Nothing prettier than PERT ! ……………………………… 04  Dec  2015  



Extract :

 

My suggestions  :

 

*    When any Ministry submits any Project Proposal for Cabinet approval, it 

      must be accompanied by a PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique ) 

     chart , clearly showing all the " Activities " lying along  the CRITICAL PATH (

      earlier known as the CRITICAL PATH METHOD )

      

      That PERT Chart must accompany a tabulation showing, for each " Activity ",

        #   " Pessimistic Time "

        #    " Optimistic Time " , and the

        #    " Most likely Time "

 

      Since Admiral Rickover , introduced this mandatory requirement for awarding

      tender to build the first nuclear submarine, some 50 years ago , all US

      government departments follow this procedure for all govt contracts

 

*    Insist that all the government departments / contractors, responsible for

       execution of any of these "activities", update the PERT chart status online on

       the web site of the Project Monitoring Group

 

*   PERT charts for all the projects should be made visible to the general public

 

*   If there is any " slippage " in any activity lying on the CRITICAL PATH , the

      name of the department or contractor responsible , must appear in bold RED

      letters , against that activity

 

      This is the only INNOVATION that we need , to ensure that the projects get

      completed in time and within budget

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 06 June 2022

 

Related Readings :

 

Thank You, Dear Prime Minister ……………………….[ 13 Oct 2021 ]

No More Delayed Projects ? ……………………………….[ 26 Aug 2021 ]

Monitoring Projects in Real-time ? …………………….[ 11 Aug 2020 ]

PERT for Digital Dashboard…………………………………[ 27 Feb 2018 ]

Remembering Admiral Rickover ! ………………………[ 04 June 2017 ]

Project planning can optimise costs and improve operations /  BL on Campus  /  13 April 2022

 

 

 

CC :

 

DR. G P Samanta    /  Secretary  /   secretary@mospi.gov.in

Ms. T. Rajeswar  /  Additional Secretary  /  as-mospi@nic.in

Shri Arindam Modak   /  Deputy Director General  /  arindam.modak@gov.in

Shri Ravi Gupta  /   Director   /  dir-ipmd@mospi.gov.in

Shri Anand Joshi  /  Under Secretary   /  anand.joshi28@gov.in

Smt. Rinki Gupta   /   Deputy Director   /  dd-in-ipmd@mospi.gov.in

Smt. Saumya Sakshi   /  Deputy Director  /  dd-ir-ipmd@mospi.gov.in

 

Shri R Venkatakrishnan

 

Partner – RVKS Associates /  rvk@rvkassociates.com  / assurance@rvkassociates.com

 

=========================================

Following is ChatGPT's assessment of my suggestion :



Here's a breakdown of your suggestion and its implementation:

  1. Project Proposal with PERT Chart: You recommend that when a ministry submits a project proposal for Cabinet approval, it should be accompanied by a PERT chart. The PERT chart should clearly show all activities along the critical path of the project. This chart should also include pessimistic, optimistic, and most likely time estimates for each activity.

    Advantages: PERT charts provide a visual representation of the project's critical path and help in identifying which activities are most critical for the project's timeline. The inclusion of time estimates helps in understanding the potential variability in the project schedule.

  2. Online PERT Chart Updates: You suggest that the government departments or contractors responsible for executing the activities should update the PERT chart's status online on the Project Monitoring Group's website.

    Advantages: Online updates provide transparency and allow stakeholders to track the progress of activities in real-time. This can help identify delays or issues early and take corrective actions.

  3. Visibility to General Public: You propose making PERT charts for all projects visible to the general public. This enhances transparency and accountability.

    Advantages: Public visibility can create a sense of responsibility among stakeholders and encourage timely completion of activities.

  4. Highlighting Slippage: You suggest that any slippage in activities on the critical path should be highlighted in bold RED letters, indicating the responsible department or contractor.

    Advantages: Clear identification of delays and responsible parties can expedite issue resolution and help maintain project schedules.

  5. Innovation for Timely Completion: You emphasize that this innovation of using PERT charts can help ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.

    Advantages: PERT charts offer a systematic approach to project management that considers uncertainty and provides a basis for making informed decisions.

Overall, your suggestion of using PERT charts is aimed at enhancing project management and oversight. By visualizing the critical path, estimating time more accurately, and providing real-time updates, this technique can indeed contribute to reducing time-cost overruns in infrastructure projects. It promotes transparency, accountability, and effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.