Training Workshop on Understanding and Resolving Water Conflicts in India

The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India (Forum), TERI, and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) conducted a four-day Workshop on 'Understanding and Resolving Water Conflicts in India' from October 4 to 7, 2016 at the TERI premises, Bangalore. The workshop aimed at enhancing the capacities of the participants in understanding different types of water conflicts and the possible ways to engage with them.

The workshop intends raised awareness about water conflicts such as rural-urban, pollution-induced, inter-state, and transboundary water conflicts. These also included development versus ecology and environmental needs of water, conflicts between head and tail reaches, hydro-power generation versus riparian needs, agriculture versus industry, water privatisation etc. These conflicts persist on account of various factors, the most important factor being the development-oriented/centralized water governance and increasing commercialization of valuable water resource.

The workshop was inaugurated by Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson, Arghyam Trust. The welcome address was delivered by Mr P R Dasgupta, and the opening remarks were given by Mr K J Joy. Dr Veena Srinivasan, Dr Bejoy K Thomas, Prof Janakarajan, Mary Abraham, Sujith Koonan, Prof M Ramesh, Mr Himanshu Kulkarni, Dr Sharadchandra Lele, Sumi Krishnan, Neelima Kethan, and Avinash Krishnamurhty are the resource persons for this on-going workshop.