A world of double standards

VIRTUALLY routed in the 1984 parliamentarry electionsthe BharatiyaJanata Party (Bip) made a remarkable comeback in the 1989 and1991polls. The party also came topower in four states in the 1989-1990state assembly elections:RajasthanUttar Pradesh (UP)Madhya Pradesh (MP) andHimachal Pradesh (HP).

LESOTHO

A recent World Bank (WB) report has given a a poor rating to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) which is saddled with major resettlement problems. According to an estimate, the first of the four phases in the LHWP, Phase IA, is expected to displace 1,500 people and affect the livelihood of 20,000. Shortage of hygienic water and poor sanitation conditions have contributed to an increase in typhoid and child mortality in villages. A series of dams, pumping stations and tunnels would be constructed under the US $2 billion project. Regardless of unresolved problems

To sell a resource

RECENT years have witnessed rapid increases in the cost of investment in new irrigation projects, while at the same time, there has been a marked degradation in water quality, a slower growth in crop productivity in irrigated areas and increased competition for water for non-agricultural uses. These developments necessitate clear water resource policies that will maintain growth in irrigated agricultural production, facilitate efficient allocation of water across sectors and reverse

Muynak: life in the disaster zone

Muynak, which once lay on the coast of the Aral Sea nearly 70 km away from it. And since there is no road salty, toxic desert that has replaced the former seabed, it is no difficult to reach the Aral Sea from there. But a few determind fisherfoik still commute by jeep to their boats to try andl a living. Situated in the Amu Darya river delta the more than 3000 fisherfolk who In 1957 brought in of fish - half of the total Aral Sea catch and about 3 pot the entire Soviet catch. By 1970, the Sea was 10 km awn) 1980,40 km. With the sea disappearing and the river turn

Will the Aral Sea ever come back?

IN SEPETEMBER 1995, the presidents of the five republics which constitute the watershed of the Aral Sea - Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan met in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan, the autonomous republic of Uzbekistan (the worst affected by the tragedy). This was the fourth meeting of the presidents within three years. The objective - to deal with the Aral Sea crisis

Flood furore

THE people of Thailand are still reeling under the impact of the most devastating wet-season flooding in a decade, and they hold the government responsible for their suffering. It was the poor water management policy of the goverment that deepened the crisis, claim the experts in the country. "It was all preventable," says Steve Van Beek, the author of a recently published study on Thailand's main water-way, the Chao Phraya river. The marauding tides crashed upon the farmlands,

Not oil, but water

GLOBAL conflagarations of the next century might very well be over water, says a World Bank report presented at the 20th session of the International Seminar on Planetary Emergencies held recently in Erice, Italy. The report warns that overconsumption of water in the developed nations and its growing scarcity in the Third World will lead to military conflicts if politicians don't act soon. According to the report, at least 40 per cent of the world's population lives in housing that has neither

RIVERS OF DISPUTE

For the optimum use of the nation's river waters, the Madras High Court - in, response to a petition filed by local advocate K S Radhakiishnan - has suggested that all rivers in India be considered national rivers. In his petition, the advocate had sought the diversion Of river waters flowing westward in Kerala to Madras. He noted that some 40,500 million cubic metres (m.c.m) of water out of a yield of 72,320 m.c.m were flowing unutilised into the Arabian sea. This excess water could instead be diVerted into the drought-prone areas of Madras. Kerala has denied

Out of the depths

"Bath? Twice a month! Washing clothes? Who knows!" There was deep hurt behind the sarcastic laughter of the angry woman. Her audience understood. There were about 300 women -- from 9 districts of Gujarat -- who had congregated in Ahmedabad on May 30 to attend a meeting organised by the Self Employed Women's Association (sewa).

PARAUGUAY-BOLIVIA

The great new hope of Latin American businessmen is a 2,000 mile-long waterway called the Hidrovia. The project is likely to speed up shipping by straightening and deepening the Paraguay and Parana rivers. The us $1 billion waterway, which would also run through Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, is expected to open an outlet to the sea for Paraguay and Bolivia and help the continent's new southern common market to integrate trade.