Delhi Water Crisis Issue

Haryana releases 16,000 cusecs water for Delhi amidst the water shortage in the capital. Delhi Jal Board (DJB) vice-chairman Raghav Chadha blamed the Haryana government for triggering a “severe water crisis” in the national capital, and exhorted the neighbouring state to adhere to orders by the Supreme court on water sharing.

What’s the Issue?

• Delhi receives water from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The largest share of water comes from Haryana via the Yamuna through three different channels.
• Since Delhi gets the largest share of water from the Yamuna, it has been a contentious issue for a long time between Delhi and Haryana.
• In 1994, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the five basin States of the Yamuna, including Delhi and Haryana, for sharing of water of upper Yamuna.
• However, Delhi and Haryana have been at loggerheads over the allocation of Yamuna water especially during summers with Delhi complaining that it is getting less water from Haryana and the latter denying the facts most of the times.

• At present, Delhi receives 479 million gallons water a day (MGD) against 609 MGD from Haryana. Besides, the city draws 90 MGD groundwater and receives 250 MGD from the Upper Ganga Canal, according to official figures.
• The daily requirement of water in Delhi is 1,150 MGD but the DJB supplies only around 950 MGD and there is a shortfall of 200 MGD, the figures show.
• The Haryana government released 16,000 cusecs (the share of water the Capital is legally entitled to) of water to Delhi, two days after the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

Haryana Government’s Stance

• Less water in the Yamuna river due to delay in the arrival of the monsoon and government’s mismanagement has led to water shortage in the National Capital, claimed the Haryana government.
• The Manohar Lal Khattar-led government also said the water supply to Delhi is being maintained even though Haryana is facing scarcity, with 40 percent less water in the Yamuna river.
• Haryana is continuously providing 1,049 cusecs of water at Munak through its canal system to Delhi the quantity of which is 950 cusecs of water at Bawana contact point.

Water Crisis in India

• India constitutes 16 per cent of the world’s population, but the country has only four per cent of the world’s freshwater resources. With the changing weather patterns and recurring droughts, India is water stressed.

• India’s water crisis is often attributed to lack of government planning, increased corporate privatization, industrial and human waste and government corruption.
• As many as 256 of 700 districts have reported ‘critical’ or ‘over-exploited’ groundwater levels, according to the latest data from the Central Ground Water Board (2017).
• In addition, water scarcity in India is expected to worsen as the overall population is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by year 2050.
• In India, some regions have an excess amount of water for their needs or requirements while some regions are facing droughts or have less amount of water simultaneously.
• Traditional techniques of the water irrigation resulted in the loss of water due to evaporation, drainage, excess use of groundwater, etc.
• Rapid urbanization, industrialization, population growth, demand for domestic use increases the demand for water in India.
• During the monsoon season the desilting operations of the water bodies, dams, etc are not done at the time affecting the water storage capacity of India.
• Poor legislation on groundwater extraction, political reasons for not valuing water, etc. enhance water scarcity in India.

Solutions

• Rain water harvesting– Check Dams, Convergence between MGNREGA and water conservation, Desilting of ponds and water bodies. Conservation agriculture- Artificial and Natural Mulching, Zero Tillage.
• Micro irrigation (MI) systems (sprinkler, drip) promote precision farming by making water available to root zone of crops. MI holds immense potential in addressing dual challenges – Sustainability and Declining Income Levels.
• The urban needs, which underpin much reporting on ‘water crises’, need to be met by robust long-term planning and preparation for droughts and other contingencies.
• Agricultural universities should take a lead in advising farmers on suitable cropping patterns, taking into account soil and other climatic conditions of a region, to save water.
• The practice of providing free or subsidised water and power to farmers must be stopped. Small and marginal farmers can be compensated for their loss by increasing the MSP for their produce.

Water in the Constitution of India

• Water is a State subject as per entry 17 of State List and thus states are empowered to enact legislation on water.
• Entry 17 of State List deals with water i.e. water supply, irrigation, canal, drainage, embankments, water storage and water power.
• Entry 56 of Union List gives power to the Union Government for the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys to the extent declared by Parliament to be expedient in the public interest.
• Article 262 also states that the Parliament may provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
  • River Board Act, 1956- The purpose of this Act was to enable the Union Government to create Boards for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments.
  • Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956- In case, if a particular state or states approach to Union Government for the constitution of the tribunal:
    • Central Government should try to resolve the matter by consultation among the aggrieved states.
    • In case, if it does not work, then it may constitute the tribunal.

Click to read about Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019

India & Russia Agree to Hold 2+2 Dialogue

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to establish a 2+2 ministerial dialogue between foreign and defence ministers to add further momentum to the bilateral strategic partnership.
• Russia is the first non-QUAD member with which India is to hold the dialogue.
• In 2021, President Vladimir Putin is to visit India to hold the India-Russia bilateral summit. The summit is alternatively held in India and Russia.

Background:

• Relations with Russia are a key pillar of India’s foreign policy, and Russia has been a longstanding time-tested partner of India.
• Both countries signed the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000.
• Traditionally, the Indo-Russian strategic partnership has been built on five major components: politics, defence, civil nuclear energy, anti-terrorism cooperation and space.

Russia’s Importance to India

• The historical character of the bilateral relationship.
• Even as India is diversifying its defence trade partners, Russia still dominates the Indian defense inventory to the tune of about 70 per cent.
• Russia remains the only partner that is still willing to give India critical technologies, such as a nuclear submarine.
• The emerging Russia-China strategic relationship has important security consequences for India.
• Russia also reaffirmed its “unwavering support” to India for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.
• Russia expressed its support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
• Both countries have mutual benefits in supporting the struggle against terrorism, Afghanistan, and climate change; organisations like SCO, BRICS, G-20 and ASEAN.

Economic ties:

• Russia-India trade has not grown to great heights despite the encouragement of both states.
• Russia sees India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world – as a country that could alleviate Russia’s economic problems.
• The make in India initiative has welcomed Russian companies from the public and private sectors.
• Russian firms have shown a willingness to invest in India in construction, major infrastructure projects such as dedicated freight corridors and industrial clusters, smart cities, and engineering services, sharing technologies and skills.
• Indian companies are exploring major investment options in Russia, especially in natural resources such as coal, fertilizers, hydrocarbons, minerals, and rare earth metals.
• Trade and investment relations are not up to the mark and this needs improvements.

Energy ties:

• The Russia-India investments in the oil and gas sector and exports to third countries need to be energised.
• Russia is an important partner in peaceful uses of nuclear energy and it recognizes India as a country with advanced nuclear technology with an impeccable non-proliferation record.
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is being built in India with Russian cooperation.

Political ties:

• New Delhi needs Moscow’s support in the former’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• The Russians have backed the Indian position on Kashmir.
• India and Russia are engaged in several multilateral efforts that are greatly favoured by Russia such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
• The annual Summit meeting is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism under the Strategic Partnership

Issues of terrorism:

• Counterterrorism is another area where both countries find a convergence of interest.
• Both countries strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, stressing the need for an effective global effort in dealing with the terrorist menace.
• They also called for the elimination, once and for all, of all terrorist “safe havens,” presumably referring to Pakistan.
• India and Russia also share concerns about the aggravation of the security situation in Afghanistan, including along its borders.
• India openly shared Russia’s concerns over developments in Syria.
• India’s stance on Syria will certainly help cement its ties with Russia countering the earlier feeling that India was not coming forward to support Russia in difficult times.

Cultural Cooperation:

• There is a strong tradition of Indian studies in Russia.
• Apart from Hindi, languages such as Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Urdu, Sanskrit and Pali are taught in Russian Institutions.
• There is general interest among Russian people in Indian dance, music, yoga and Ayurveda.
• There are regular cultural initiatives to promote people-to-people contact between India and Russia

Way Forward:

• An India-Russian relationship is passing through an interesting phase.
• There are bilateral challenges that need to be overcome.
• The defence deals and nuclear energy cooperation should keep the India-Russia relationship afloat.
• India has to rebuild on its strengths and common concerns with the Russians.
• Need to focus on increasing trade and investment ties between India and Russia.
• India must attract Russian investors to tap the vast opportunities in India’s infrastructure space.

Conclusion:

• India and Russia have identified several new areas of cooperation.
• These range from deep sea exploration to building knowledge-based economies based on science and technology, innovation, robotics and artificial intelligence, focussing on infrastructure, skill development, agriculture, shipbuilding, railways, aviation and greater connectivity, especially people-to-people contacts.
• The two countries decided to set up more than 20 Russian-designed nuclear units in India in the next 20 years.
• Above all, the push to ‘Act Far East’ allows India to demonstrate its commitment to an area of concern for Moscow, thus reassuring its traditional partner that in an increasingly polarised world, India is confident of working with multiple alignments, even if they are at cross purposes with each other.

South African Protests and India South Africa Relations

The unrest in South Africa set off after the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.

• The rioting originated in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where he is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court, after failing to appear for a corruption inquiry.

Who is Jacob Zuma?

• Jacob Zuma assumed the presidency in 2009. Zuma was once a freedom fighter in the ruling African National Congress alongside Nelson Mandela. After years of corruption allegations, and facing a vote of no confidence, Zuma resigned as president in 2018.
• Zuma is accused of mass cronyism. Under his rule, critics charge, billions of dollars were siphoned out of the state and into the pockets of officials and their associates.
• The phrase "state capture" is now ubiquitous in South African politics- it denotes state institutions being used as vehicles for self-enrichment.
• Before Zuma became president, South Africa was ranked number 55 on Transparency International's global index, which ranks corruption around the globe. In 2018, the year Zuma left office, the country was ranked 73.

Reasons for Riots?

• The rioting originated in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal in support of the former president’s arrest.
• But experts have called the protests a repudiation of the state of South Africa.
• The country is in the midst of a wicked COVID wave with roughly one in four tests coming out positive.
• South Africa has the highest official unemployment rate in the world, at 32% and one of the highest crime rates.
• The World Bank called it the most unequal country in the world in 2018.

India – South Africa Relations

• India’s relations with South Africa go back centuries and have a powerful emotional component. It is here that Mahatma Gandhi began his political career, and over the decades of the 20th century, India stood solidly behind the ANC’s struggle against apartheid.
• India was at the forefront of the international community in its support to the anti-apartheid movement; it was the first country to sever trade relations with the apartheid Government (in 1946) and subsequently imposed a complete – diplomatic, commercial, cultural and sports – embargo on South Africa.
• India worked consistently to put the issue of apartheid on the agenda of the UN, NAM, and other multilateral organizations and for the imposition of comprehensive international sanctions against South Africa.
• India’s relations with South Africa were restored after a gap of over four decades with the opening of a Cultural Centre in Johannesburg in May 1993.
• Diplomatic and consular relations with South Africa were restored in November 1993 during the visit of the then South African Foreign Minister Pik Botha to India. A Consulate General was thereafter established in Johannesburg.
• The Indian High Commission in Pretoria was opened in May 1994, followed by the opening of the Consulate General in Durban the same month.
• Since Parliament in South Africa meets in Cape Town, a permanent office of the High Commission was opened there in 1996, which has been re-designated as Consulate General of India with effect from January 2011.
• The Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa called the Red Fort Declaration was signed in 1997 by the then South African President Nelson Mandela and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda.

Relations in the Last Decade

Political relations

• The year 2017 marks the 20 year of the signing of the Red Fort Declaration for Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa.
• The Declaration was signed in March 1997 by the Prime Minister of India Shri Deva Gowda and President of South Africa Nelson Mandela in New Delhi.
• To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Red Fort Declaration of Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa an India-South Africa Cultural Extravaganza comprising of a music and dance show, a curtain raiser event was organized by High Commission of India, Pretoria in Pretoria on April 9, 2017.

IBSA & BRICS Initiative

• 16 Sectoral Working Groups have been established in areas such as health, agriculture, education, human settlements, S&T and defence.

Commercial & Economic Relations

• Commercial relations have flourished since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1993.
• There is substantial potential for trade growth between the two countries. Exports from India to South Africa include vehicles and components thereof, transport equipment, drugs and pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, footwear, dyes and intermediates, chemicals, textiles, rice, gems and jewellery, etc. Imports from South Africa to India includes gold, steam coal, copper ores & concentrates, phosphoric acid, manganese ore, aluminium ingots & other minerals.

Cultural Relations

• A Festival of India in South Africa was jointly organized by High Commission in Pretoria and the Department of Arts and Culture of South Africa in July-August 2014 commemorating 20 years of our diplomatic relations and also 100 years of Gandhiji’s return to India from South Africa.
• With the help of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an intensive programme of cultural exchanges is organised throughout South Africa including scholarships for South African nationals. In addition to such cultural programming, a ‘Shared Histories’ Festival organized as a public-private partnership is also held, which held its 10th edition in 2016.
• The Department of Arts and Culture sent a cultural troupe to India to participate in the International Dance and Music Festival held January 2016.
• International Yoga Day is celebrated on 21 June by the Mission/Posts in collaboration/association with local organisations in cities across South Africa.

Agreements Signed

• President Ramaphosa is the second President of South Africa after President Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day.
• During the visit, South African President said, “India is a strategic partner for South Africa. South Africa attaches the highest importance to its relations with India and considerable scope exists to deepen bilateral relations at an economic level.”

• Both countries emphasise on concerted global action to deal with terrorism and called for the adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
• Both countries agree on the need for keeping the sea lanes in the Indian Ocean secure against illegal actors.
• Agro-processing, defence procurement and mining equipment and technology are the future areas of cooperation.
• Both demand reform in the global governance architecture such as WTO, international financial systems etc. in order to promote inclusive growth.

Indian diaspora in South Africa

• The major part of the Indian origin community came to South Africa from 1860 onwards as farm labour to serve as field hands and mill operatives in the sugar and other agricultural plantations of Natal (which was then a British colony). Most of these initial migrants were from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh with some from eastern UP and Bihar.
• A second wave of Indians came after 1880. These were the “passenger Indians” – so-called because they paid their fares as passengers on board a steamship bound for South Africa. This was the community of traders who mainly hailed from Gujarat.
• The South African Indian origin community numbers around 1.5 million and constitutes about 3% of South Africa’s total population. About 80% of the Indian community lives in the province of KwaZulu Natal, about 15% in the Gauteng (previously Transvaal) area and the remaining 5% in Cape Town.
• South Africans of Indian origin are well-represented in Government, business, media, legal and other professions. The year 2010 marked the 150th anniversary of the first arrival of Indians in South Africa.
• 2014 marked 100 years of Gandhi Ji's final departure to India from South Africa; he reached India on 9th Jan 1915; this date is now commemorated annually as Pravasi Bhartiya Divas.

DBT MOES Polar Research Centre

• Department of Biotechnology signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) With the Ministry of Earth Sciences To Set up the DBT MOES Polar Research Centre
• The POLAR region encompassing the Antarctic, Arctic, Southern Ocean and the Himalayas is a unique ecosystem offers a huge amount of interest due to its extreme climate compare to the rest of the world.
• Although researchers across the globe have contributed to different areas of research, the POLAR region is yet known as an unexplored ecosystem.
• The MoU envisages mutual collaboration to explore the possibility of cooperation, convergence and synergy to bring out the expertise and services of both the organizations under one roof and work hand-in-hand for addressing relevant questions in the field of polar biology.
• Particularly, biotechnological applications of polar microbes could be the centre point of this collaboration between both the Ministry of Earth Sciences and DBT.
• The MoU will be implemented with the aim to collaborate with in mutually agreed-upon thrust areas of research in the area of POLAR sciences.
• Initially, these efforts would be taken up through collaborative proposals by the researchers at MOES institutes making use of the presently available setups of MOES at Polar Regions.
• In order to strengthen this association and expedite the research in the polar region joint laboratories will be set up at MOES stations.
• This will allow researchers to carry out the experiments on the site without the need for transporting the samples to the parent laboratories in India and will generate valuable information and novel products from these unique environments.
• This flagship synergistic approach would be taken up in mission mode through networking with the elite institutions in the country.

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