Water for Life: River Restructuring and its Ties to Land, Society and Public Health in India Members: Carrie Knowlton Kobi Platt Rebecca Reynolds Advisor: Mike Willey Clients: EcoFriends Centre for Environment Education

Issue October 2002: Indian Supreme Court ordered the Indian Central Government to begin work on a massive river linkage project in order to divert water to the southern states for irrigation and municipal use. Feasibility Study: completed by Project: completed by 2010.

Problem No research done to explore: –the immediate human need for water; –the long-term effects of massive ecosystem alteration; –whether the proposed river linkage project will meet its objectives. NGO’s are scrambling to educate citizen’s about this construction initiative. Currently, there is no comprehensive examination of the Indian River Linkage Proposal.

Research Questions Case Study Approach - Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh What are the current uses of the Ganga River in Kanpur (industrial, residential, commercial)? How are these uses currently affecting pollution, public health standards, and water quality? –What are the objectives of the river linkage plan as proposed by the government (short-term and long-term)? –How will the river linkage affect the these characteristics? –What alternatives might be explored to enhance the project objectives proposed by the Indian government?

Research Questions, cont. How do the findings of our case study pertain to other cities throughout India? How does the India River Linkage Proposal compare to other water management issues emerging worldwide? What significant legal, political and economic factors unique to India contributed to approval of the linkage plan?

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh Primary Contact: Rakesh Jaiswal "Eco Friends performs all such acts that may assist in or be conducive to fostering environmental education, protection and security".

Community Organizing and Activism Partnership with WWF-India to prepare status report on Ganga Action Plan Water Quality Monitoring Partnerships with Religious Organizations Environmental Justice Environmental Education

Secondary Client Headquarters in Ahmedabad with five regional offices and 22 satellite offices Environmental Education Organization funded through the Indian Government and the Nehru Foundation for Development

Conducting Research -Books -Journal articles -Newspaper articles -Government documents -Web-based Resources India background Worldwide lessons Travel to India Consequences

Timeline

Products Final Report: Multidimensional impacts—economic,ecological, cultural—of river linkage plan. Comparative analysis. Potential alternatives. Systemic Model. GIS.

Budget Three Sections Research Supplies (paper, disks, data procurement). Travel (60 days, food, lodging, transportation. Conference/Dissemination Plans (International or Domestic). Formulated to fit the flexible needs of our client and meet the desired deliverable of our research.

Budget India Rivers EFARACKH AM DISCRETIO NARY FUNDS SNRERACKH AM TRAVEL GRANT TOTAL (EFA) One Year Budget (4/1/04 – 5/1/05) OPERATING COSTS Research Supplies General Supplies Telephone – Long Distance Telephone – Local Calls Postage/Shipping/Handling Travel – Domestic Travel - Foreign Indirect Costs TOTAL COSTS by source

Importance of Research Unique problem, unique learning opportunity. SNRE Mission: “through creative and collaborative efforts with individuals and institutions anywhere excellence and diversity are found.” International NGO partnership. Access to resources. Information exchange.

Importance of Research Interdisciplinary approach. Public health, ecosystem analysis, economics, public policy and human rights. Broad investigation of a broad problem. Continuation of lasting research. Future SNRE Master’s Projects.

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Budget Narrative Research Supplies Binder OfficeMax Economy 2” – 3” $3.50 x Paper OfficeMax Maxbrite Recycled Paper (500 $5.00 x 5.00 Eaton Flecked Resume Paper (80 $9.00 x Notebooks & Memo Pads Avery National Porta-Desk $5.00 x Post-it Notes – Yellow $3.50 x Printer Cartridge (Inkjet) Canon Black Inkjet Tank $13.00 x Canon Color Inkjet $22.00 x Printing University $0.05 x 1000 pgs Disks Memorex Floppy Disks $10.00 x Staples Swingline Staples $4.00 x Paper Clips OfficeMax Multi-Pack Paperclips $2.00 x