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Interrogating Cauvery Calling
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Asian College of Journalism
10:41
He says for better crop patterns, proper water management system is required.
10:43
Shah proposes that to revive Cauvery and end the conflict, we need to introduce less-water-requiring millets, pulses and oilseeds.
10:48
Shah further suggests that before we push farmers to grow rice and wheat, we have to make it a part of the public distribution system as many of the ICDS and mid day meal programmes are handled by the government.
10:49
10:50
The reason we procure these crops is to include them in these programmes. "The roots of this crisis lies in the green revolution," adds Shah.
10:52
Shah continues, "The farmers are putting more fertilizers and the cost of the chemicals are skyrocketing. We have not explored the possibility of alternatives to this green revolution. The solutions that have been produced are knee jerked by politicians."
10:53
Shah goes on to talk about alternative, sustainable modes of farming. "We need to explore a variety of alternatives. There are more sustainable agriculture and natural farming. A large number of these activities are successful. There is a huge element of consumer health that needs to be addressed."
"The quality of water must me improved. We must work on a development paradigm. We have not interrogated the developmental paradigm enough," Shah insists.
10:56
"Right now what we are doing will not do much to save the Cauvery," concludes Shah.
11:00
Next, Jagadish Krishnaswamy (Senior Fellow Suri Sehgal Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation), Suprabha Seshan (Ecologist and Editor at the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, Wayanad, Kerala), the Representative of Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation will take the stage with Viju B (Journalist and Author) for the first panel to discuss about Interrogating ‘Cauvery Calling’: Issues of Ecologies, Cultures and Livelihoods, in depth.
11:02
The first panel for the day deals with "Hydrological and Ecosystems of Cauvery"
Viju B starts off the discussion by saying, "The word 'Cauvery' came from the word Cavie. In Cauvery we have fifteen branches. Let us talk about those branches." He then invites Jagadish Krishnaswamy to talk about it.
11:03
11:10
Jagadish Krishnaswamy summarizes a couple of ecological dynamics linked to hydraulics. He adds that evapotransporation is an important part of photosynthesis and development of flora and fauna. He talks about certain trees that have a lot of plasticity in their water us, for instance 'Eucalyptus'.
11:11
Krishnaswamy adds, "Eucalyptus consumes water more than what is available." He further talks about Riparian Restoration.
11:13
"We need to think about what is required to sustain the density of these trees. Trees cannot miraculously bring in water into the river. Evapotranspiration sustains the parts of rainfall in all of Tamil Nadu. Where are we going to find the moisture to sustain trees? That's something we need to think about", Krishnaswamy questions.
Dr. Krishnaswamy is of the opinion that the Cauvery Calling project is not ecologically feasible. Do you agree?
Yes (100% | 5 votes)
 
No (0% | 0 votes)
 
Total Votes: 5
11:14
Krishnaswamy moves on to the second point by saying, "The second part is sediment. We need high flows in the monsoon to transport sediment. Sediment transport has to be an important part to manage the ecosystem."
Viju B. throws a question at Suprabha Seshan, "Perhaps can you talk about how to conserve the rich micro-habitats there?"
11:18
Seshan answers, "I live by the Kalmpura River. We have been witnessing that by removing dynamiting and all these harmful activities, we have seen a surge in fish. What I and the women who are farming and diversifying it, can assure you that the river can be revived. So in the little valleys of West Wayanad, the animals, the vegetation are different. I would like to make a case of removing harmful practices, and watch how the river revives."
11:19
She adds an interesting fact, "One of the highest rates of cancer in Kerala is for high bitter-gourd farming. The support of each other is needed. Why do we need sugar that is killing people. I was really impressed by the life in the farms. The blocking, the dam-ing, the polluting needs to stop."
11:21
Viju B. thanks Seshan and questions Krishnaswamy, "I just wanted to add that there is a river called 'Kabni' near Waynad. It is a tributary of Cauvery which has been reclaimed. You can't just have a tree planting exercise and say it can be conserved. There are huge landslides and floods that happen in Kerala. You have conservation happening and you also have this afforestation program. How can climate change be mitigated in the Western ghats region? What can we do?"
11:23
Krishnaswamy answers, "We have issues like plantation of exotic species. But we have a fair record of conservation even though the challenge remains. The Indian monsoon is very complicated. The climate pollution tells us that there's going to be an increase in South monsoon and there will be extreme showers. When we talk about the Cauvery, it's a disconnect hydraulic system. Even the ability of natural forest showers wipes out a lot of flora and fauna which we need to be concerned about. Trees get wiped out. The first thing to do is to put water back into the river flow. And hopefully nature will take over in terms of the fish community and the whole life under water."
11:24
Krishnaswamy adds to the discussion by saying, "There are a lot of trade-offs which have come in. When we talk about fresh water ecosystem, flowing river becomes a part of the problem. We still don't have an economic argument for when the river meets the sea. What are the economic fluctuations?"
11:26
Krishnaswamy advises, "When you do water efficient irrigation, you need to be committed to put it back into the river. The same water does not end up in the river or ground, it's used for something else. So we need to ensure that same water gets into the river. Restoring the river is not just about saving water, but also about sediment generation."
He warns, "The rate of sediment production is not that high."
11:27
"If the Isha Foundation takes up example from the existing restoration works, the Foundation would become less tree-centric and will also look into the herbs and shrubs as they are an important part as well", he adds.
11:28
Viju B asks Seshan to elaborate on Krishnaswamy's statement.
11:29
Seshan responds, "Climate change is still a mysterious thing for people sitting in a room. That is beneath and below the fires and increase in carbon. How do we know about what the increase of carbon in the atmosphere do to plants and trees? Unless emissions are cut by a massive amount, how much more can the trees and oceans do? We have observed trees and plants and I have been seeing various species as being first responders to destruction, and this barrenization."
11:31
She instructs, "We have to understand how to live within their ecosystem. If we focus on this thing called Climate Change, we fail to see what indigenous communities and natural habitats are doing."
Viju B asks Krishnaswamy to add to Seshan's comment.
11:33
Krishnaswamy observes, "We know that reviving a river from the bottom is not a very easy process - Cauvery, being one of the most complicated one. Initially, it was just about planting trees as that itself would revive water, but we have choked the groundwater by our over consumption of the water."
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