Water and conflict is very vast topic, now days most of the conflict occurs because of water directly or indirectly. So there is need for proper utilisation of water.

1. Presented by:
Charan Hansda (PDM-XIV)
Tata Dhan Academy
Date: June 6, 2015
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2. Overview
• Causes of water conflict and need of its
knowledge.
• Typology of water conflict.
• Locating water conflict in river basin and
geographic space.
• Water units a community.
• Case study of Coca-Cola at Kerala.
• Non-negotiable parameters.
• Examples of water conflicts and its current status.
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3. Cause of water conflict
• Not respecting existing
or historical agreements.
• Water scarcity
• Increase water demands
• Water pollution
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4. Why it needs to know?
Availability of water has always been vitally
important for following:
• Political stability
• Economic growth
• Social order and
• Sustainable development
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5. Typology of water conflict
• Hydrology:
– Inter and Intra basin conflict
– Trans boundary water conflict
• Economic:
– Inter sectorial water distribution
– Construction of dams
• Culture
– River based festivals
– Ritual of the river
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6. Locating water conflict in river basin and geographic space
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7. Water Resolved the Conflict
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8. Case study: Coca-Cola at Kerala
• In 2000 the coca-coal company opened a bottling plant in
Plachimada.
• In 2002 allegation of misuse of local water resources.
• In 2003 district medical officer declared water from local
aquifers unfit for consumption (salt in water)
• BBC investigate ‘bio-solids’- find dangerous level of cadmium
and lead.
• KPCB banned the uses of the bio-solids as a fertilizers.
• April 2003 – Local panchayat cancel CC license to operate
• May 2003 – state also refuse to renew license
• December 2003 – Kerala High court rules in favour of
panchayat.
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9. Case study: Coca-Cola at Kerala (Cont.)
• March 2004-factory shut down order of Kerala govt.
• April 2005 – appeal by CC result in high court allowing them
to draw 500,000 liters of water a day and panchayat order to
renew license.
• June 2005- CC approach high court again as panchayat has
refused to renew license, and panchayat renew for 3 months.
• August 2005- KPCB order to closure of the plant.
• November 2005- CC approach to High Court and ordered to
panchayat for renew of licenses.
• January 2006 – Panchayat renews license, imposing 13
conditions, the most notable of which is that bottling plant
does not use the local ground water.
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10. The Economics of Plachimada’s water
• Since the opening of the CC plant agriculture has
taken a down turn.
• Agriculture labourers have been force to shift
• Productivity of land come down
– Small piece of land in 2000 would yield 50 sacks of rice
and 1500 coconuts in 2003 gave 5 sacks of rice and 200
coconuts.
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11. Non-Negotiable Parameter
• Water for life
• Water for livelihoods
• Quality of water
• Environment
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12. Some water conflict examples
Conflict Location/ River
basin
Conflict parties Conflict brief Status
Interstate
conflict
Krishana river
basin
Maharashtra, AP
and Karnataka
Water sharing Unresolved
Interstate
conflict
Cauvery river
basin
Karnataka and
T.N
Water sharing Unresolved
Project level
conflict
Upper Krishna
project
Migrant and non
migrant farmers
Violet water
distribution
Unresolved
Project level Belagumba Tank,
C. basin
Government and
farmers
Govt. mgt. water
body
No lasting
solution
Pollution
based
Nagaram Tank,
Warangal, A.P
Famers,
fishermen and
govt.
Urban waster
water destroyed
rural livelihoods
Not able to
draw govt.
attention
Proposed
project policy
reform
Tamil Nadu water
sector
Water user and
government
Centralization
create problem
Unresolved
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13. Reference
• Understanding water and conflict- case study from south
India.
• DHAN Vayalagam Poster.
• Development matters (December 2008) from DHAN
Collective.
• “Million Revolts’ in the making from EPW Feb 18, 2006
• Water: the Coca-Cola Company in Keral by Modus
Operandi August 2007
• From localised contestations to terrains of resistance: water
conflict making statements around Odisha’s landscapes by
Pranab R Chaudhury and Priyabrata Satapathy
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14. Discussion
How water conflict can be resolved at local,
regional and national level?
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15. Thank You 15