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This book attempts to highlight the vital role water has played in creating, consolidating, protecting, and preserving ancient and medieval global civilizations. It explains how the modern world has been addressing the issue of water insecurity and learning lessons from its acts of commission and omission. Water is a resource that nations have fought over, both domestically and internationally. The book lists selected water conflicts that have become severe and further exacerbated with populations growing rapidly and water demand rising exponentially while human beings continue to remain oblivious to the inevitable impending dangers of water insecurity.
It critically examines the disputes and conflicts over water resources in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia along with domestic disputes that have occurred in India. It also examines the methods our forefathers used to meet their water requirements. Ancient water harvesting methods and structures are explored, and their efficacy is evaluated.
This book serves as a reminder of the irrefutable fact that water is the world's most important resource and lists useful tips for investors and policymakers on water preservation. It can also serve as a guide to anyone interested in this subject and hoping to learn more about the past, present, and future scenarios of the world s most important resource.
List of contents
1. Our History.- 1.1 Mesopotamia.- 1.2 Egypt.- 1.3 Indus Valley Civilization.- 1.4 Yellow River Civilization.- 2. The Importance of water sources.- 2.1 Mayans civilization.- 2.2 Indus Valley.- 2.3 Khmer Empire of Cambodia.- 2.4 Dujiangyan irrigation system.- 3. The Almighty Dam: How humans conquered nature.- 3.1 Romans.- 3.2 Modern Structures.- 3.3 Environmental Consequences.- 3.4 Social Consequences.- 3.5 Dam Failure.- 4. These Dam Disputes.- 4.1 Malaysia & Singapore.- 4.2 Egypt & Ethiopia.- 4.3 Turkey & Iraq.- 4.4 India and her Neighbours.- 5. Water harvesting.- 5.1 Baoli.- 5.2 Contour Trenches.- 5.3 Sand Dams.- 5.4 Suqakollo (waru- warus).- 5.5 Manmamteo.- 5.6 Qanat.- 5.7 Naula & Dhara.- 5.8 Johads.- 6. What s going on? Modern examples of our water woes.- 6.1 Dry Spell in Australia.- 6.2 Syria s Struggle.- 6.3 War Torn Yemen.- 6.4 Catalonia s Crisis.- 6.5 The Countdown to Day Zero.- 6.6 Groundwater Crisis in North India.- 6.7 The Dark Side of the Boon.- 6.8 COVID-19.- 7. Reviving rivers.- 7.1 Thames.- 7.2 Rhine.- 7.3 Ganga.- 8. The Foreseeable Future.- 8.1 Water Pricing.- 8.2 Water Recycling.- 8.3 Agriculture.
About the author
Aniket Ghanshyam completed BSc in Environmental Science from Drexel University, USA and obtained MSc in Urban Water Management from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He has spent almost a decade studying and working on water. He has provided water and environment related services/recommendations to Government of North Eastern Indian State of Meghalaya, Government of Nigeria as also Government of India. he has travelled in many countries of the world and has had the privilege of interacting with decisionmakers in several countries about water insecurity. He understands the political and economic constraints of investing in this sector and accords priority to solutions that are financially feasible, politically viable and culturally acceptable in addressing the issue of water scarcity. He has also worked for several government departments including the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Jal Shakti and currently working at the Waste to Wealth Mission which is spearhead by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser.
Summary
This book attempts to highlight the vital role water has played in creating, consolidating, protecting, and preserving ancient and medieval global civilizations. It explains how the modern world has been addressing the issue of water insecurity and learning lessons from its acts of commission and omission. Water is a resource that nations have fought over, both domestically and internationally. The book lists selected water conflicts that have become severe and further exacerbated with populations growing rapidly and water demand rising exponentially while human beings continue to remain oblivious to the inevitable impending dangers of water insecurity.
It critically examines the disputes and conflicts over water resources in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia along with domestic disputes that have occurred in India. It also examines the methods our forefathers used to meet their water requirements. Ancient water harvesting methods and structures are explored, and their efficacy is evaluated.
This book serves as a reminder of the irrefutable fact that water is the world's most important resource and lists useful tips for investors and policymakers on water preservation. It can also serve as a guide to anyone interested in this subject and hoping to learn more about the past, present, and future scenarios of the world’s most important resource.
