Assessing the feasibility of integrating ecosystem-based with engineered water resource governance and management for water security in semi-arid landscapes: A case study in the Banas catchment, Rajasthan, India

Much of the developing world and areas of the developed world suffer water vulnerability. Engineering solutions enable technically efficient extraction and diversion of water towards areas of demand but, without rebalancing resource regeneration, can generate multiple adverse ecological and human consequences. The Banas River, Rajasthan (India), has been extensively developed for water diversion, particularly from the Bisalpur Dam from which water is appropriated by powerful urban constituencies dispossessing local people. Coincidentally, abandonment of traditional management, including groundwater recharge practices, is leading to increasingly receding and contaminated groundwater. This creates linked vulnerabilities for rural communities, irrigation schemes, urban users, dependent ecosystems and the multiple ecosystem services that they provide, compounded by climate change and population growth. This paper addresses vulnerabilities created by fragmented policy measures between rural development, urban and irrigation water supply and downstream consequences for people and wildlife. Perpetuating narrowly technocentric approaches to resource exploitation is likely only to compound emerging problems. Alternatively, restoration or innovation of groundwater recharge practices, particularly in the upper catchment, can represent a proven, ecosystem-based approach to resource regeneration with linked beneficial socio-ecological benefits. Hybridising an ecosystem-based approach with engineered methods can simultaneously increase the security of rural livelihoods, piped urban and irrigation supplies, and the vitality of river ecosystems and their services to beneficiaries. A renewed policy focus on local-scale water recharge practices balancing water extraction technologies is consistent with emerging Rajasthani policies, particularly Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (‘water self-reliance mission’). Policy reform emphasising recharge can contribute to water security and yield socio-economic outcomes through a systemic understanding of how the water system functions, and by connecting goals and budgets across multiple, currently fragmented policy areas. The underpinning principles of this necessary paradigm shift are proven and have wider geographic relevance, though context-specific research is required to underpin robust policy and practical implementation

Ruled by records: The expropriation of land and the misappropriation of lists in Islamabad

In this article, I investigate the ongoing battle between villagers on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, and the state development agency attempting to expropriate their land. This battle has been waged through the medium of documents, particularly lists, which villagers and colluding officials have used to defraud the Pakistani government of the equivalent of millions of dollars. Through this case study, I develop an approach to contemporary state governance as material practice, showing how government discourse is shaped by the material forms it takes and highlighting the issue of reference and predication (or how words relate to things). [ governance, documents, state, semiotics, technology, materiality, South Asia, Pakistan ]Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75363/1/j.1548-1425.2008.00095.x.pd

Blockchain research, practice and policy: Applications, benefits, limitations, emerging research themes and research agenda

YesThe blockchain has received significant attention from technology focussed researchers, highlighting its perceived impact and emerging disruption potential, but has been slow to engender any significant momentum within the Information Systems (IS) and Information Management (IM) literature. This study approaches the subject through an IS/IM lens developing the key themes from the blockchain based research via a comprehensive review. This analysis of the body of literature highlights that although few commercial grade blockchain applications currently exist, the technology demonstrates significant potential to benefit a number of industry wide use cases. This study expands on this point articulating through each of the key themes to develop a detailed narrative on the numerous potential blockchain applications and future direction of the technology, whilst discussing the many barriers to adoption. The study asserts that blockchain technology has the potential to contribute to a number of the UN Sustainability Development Goals and engender widespread change within a number of established industries and practices

Benefits of growth must be for all - C Rangarajan

News item appeared in Times of India at http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Search&Source=Find&Key=TOIPU/2014/02/15/7/Ar00704.xml&CollName=TOI_PUNE_DAILY_2009&DOCID=724599&Keyword=%28%3Cmany%3E%3Cstem%3Erangarajan%29&skin=TOINEW&AppName=1&PageLabel=7%20&ViewMode=HTML‘Benefits of growth must be for all’ TIMES NEWS NETWORK Pune: An efficient delivery of services to all sections of the society is necessary for the existence of good governance and accountable institutions, C Rangarajan, chairman of the Prime Minister’s economic advisory council said on Friday. Such institutions are crucial for achieving the desired economic targets, the former governor of Reserve Bank of India said. He added that the benefits of growth must be distributed among all sections to ensure fulfillment of basic human needs. Rangarajan was delivering the inaugural address at the Economics Conclave 2014 of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics on ‘Indian Economy: Performance and Challenges Ahead.’ Rangarajan said productivity of capital can be improved by removing bottlenecks in supply and cutting down implementation delays in infrastructure projects. Later in the day addressing an interactive session on ‘Addressing Systemic Challenges of the 21st Century’ at the Centre for Information and Network Security at the University of Pune, Rangarajan said while economic growth is essential for the country, it is important to study the impact of growth on its natural resources because unbridled consumption of these resources can lead to serious long-term problems