Water-Energy-Food Nexus

This is my first post on a technical topic on my personal blog. The post is in continuation with couple of discussions i had recently with some passionate practitioners of Sustainability.

The discussion started at National institute of Technology , Surathkal last month. I had been there to deliver a talk on “Sustainable Engineering, Opportunities and Challenges”. I spoke in general about social entrepreneurship models, engineering , water issues and solutions, Solar energy and some economics . Post my talk, a few students wanted to know more about why i think water and energy have to be discussed in parallel and how do these fit in the overall context of Climate Change and sustainability.

Though i could give convincing answers to the students, i thought, i must write something succinctly to be able to myself appreciate the idea better.  Hence this post.

Disclaimer: Most of the material of this post is taken from a journal published by “Centre for United Nations”

Energy – Water Nexus

As Population increase, demands on finite water resources and energy services threaten to push the limits of what our environment can sustain. Another compelling reason to pay heed to the water-energy nexus is climate change, which may result in significant alterations to precipitation patterns, with all that implies for altered water availability and the power derived from water.

“The Energy problem is actually a water problem”. Water and energy also affect food security and hence there is Water -Energy – Food Nexus.

United Nations Water asserts in the World Water Development report 2014, ” Water , Energy and food are inextricably linked….The global community is well aware of food, energy and water challenges , but has so far addressed them in isolation,” There are many synergies and trade-offs between water and energy use and food production. Here are some examples from the report ;

1. Using water to irrigate crops can promote food production but it also reduce river flows and hydropower potential.
2. Growing bioenergy crops under irrigated agriculture can increase overall water withdrawals and jeopardize food security.
3. Converting surface irrigation into high-efficiency pressurized irrigation may save water but may result in higher energy use.

Recognizing these synergies and balancing these trade-offs is central to jointly ensuring water,energy and food security.

The world Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) notes on its portal ,”There is an intrinsic link between the challenge we face to ensure water security and other global issues, most notably climate change and the need to sustainably manage the world’s rapidly growing demand for energy and food.

Humanity needs to feed more people with less water , in a context of Climate Change and growing energy demand, while maintaining healthy ecosystems. ”

The FAO outlines the global challenge posed by the nexus

1. The situation is expected to be exacerbated in the near future as 60% more food will need to be produced in order to feed the world population in 2050.
2. Global energy consumption is projected to grow by up to 50% by 2035
3. Total global water withdrawals for irrigation are projected to increase by 20 to 25% by 2050 (May be much more)(emphasis added).

Gods in Shackles

Its been quite some time since i wrote anything on my blog. I was engrossed in daily chores and daily bread that i hardly made any time for reading or writing or any other creative work. Thanks to today ,an enriching day spent with some amazing people, I thought I must write my thoughts and experience of the day .

The title of this post is borrowed from the next feature film by Sangeetha Iyer, a documentary film maker

Aratupuza Pooram

I have been to kerala a few times and have seen the Thrissur and Aratupuza poorams. In fact, i tell every other travel enthusiast to see the pooram at least once in a lifetime. Poorams are amazing for the drums, for the fireworks and most importantly for the Elephants. I was amazed by the sheer number of elephants I saw during the pooram festivals. I have always told people not to miss the elephant walks on the Kerala roads during poorams.

However, never i spared a thought for the plight of these gentle giants. Never did i thnk of the trauma they go through in participating in these festivals . 

CUPA or “Compassion unlimited plus action” works for rescuing and rehabilitating animals. I am associated with this organization in helping them conserve water in their campuses and also helping them a little with Solar power. 

Few days back, one of the founders of CUPA , Suparna Bakshi Ganguly called me to ask if I could help them set up a rainwater harvesting unit and draw a water management plan for one of their new campuses situated in the town of Malur about 50 kms from Bangalore. I was amazed when she said it is an Elephant shelter with one elephant now and one more to join soon. CUPA had in fact rescued an Elephant and were rehabilitating it .

So today, myself, Suparna and Sangeetha Iyer drove to Malur to see the place and the elephant. Cruising along the Kolar highway , we discussed forests, wildlife and politics. I was looking forward to see the elephant.

After a little drive in the slush, we arrived at the 2 acre solar fenced campus where “Anisha” was housed. She was equally excited to see us with jaggery , Bananas and papaya.

Anisha was born 46 years back probably somewhere in Assam. She was the victim of elephant trading and somehow landed in Thrissur 20 years back and was serving in the Tuticorin temple from the last 

18 years.

Three years back , when she could not obey her master’s commands of “Sit and Stand”, she was diagnosed with arthritis in the front legs. Her master tried to squeeze the best out of her in the temple but when he was unable to manage her. Her expenses were very high and her revenues were almost nil. So he decided to somehow trade her across the border to Kerala. Suparna was little hesitant to reveal the identity of the owner nor did she tell me the owner’s true intentions . From what i understood, the owner was looking for someone who could manage Anisha for the rest of her life.

Luckily for “Anisha”, when her owner was struggling with the forest officials to move her across the borders, he bumped into Supraja, a sea turtle enthusiast . Supraja was so moved by the plight of the elephant that she offered to take it along with her. Supraja contacted CUPA.

It was a tough decision for CUPA. Maintaining an elephant is no easy task. They had to raise enough funds, they had to find land for her. The bigger task was to convince the Indian Bureaucracy to let them take her across two borders.  True to their reputation, the Indian bureaucracy were very helpful and gave CUPA the permission in “JUST” one year.

In the meantime, CUPA had to find a land for “Anisha”. As the saying goes, the universe conspires for good intentions (but somehow universe has forgotten the Indian bureaucracy), a farmer in Malur who was introduced to Suparna through some contacts, readily agreed to spare his 2.5 acres of land for no return. It is a fertile land with one small lake close by. I also met the noble farmer krishnappa today.

CUPA is very happy to have Anisha with them. The local villagers are cooperating very well and Krishnappa is very happy that “Anisha” is in his land. CUPA , however, is having their task cut out. To start with, it is difficult for them to get an Elephant vet. They did not have a Mahout for quite some time. Somehow they have managed to get one from Kerala now. However, he is not having any help and the difference in climate is not keeping him well.

Nevertheless, Suparna and team are keeping a bold face. For CUPA and Suparna, it is not just about Anisha but it is the pain behind the shackles that is moving them. CUPA and Sangeetha have moved the Supreme court for the cause of these majestic elephants. Their relentless fight has forced the supreme court to issue interim orders for better treatment and living condition of the elephants in Madurai and Kancheepuram. They are putting up a bold fight despite life threats from the elephant trade mafia. In fact Kancheepuram has decided to hand over a few elephants to CUPA. CUPA is planning to resettle them somewhere near Chennai in a 13-acre land.

Coming back to Anisha, she is now relaxed from the shackles. However, because of arthritis, she is

Anisha and Saiju

finding very difficult to move about. She has abysses at many parts of the body. The caretaker and mahout Saiju is nursing her to the best of his ability. He is making her walk, giving her pedicure, bathing her and massaging the joints regularly. His story is a subject of another post altogether.

This is also the story of both the worlds. On the one hand, there was a guy who was trying to abandon the elephant since it was not of any help to him and on the other there is Krishnappa and Suparna who are making personal sacrifices for the same elephant whom they had not even seen till the last one year or so.

For Anisha, life come a full circle. Born probably in Assam and taking a detour of South India has finally landed up in the ever welcoming generous land of Karnataka.

May god give Suparna and team the strength to continue their fight for the cause of these beautiful creatures.