Media Release
November 12 2003
World water salvation a complex issue
By the year 2025 more than 50 per cent of the world’s population,
living in more than 80 countries may suffer acute water stress syndrome.
According to Director India’s Council of Social Science Research Dr VR
Panchamukhi, water is possibly the most strategic resource to be managed
for the health well being and social harmony of populations.
A guest of UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, Dr Panchamukhi
will deliver a special free public lecture tomorrow (November13 2003) in
the Brookman Building at UniSA’s City East campus from 5.15 pm. The
lecture is a part of a series looking at water issues globally.
Dr Panchamukhi says notions of sustainable water use and the green
revolution have not necessarily brought the outcomes originally desired
for improved water conservation and sustainability.
“Water is a highly heterogeneous product and therefore needs to be
looked at from different perspectives – the nature of supply sources and
the typology of the end users,” he said.
“There are also many different views of water use and priorities all
modified by the interests of different people – economists,
environmentalists, scientists, politicians and even philosophers. A
multi-faceted approach is required if we are to realise the goal of
evolving sustainable water systems and sustainable societies.
“The future of water use and availability will be very much influenced
by people’s knowledge of the impending global water crisis and a broad
education program that will ensure people better understand issues such
as water harvesting, recycling, and conservation is an important part of
any movement to turn around the global water crisis.”
Dr Panchamukhi says the Australian experience in water management
provides useful lessons for the rest of the world and especially
developing counties.
“Your national water education program, providing greater opportunities
for women professionals in water management, advocating international
agreements for discouraging the production of equipment and technologies
that are water inefficient are highly commendable,” he said.
Dr VR Panchamukhi has recently been appointed as the Chairman of Indian
Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi - the major apex
body of Social Science Research in India.
He has a distinguished academic record, holding a PhD in Economics from
the Delhi School of Economics, Delhi University. He has taught for more
than two decades the subjects of Econometrics, International Trade, and
Development Economics at Bombay University and at the Institute of
Economic Growth, University of Delhi.
Bookings for the lecture can be made by phone to the Hawke Centre RSVP
line on 8302 0215 or register on-line at
www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au
Media contact
-
Michèle Nardelli (08) 8302 0966 or 0418823673