８５： Basin was opened, closing and closed.

ここ数週間ほどネパールの水資源管理を研究しているが、その過程で河川流域開発のフェーズと開発の停止という課題にぶつかった。開発の停止とは縁起が悪いとお考えの方も多いであろう。そのためあまり注目しがたいテーマと言えよう。

９８年の段階でも提議された論文もあり、最近では以前紹介したIWMIのCAでも注目している。下記にSIWIとIWMIの共同研究のサマリーを示す。

WAKE UP TO REALITIES OF RIVER BASIN CLOSURE (pp 201–215)

Malin Falkenmark, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Stockholm, Sweden, and David Molden, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, Sri Lanka


ABSTRACT: As societies develop, river basin water resources are increasingly controlled, diverted and consumed for agricultural, domestic and industrial purposes, hence reducing the ability to meet the growing demands from various sectors and interests. Basins are closed when additional water commitments for domestic, industrial, agricultural or environmental uses cannot be met during all or part of a year. Basin closure is already prevalent in the world today, with 1.4 billion living in areas that have to deal with the situation. Societies may adapt to this in various ways, with reallocation of water, demand management or interbasin transfers as the primary means of dealing with the problem. However, 'quick-fix' measures such as further groundwater or surface water exploitation or ill-planned water appropriation that unfairly reallocates water from one user are common. Symptoms of poorly managed closed basins include groundwater overdraft, limited or no environmental flows, pollution and inequitable allocation of water. Thus, a pertinent question is whether there will be a hard or soft landing in closed basins—will the resource base fail to meet basic requirements causing undue hardship, or can societies adapt to achieving a soft landing. Surprisingly, limited attention has been given today to this urgent water situation.

詳細や論文比較については別途ご紹介するが、IWRMがプロセスとすれば、その最終段階はどうあるべきかを想定しておくことが必要である。違った観点からRBMを見てみると面白い。人生のプロセスと同じである。