CSE's knowledge sharing seminar on traditional tank systems in India and Sri Lanka, November 26, 2013

Date: November 26, 2013

Venue:
Nagarodaya Centre,
155 A, Dr. Danister de Silva Mawatha, Colombo 8

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India, is organising a knowledge-sharing seminar on traditional tanks systems in Colombo on November 26, 2013. The meeting will be attended by regulators, researchers, environmental lawyers and prominent NGOs from India and Sri Lanka. The meeting will focus on the state of traditional tanks systems in India and Sri Lanka, the ecological and economic impacts and restoration schemes and projects.

The dry zone of Sri Lanka has several small tank cascade systems which have been the mainstay of irrigation for centuries. About 90 per cent of these tanks are unique cascade systems. The design of these cascades demonstrates a profound understanding on the part of ancient tank builders of trigonometry, geomorphology, as well as the hydrology of landscapes. Similar tank irrigation systems are common in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in South India. The tank systems in both the countries have deteriorated and face common challenges of maintenance and need to conserved. Several schemes and policies have been floated by the government agencies of both the countries to revive these tanks. National and International NGOs also play an important role in the restoration processes.

We are bringing together the experts and key stakeholders from both the countries who have worked on these tank systems. We would like to understand how these two countries have worked to tackle the poor state of irrigation tank systems. The meeting hopes to push policies that encourage participatory and locale-specific systems for the conservation of tank systems.

We would like to invite you to participate in this meeting and request your support to make this seminar a success. Let us share our knowledge to better understand the past failures and current challenges in the two countries.

For more information, please write to:

Nitya Jacob
Programme Director
Water Programme
Email: nitya@cseindia.org

Registration by invitation only