The pelicans are riding the thermals generated by the city and its buildings and roads. Wheeling in over large circles they descend slowly and make a gentle landing in the lake. It is afternoon time and some of the fish are leaping up and out of the waters and landing back with a splash and a ripple.
The pelicans glide on the waters, dip their large beaks in and emerge with a catch. The fish could weigh a kilogram or two. They swallow the fish lock, stock and barrel. A couple of fish later, after gliding around the lake a bit more, the pelicans take off again. Re-riding the thermals they go back to roost wherever they have made their nests. Some have made the lake their home. At the peak there could be 200 pelicans in the lake.
The fisherman in the coracle watches the birds. He is out casting his nets. He has tendered for the fishing rights over the lakes and paid a large amount of monies. He has then bought small fishlings from faraway places, fed them with fish food, kept the lake clean, added alum and lime to improve lake waters and watched the fish grow. He is able to sell the fish for about ₹120 a kilo. Now each bird is eating 5 kg, equivalent to ₹600 /- a day (excluding GST as I joke) and there are over 200 birds.
These are the conflicts between livelihoods and environment which is occurring in the city as lakes are revived. Fortunately, the fisherman is a philosopher and argues that there is enough for the birds and for himself.
In another small town, wastewater from a drain is being diverted to a small temple ‘kalyani’ or sacred well. A family in dire poverty with a small plot of land to cultivate flowers depends on this diverted wastewater for its irrigation needs. Without this wastewater we will die, says the woman of the household who manages the show. A way out is to be found where the wastewater access still continues for the family yet the temple ‘kalyani’ is cleaned.
It is in a million such conflicts between livelihoods and environment that a way has to be found which meets livelihood requirements and yet eliminates health risks and enhances the environment quality. Yet do we have the institutions for it? Do we have the outlook to make this happen? In finding answers to these problems would we find water wisdom.
(zenrainman@gmail.com)
