Page 17 - Sugam Sarita
P. 17

potential as a resource, controlled and regulated for human welfare.

          This is how water resource management has been conceptualised and
          applied in more industrialised parts of the world.

          The  modern idea  of water  as  a substance  removed from  social,
          cultural, and religious context has come under increased scrutiny for

          a variety of reasons. As a result, there is more attention being paid to
          the historical, political, and cultural aspects of water in addition to its
          environmental aspects.

          The fundamental idea is that water systems, like rivers, and society

          coevolve and emerge through ongoing engagement over space and
          time. This idea is at the heart of the viewpoints emerging from socio-
          hydrology and the hydro-social cycle, even though they are based
          on  different  knowledge  paradigms.  Rivers  have  supported  human

          populations for millennia, and human societies have used and
          changed river flows in many ways. However, during the past century
          or two, the degree of human impact on rivers and watershed habitats
          has increased significantly.


          The Sustainable Development Goals are one worldwide framework
          that aims to address complex, interrelated social concerns as a result
          of  the  growing  scientific  recognition  of  the  mutual  structure  of
          society and water (SDGs). Along with other SDGs focusing on peace,

          justice, climate, conservation, and well-being, SDGs also ensures the
          availability and sustainable administration of water and sanitation for
          everyone specifically aiming to integrate water and social ties.

          The UN Sustainable Development Goals now include a specific water

          goal, and the UN Secretary-General established a High-Level Panel
          on Water in 2015, reinforcing the idea that the research and policy


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