RMSI: Development News

Climate change is already a measurable reality. Along with other developing countries, the Kingdom of Lesotho (Lesotho) is extremely vulnerable and exposed to the impacts of climate change due to its socio-economic and environmental context. Climate change's effects are already reflected in reduced rainfall, which negatively affects catchment yields, surface and groundwater resources, springs, and rivers. Furthermore, variability and extreme weather events will further pressure the majority of the population dependent on climate-sensitive sectors for their livelihood.

Water is considered Lesotho's most valuable resource, supports livelihoods and the ecosystem, and provides Lesotho with significant non-tax revenue through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The LHWP contributes 10% to the overall Lesotho Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and plays a key role in the country's welfare. LHWP is accountable for evaluating the possible effects of climate change and developing and implementing policies, measures, mechanisms, and infrastructure to ensure resilience within the LHWP and affected communities and ecosystems within the catchment area.

Objective: The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) recognizes the negative impact climate change has and will continue to have on the water resources required to sustain the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). In response to this, the LHDA requires a focused vulnerability assessment and the subsequent development of an adaptation and mitigation strategy with specific, prioritized activities for the LHWP Phase I and Phase II. Therefore, the scope of the study should cover three elements of potential climate change impact: the LHWP, vulnerable communities, and the environment in the LHWP catchment area.

Implementing these plans and the improved methodologies will enhance Lesotho's capacity to identify the likely impact on the LHWP, communities, and ecosystems in the catchment area and support the country in taking a water-secure development path for its people, economy, and environment.

River-Basin Planning for Water Management for Konkan Bhasin

Client: Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, India

West Flowing River Basins is a set of 42 rivers originating in the Maharashtra state's western region(Sahyadri) and flowing along the western slope to meet the Arabian Sea. A large number of major, medium and minor water resource projects have been constructed in the West Flowing River basin of Maharashtra. But, due to an increase in urbanization and industrialization, reservoirs built for irrigation are being diverted to cater to the needs of the municipal, population, and industrial needs.

As National Hydrology Project aims to improve and expand the water resources monitoring system, strengthen water resources operation and planning systems, and enhance institutional capacity for water resources management for the entire country, the Government of Maharashtra has taken up the task of River Basin Planning for Water Management in various river basins in the State and as part of this project, West Flowing River Basin.

Objective: As part of the project, apart from developing an interactive platform for various water resources management applications, web-based with cloud computing, it will also include developing some software applications and setting up the decision-making platform for actual operations. The role of RMSI will be to equip WRD GoM with this tool to enable rational water-related assessment and planning at the basin level with standard procedures.

Current Development Projects

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) climate change vulnerability assessment and development of an adaptation and mitigation strategy

River-Basin Planning for Water Management for Konkan Bhasin

In Focus

Major Coastal Cities of India are under threat due to the rise in sea level by 2050

Recent Wins

Resource management and disaster resilience on Kopili river, Assam

Assessment and development of investment plans for strengthening hydrometeorological networks in Cambodia and Lao PDR

Events

Expert in Focus


<< back Current Development Projects The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) climate change vulnerability assessment and development of an adaptation and mitigation strategy Client: The Lesotho highlands development authority, Kingdom of Lesotho Climate change is already a measurable reality. Along with other developing countries, the Kingdom of Lesotho (Lesotho) is extremely vulnerable and exposed to the impacts of climate change due to its socio-economic and environmental context. Climate change's effects are already reflected in reduced rainfall, which negatively affects catchment yields, surface and groundwater resources, springs, and rivers. Furthermore, variability and extreme weather events will further pressure the majority of the population dependent on climate-sensitive sectors for their livelihood. Water is considered Lesotho's most valuable resource, supports livelihoods and the ecosystem, and provides Lesotho with significant non-tax revenue through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The LHWP contributes 10% to the overall Lesotho Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and plays a key role in the country's welfare. LHWP is accountable for evaluating the possible effects of climate change and developing and implementing policies, measures, mechanisms, and infrastructure to ensure resilience within the LHWP and affected communities and ecosystems within the catchment area. Objective: The Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) recognizes the negative impact climate change has and will continue to have on the water resources required to sustain the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). In response to this, the LHDA requires a focused vulnerability assessment and the subsequent development of an adaptation and mitigation strategy with specific, prioritized activities for the LHWP Phase I and Phase II. Therefore, the scope of the study should cover three elements of potential climate change impact: the LHWP, vulnerable communities, and the environment in the LHWP catchment area. Solution: Conduct a literature review to identify the climate-induced variables that are likely to impact the LHWP, catchment communities, and the environment. Identify aspects of the LHWP, the catchment communities' economic sectors, and livelihoods, e.g., agriculture and catchment ecosystems that are climate sensitive. Conduct a desktop review of catchment yields, surface and groundwater resources, springs, and rivers in all areas covered by the LHWP Phase I and Phase II. Identify and map current and planned water resource assets (major assets and/or groups of assets) that can serve as a basis for subsequent assessment. Provide GIS layers for all maps. Conduct a desktop literature study of current and future scaled-down climate projections and trends for the LHWP Phase I and Phase II area to characterize expected climate changes at various planning horizons (near-term, mid-term, and long-term). Implementing these plans and the improved methodologies will enhance Lesotho's capacity to identify the likely impact on the LHWP, communities, and ecosystems in the catchment area and support the country in taking a water-secure development path for its people, economy, and environment. River-Basin Planning for Water Management for Konkan Bhasin Client: Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, India West Flowing River Basins is a set of 42 rivers originating in the Maharashtra state's western region(Sahyadri) and flowing along the western slope to meet the Arabian Sea. A large number of major, medium and minor water resource projects have been constructed in the West Flowing River basin of Maharashtra. But, due to an increase in urbanization and industrialization, reservoirs built for irrigation are being diverted to cater to the needs of the municipal, population, and industrial needs. As National Hydrology Project aims to improve and expand the water resources monitoring system, strengthen water resources operation and planning systems, and enhance institutional capacity for water resources management for the entire country, the Government of Maharashtra has taken up the task of River Basin Planning for Water Management in various river basins in the State and as part of this project, West Flowing River Basin. Objective: As part of the project, apart from developing an interactive platform for various water resources management applications, web-based with cloud computing, it will also include developing some software applications and setting up the decision-making platform for actual operations. The role of RMSI will be to equip WRD GoM with this tool to enable rational water-related assessment and planning at the basin level with standard procedures. Solution: Review and suggest solutions to basin management issues, including management of flood during monsoon, review of the current water management practices, conditions for setting up diversion schemes in the basin, and optimizing framework for water allocation amongst various competitive water users, among others. Create the Hydro-meteorological and GIS database Development and customization of modeling tools River Basin Planning using RBM Training and Capacity Building Maintenance and updating of the model In Focus Major Coastal Cities of India are under threat due to the rise in sea level by 2050 Read more... Recent Wins Resource management and disaster resilience on Kopili river, Assam Read more... Assessment and development of investment plans for strengthening hydrometeorological networks in Cambodia and Lao PDR Read more...	Events Visit of Scientists and Technologists from IIPA, by the Department of Science & Technology to RMSI 9th Annual CAT RISK Management and Modeling summit 2022 International Conference on Climate and Weather-related Extremes (ICCWE 2022) Expert in Focus Dr. Murari Lal Climate Change Practice Head, RMSI Read more...
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