before the drought caused by a shortage of rainfall comes a drought of ideas
of rainfall comes a drought of ideas
of rainfall comes a drought of ideas chatter sing is a shepherd farmer in the
chatter sing is a shepherd farmer in the
chatter sing is a shepherd farmer in the deep power desert in our state of
deep power desert in our state of
deep power desert in our state of Rajasthan and he sent in these words
Rajasthan and he sent in these words
Rajasthan and he sent in these words through a letter that was read out in a
through a letter that was read out in a
through a letter that was read out in a conference that met to discuss the
conference that met to discuss the
conference that met to discuss the farmers deaths in Marathwada you see
farmers deaths in Marathwada you see
farmers deaths in Marathwada you see Singh was very very disturbed at the
Singh was very very disturbed at the
Singh was very very disturbed at the news of the deaths because he himself
news of the deaths because he himself
news of the deaths because he himself had come out of two years of drought and
had come out of two years of drought and
had come out of two years of drought and he wanted to offer his experience as a
he wanted to offer his experience as a
he wanted to offer his experience as a solution
this is rest chuckling lips in the deep
this is rest chuckling lips in the deep are dessert a place that is dotted by
are dessert a place that is dotted by
are dessert a place that is dotted by dunes hardrock and dry grasslands and
dunes hardrock and dry grasslands and
dunes hardrock and dry grasslands and which gets just 80 millimeters of
which gets just 80 millimeters of
which gets just 80 millimeters of rainfall in a year if you hark back to
rainfall in a year if you hark back to
rainfall in a year if you hark back to the three slides we get nearly thousand
the three slides we get nearly thousand
the three slides we get nearly thousand mm but she gets nearly 3,000 mm
mm but she gets nearly 3,000 mm
mm but she gets nearly 3,000 mm Marathwada gets almost ten times this
Marathwada gets almost ten times this
Marathwada gets almost ten times this and yet there is no water scarcity in
and yet there is no water scarcity in
and yet there is no water scarcity in the place where a person lives in the
the place where a person lives in the
the place where a person lives in the two years of drought they didn’t have to
two years of drought they didn’t have to
two years of drought they didn’t have to call for a water tank up on the state
call for a water tank up on the state
call for a water tank up on the state even a single time
even a single time
even a single time here’s the dichotomy how does a farmer
here’s the dichotomy how does a farmer
here’s the dichotomy how does a farmer from the deep thar desert go two years
from the deep thar desert go two years
from the deep thar desert go two years in of a drop of a drought without
in of a drop of a drought without
in of a drop of a drought without wanting for water when there are places
wanting for water when there are places
wanting for water when there are places in India which gets so much more water
in India which gets so much more water
in India which gets so much more water and the farmers as well as the people
and the farmers as well as the people
and the farmers as well as the people suffer
suffer
suffer let’s talk about water more specifically
let’s talk about water more specifically
let’s talk about water more specifically let’s talk about how the tower achieves
let’s talk about how the tower achieves
let’s talk about how the tower achieves this miracle I want to tell you a story
this miracle I want to tell you a story
this miracle I want to tell you a story today of chatter Singh and what he was
today of chatter Singh and what he was
today of chatter Singh and what he was done in
done in
done in so we are in one of the driest parts of
so we are in one of the driest parts of
so we are in one of the driest parts of Ilya this is the deep a desert it’s
Ilya this is the deep a desert it’s
Ilya this is the deep a desert it’s beyond JSON it close to the border with
beyond JSON it close to the border with
beyond JSON it close to the border with Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan it’s a place as we saw it’s very little
it’s a place as we saw it’s very little
it’s a place as we saw it’s very little rainfall in fact many years the amount
rainfall in fact many years the amount
rainfall in fact many years the amount of rain that starts falling from the
of rain that starts falling from the
of rain that starts falling from the skies evaporates even before it reaches
skies evaporates even before it reaches
skies evaporates even before it reaches the parched earth it’s that kind of it’s
the parched earth it’s that kind of it’s
the parched earth it’s that kind of it’s a place which is home to Shepherds who
a place which is home to Shepherds who
a place which is home to Shepherds who have their goats sheep cows camels which
have their goats sheep cows camels which
have their goats sheep cows camels which is what they call their walking gold
is what they call their walking gold
is what they call their walking gold Amira child up was Sona is what they
Amira child up was Sona is what they
Amira child up was Sona is what they call it because that’s their mainstay
call it because that’s their mainstay
call it because that’s their mainstay and so of course food and water for
and so of course food and water for
and so of course food and water for their animals is really important and
their animals is really important and
their animals is really important and this is the kind of land we’re talking
this is the kind of land we’re talking
this is the kind of land we’re talking about that land hard rock this believe
about that land hard rock this believe
about that land hard rock this believe it or not is a catch eat it’s not lush
it or not is a catch eat it’s not lush
it or not is a catch eat it’s not lush green forests it’s not large grasslands
green forests it’s not large grasslands
green forests it’s not large grasslands it’s not what you think of as a
it’s not what you think of as a
it’s not what you think of as a catchment this hard rock land is a
catchment this hard rock land is a
catchment this hard rock land is a catchment for the desert and it slopes
catchment for the desert and it slopes
catchment for the desert and it slopes gently when the rain does fall what
gently when the rain does fall what
gently when the rain does fall what little falls here it falls on the slide
little falls here it falls on the slide
little falls here it falls on the slide and then it rolls of a gentle slope of
and then it rolls of a gentle slope of
and then it rolls of a gentle slope of MIDI afoot over a kilometre it rolls
MIDI afoot over a kilometre it rolls
MIDI afoot over a kilometre it rolls into this this is a man-made depression
into this this is a man-made depression
into this this is a man-made depression a lake which is primed and ready to
a lake which is primed and ready to
a lake which is primed and ready to catch every little drop of rain that may
catch every little drop of rain that may
catch every little drop of rain that may fall in a year believe it or not that 80
fall in a year believe it or not that 80
fall in a year believe it or not that 80 millimetres could come in just a single
millimetres could come in just a single
millimetres could come in just a single day and then no rain for the rest of you
day and then no rain for the rest of you
day and then no rain for the rest of you so one day and that man that they prep
so one day and that man that they prep
so one day and that man that they prep they market with that pillar in the
they market with that pillar in the
they market with that pillar in the middle
middle
middle it’s called a boy gang and it’s supposed
it’s called a boy gang and it’s supposed
it’s called a boy gang and it’s supposed to denote a sacred place this is a place
to denote a sacred place this is a place
to denote a sacred place this is a place that is a place of water do not
that is a place of water do not
that is a place of water do not desecrate it this is sacred to us it’s
desecrate it this is sacred to us it’s
desecrate it this is sacred to us it’s not that they worship water in fact they
not that they worship water in fact they
not that they worship water in fact they don’t it is that we respected
and when the rain does come and fills up
and when the rain does come and fills up the water the lake they usually use the
the water the lake they usually use the
the water the lake they usually use the water and all the villages around it use
water and all the villages around it use
water and all the villages around it use that it’s a community lake it’s not it
that it’s a community lake it’s not it
that it’s a community lake it’s not it doesn’t belong to one person or one
doesn’t belong to one person or one
doesn’t belong to one person or one community it’s the whole community old
community it’s the whole community old
community it’s the whole community old all the people in the village use it and
all the people in the village use it and
all the people in the village use it and then of course as water evaporates or it
then of course as water evaporates or it
then of course as water evaporates or it gets absorbed into the land it’s gone so
gets absorbed into the land it’s gone so
gets absorbed into the land it’s gone so about eight months after the rains
about eight months after the rains
about eight months after the rains there’s no water and this puts them
there’s no water and this puts them
there’s no water and this puts them right in the middle of summer
right in the middle of summer
right in the middle of summer blazing heat in Rajasthan and there’s no
blazing heat in Rajasthan and there’s no
blazing heat in Rajasthan and there’s no water in the lake is that when they call
water in the lake is that when they call
water in the lake is that when they call in the tankers nope
in the tankers nope
in the tankers nope that’s when this structure takes over
that’s when this structure takes over
that’s when this structure takes over these are berries or shallow percolation
these are berries or shallow percolation
these are berries or shallow percolation wells which tapped the water that is
wells which tapped the water that is
wells which tapped the water that is sitting above a gypsum layer that runs
sitting above a gypsum layer that runs
sitting above a gypsum layer that runs through jessilee and as the women pull
through jessilee and as the women pull
through jessilee and as the women pull up water from the well the well pulls in
up water from the well the well pulls in
up water from the well the well pulls in water from the saturated earth around it
water from the saturated earth around it
water from the saturated earth around it if you put you in here to this well
if you put you in here to this well
if you put you in here to this well after women have pulled up water you can
after women have pulled up water you can
after women have pulled up water you can actually hear the drops falling in and
actually hear the drops falling in and
actually hear the drops falling in and it’s a wonderful sound it’s the sound of
it’s a wonderful sound it’s the sound of
it’s a wonderful sound it’s the sound of rejuvenation it’s a metaphor almost for
rejuvenation it’s a metaphor almost for
rejuvenation it’s a metaphor almost for the giving earth
the giving earth
the giving earth one day chatter Singh and I hiked up the
one day chatter Singh and I hiked up the
one day chatter Singh and I hiked up the steep side of a dune it was a blazing
steep side of a dune it was a blazing
steep side of a dune it was a blazing June day 48 degrees and we went and sat
June day 48 degrees and we went and sat
June day 48 degrees and we went and sat up there and I was wondering why we were
up there and I was wondering why we were
up there and I was wondering why we were here I had stopped asking each other
here I had stopped asking each other
here I had stopped asking each other saying why why we were going somewhere
saying why why we were going somewhere
saying why why we were going somewhere he always had it easy and we were
he always had it easy and we were
he always had it easy and we were sitting up there and he started digging
sitting up there and he started digging
sitting up there and he started digging the dune and not six inches in he came
the dune and not six inches in he came
the dune and not six inches in he came up with moist sand and this was 22
up with moist sand and this was 22
up with moist sand and this was 22 months after they had had any serious
months after they had had any serious
months after they had had any serious rain
rain
rain maybe they had a millimeter here and
maybe they had a millimeter here and
maybe they had a millimeter here and three millimeters there but there was no
three millimeters there but there was no
three millimeters there but there was no serious rain this was in the middle of
serious rain this was in the middle of
serious rain this was in the middle of the drought and there six inches inside
the drought and there six inches inside
the drought and there six inches inside a dune was moist sand it stunned me and
a dune was moist sand it stunned me and
a dune was moist sand it stunned me and then sure enough we walked down the
then sure enough we walked down the
then sure enough we walked down the other side of the dune and there was a
other side of the dune and there was a
other side of the dune and there was a well
well
well and dug by shepherds you see these
and dug by shepherds you see these
and dug by shepherds you see these shepherds take their flock of sheep and
shepherds take their flock of sheep and
shepherds take their flock of sheep and goat and they walk hundreds of
goat and they walk hundreds of
goat and they walk hundreds of kilometres in this district they know
kilometres in this district they know
kilometres in this district they know the land they know how it functions they
the land they know how it functions they
the land they know how it functions they know where to look for water and they’re
know where to look for water and they’re
know where to look for water and they’re in the most unlikely place for us
in the most unlikely place for us
in the most unlikely place for us unlucky under a dune is a well and you
unlucky under a dune is a well and you
unlucky under a dune is a well and you can see that it’s it’s just been it’s
can see that it’s it’s just been it’s
can see that it’s it’s just been it’s just been used this water the ground
just been used this water the ground
just been used this water the ground there was water in this well I peaked
there was water in this well I peaked
there was water in this well I peaked not three feet down
not three feet down
not three feet down and this is up to 22 months
summer summer is the time for
summer summer is the time for preparation in this area they know that
preparation in this area they know that
preparation in this area they know that maybe they’ll get one day of rain and so
maybe they’ll get one day of rain and so
maybe they’ll get one day of rain and so they have to prep the land so what do
they have to prep the land so what do
they have to prep the land so what do these Shepherds do they collect Tony
these Shepherds do they collect Tony
these Shepherds do they collect Tony acacia bushes and they line the the long
acacia bushes and they line the the long
acacia bushes and they line the the long side of a depression manly depression
side of a depression manly depression
side of a depression manly depression looking out the depression and then they
looking out the depression and then they
looking out the depression and then they line the long side of the depression
line the long side of the depression
line the long side of the depression with this phony acacia and they wait for
with this phony acacia and they wait for
with this phony acacia and they wait for nature to do the thing because what’s
nature to do the thing because what’s
nature to do the thing because what’s coming up to summer are the sand stalks
coming up to summer are the sand stalks
coming up to summer are the sand stalks and once the sandstorm start up the wind
and once the sandstorm start up the wind
and once the sandstorm start up the wind just throws the sand at the acacia
just throws the sand at the acacia
just throws the sand at the acacia bushes and guess what the bunt against
bushes and guess what the bunt against
bushes and guess what the bunt against built because the sand starts
built because the sand starts
built because the sand starts accumulating in that you know the
accumulating in that you know the
accumulating in that you know the obstruction it is found and a bun begins
obstruction it is found and a bun begins
obstruction it is found and a bun begins to build and once the sand storms die
to build and once the sand storms die
to build and once the sand storms die down the Shepherds come and they fortify
down the Shepherds come and they fortify
down the Shepherds come and they fortify the pond the cause
the pond the cause
the pond the cause when that one day of rain comes and the
when that one day of rain comes and the
when that one day of rain comes and the water rolls down the catchment and stops
water rolls down the catchment and stops
water rolls down the catchment and stops at that burn they don’t want the bunch
at that burn they don’t want the bunch
at that burn they don’t want the bunch of each so they fortify it they don’t
of each so they fortify it they don’t
of each so they fortify it they don’t even do they get that one day of rain
even do they get that one day of rain
even do they get that one day of rain but it is summer they prep themselves
but it is summer they prep themselves
but it is summer they prep themselves they prep the lab and this I’m standing
they prep the lab and this I’m standing
they prep the lab and this I’m standing on a Bund when I’ve taken this picture
on a Bund when I’ve taken this picture
on a Bund when I’ve taken this picture and guess what you know how old this one
and guess what you know how old this one
and guess what you know how old this one is 700 years for this method of
is 700 years for this method of
is 700 years for this method of rainwater harvesting in the desert is
rainwater harvesting in the desert is
rainwater harvesting in the desert is ancient it’s not new and this man has
ancient it’s not new and this man has
ancient it’s not new and this man has been there for all these years it has
been there for all these years it has
been there for all these years it has held up and this this place where the
held up and this this place where the
held up and this this place where the rain comes and stops is called a khadeem
rain comes and stops is called a khadeem
rain comes and stops is called a khadeem and then the Shepherd’s wait longer for
and then the Shepherd’s wait longer for
and then the Shepherd’s wait longer for the next two or three months they just
the next two or three months they just
the next two or three months they just wait for all this rain water to seep
wait for all this rain water to seep
wait for all this rain water to seep into the earth the earth drinks deeply
into the earth the earth drinks deeply
into the earth the earth drinks deeply it is parched the drinks deeply it
it is parched the drinks deeply it
it is parched the drinks deeply it saturates itself and once once the rain
saturates itself and once once the rain
saturates itself and once once the rain once once the rainwater is gone that is
once once the rainwater is gone that is
once once the rainwater is gone that is when the Shepherd’s plant their crops
when the Shepherd’s plant their crops
when the Shepherd’s plant their crops I spoke to chapter safe two days ago he
I spoke to chapter safe two days ago he
I spoke to chapter safe two days ago he was in his cutting planting mustard he
was in his cutting planting mustard he
was in his cutting planting mustard he had waited amazingly over the protest
had waited amazingly over the protest
had waited amazingly over the protest made this year there was a lot of rain
made this year there was a lot of rain
made this year there was a lot of rain and he was planting and then they wait
and he was planting and then they wait
and he was planting and then they wait another three months and after which
another three months and after which
another three months and after which there are
there are
there are crops what do they plant the plant wheat
crops what do they plant the plant wheat
crops what do they plant the plant wheat the plant mustard different Granby plant
the plant mustard different Granby plant
the plant mustard different Granby plant pena and if there’s not that much rain
pena and if there’s not that much rain
pena and if there’s not that much rain there hasn’t been that much rain they
there hasn’t been that much rain they
there hasn’t been that much rain they don’t think there’s that much water in
don’t think there’s that much water in
don’t think there’s that much water in the earth they plant who are being so
the earth they plant who are being so
the earth they plant who are being so they know the gauge they they listen to
they know the gauge they they listen to
they know the gauge they they listen to the land they know what’s what it’s
the land they know what’s what it’s
the land they know what’s what it’s telling them and that’s when it not in
telling them and that’s when it not in
telling them and that’s when it not in that same village of ronger there is
that same village of ronger there is
that same village of ronger there is another desert and this is the
another desert and this is the
another desert and this is the government’s idea of greening the desert
government’s idea of greening the desert
government’s idea of greening the desert someone’s sitting in an ivory tower far
someone’s sitting in an ivory tower far
someone’s sitting in an ivory tower far away decided that they were going to
away decided that they were going to
away decided that they were going to pipe water from the Himalaya down to the
pipe water from the Himalaya down to the
pipe water from the Himalaya down to the desert to green the desert for
desert to green the desert for
desert to green the desert for agriculture in the desert and so
agriculture in the desert and so
agriculture in the desert and so hundreds of thousands of crores of
hundreds of thousands of crores of
hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees later they indra Gandhi canal is
rupees later they indra Gandhi canal is
rupees later they indra Gandhi canal is supposed to bring water from the
supposed to bring water from the
supposed to bring water from the Himalaya to rambha for agriculture
Himalaya to rambha for agriculture
Himalaya to rambha for agriculture the bad news there isn’t nearly enough
the bad news there isn’t nearly enough
the bad news there isn’t nearly enough water the Rajasthan Ilyana and what the
water the Rajasthan Ilyana and what the
water the Rajasthan Ilyana and what the canals look like in the sub canals the
canals look like in the sub canals the
canals look like in the sub canals the little ones look like right now are
little ones look like right now are
little ones look like right now are either their rivers of sand or they’re
either their rivers of sand or they’re
either their rivers of sand or they’re choked with hyacinth their pick with
choked with hyacinth their pick with
choked with hyacinth their pick with algae or their putrid with the carcasses
algae or their putrid with the carcasses
algae or their putrid with the carcasses of animals that have fallen eat what
of animals that have fallen eat what
of animals that have fallen eat what water does reach villages it smells it
water does reach villages it smells it
water does reach villages it smells it stinks the people who are bought into
stinks the people who are bought into
stinks the people who are bought into chatter scenes gene and have nurtured
chatter scenes gene and have nurtured
chatter scenes gene and have nurtured their local sources of water they won’t
their local sources of water they won’t
their local sources of water they won’t sit or touch one drop of this they don’t
sit or touch one drop of this they don’t
sit or touch one drop of this they don’t use this for cooking drinking anything
use this for cooking drinking anything
use this for cooking drinking anything maybe they’ll wash the camera cartilage
maybe they’ll wash the camera cartilage
maybe they’ll wash the camera cartilage but they will not use it for anything
but they will not use it for anything
but they will not use it for anything else but just like in every society
else but just like in every society
else but just like in every society there are people who went whole hog and
there are people who went whole hog and
there are people who went whole hog and bought into the government’s promises
bought into the government’s promises
bought into the government’s promises and dreams and they depend upon the
and dreams and they depend upon the
and dreams and they depend upon the canal for water for their irrigation and
canal for water for their irrigation and
canal for water for their irrigation and as of 16th November 2017 three days ago
as of 16th November 2017 three days ago
as of 16th November 2017 three days ago an article in the newspaper says that
an article in the newspaper says that
an article in the newspaper says that there is an agitation in geometric
there is an agitation in geometric
there is an agitation in geometric specifically Gomberg because these
specifically Gomberg because these
specifically Gomberg because these farmers don’t have water there is no
farmers don’t have water there is no
farmers don’t have water there is no water in the canal
water in the canal
water in the canal and this year hospira great radio
and this year hospira great radio
and this year hospira great radio progestin in the Saviour I asked a
progestin in the Saviour I asked a
progestin in the Saviour I asked a person day before yesterday to send me
person day before yesterday to send me
person day before yesterday to send me these images this is this Kadeem this is
these images this is this Kadeem this is
these images this is this Kadeem this is the amount of water he is sowing his
the amount of water he is sowing his
the amount of water he is sowing his seeds he has water the people who
seeds he has water the people who
seeds he has water the people who dependent upon the canal
dependent upon the canal
dependent upon the canal they are agitated they’re in a hunger
they are agitated they’re in a hunger
they are agitated they’re in a hunger strike even as we sit in this room
strike even as we sit in this room
strike even as we sit in this room listening
listening
listening the other irony is that the people when
the other irony is that the people when
the other irony is that the people when they ran out of water they didn’t have
they ran out of water they didn’t have
they ran out of water they didn’t have water in the canal they came to Chapel
water in the canal they came to Chapel
water in the canal they came to Chapel sinks
sinks
sinks khadeem and asked for water those people
khadeem and asked for water those people
khadeem and asked for water those people are farmers who depend upon the canal
are farmers who depend upon the canal
are farmers who depend upon the canal they came to the Hadean to get water so
they came to the Hadean to get water so
they came to the Hadean to get water so there you have it
there you have it
there you have it survival in a drought prone region
survival in a drought prone region
survival in a drought prone region teaches us a few things primarily number
teaches us a few things primarily number
teaches us a few things primarily number one which is not on this is listen to
one which is not on this is listen to
one which is not on this is listen to the land listen to what the land says
the land listen to what the land says
the land listen to what the land says but in city after city state after state
but in city after city state after state
but in city after city state after state country after country everywhere in the
country after country everywhere in the
country after country everywhere in the world people divorced from the land
world people divorced from the land
world people divorced from the land sitting in ivory towers are making plans
sitting in ivory towers are making plans
sitting in ivory towers are making plans for the land and when planning is
for the land and when planning is
for the land and when planning is divorced from the land for the village
divorced from the land for the village
divorced from the land for the village we get floods in Chennai we get droughts
we get floods in Chennai we get droughts
we get floods in Chennai we get droughts in California which are supposed to be a
in California which are supposed to be a
in California which are supposed to be a paradise ready we get droughts in
paradise ready we get droughts in
paradise ready we get droughts in California we get dust balls in China
California we get dust balls in China
California we get dust balls in China and the tragedy we get people dying in
and the tragedy we get people dying in
and the tragedy we get people dying in Marathwada and this list is hardly
Marathwada and this list is hardly
Marathwada and this list is hardly exhausted
one it does not include number will be
one it does not include number will be diluted and we all know what’s happening
diluted and we all know what’s happening
diluted and we all know what’s happening here
here
here we this year had record rainfall 1200
we this year had record rainfall 1200
we this year had record rainfall 1200 millimeters we normally get under the
millimeters we normally get under the
millimeters we normally get under the under a thousand we got 1200 millimeters
under a thousand we got 1200 millimeters
under a thousand we got 1200 millimeters but there’s no change in our groundwater
but there’s no change in our groundwater
but there’s no change in our groundwater level there is no extra water
level there is no extra water
level there is no extra water availability in fact literally water
availability in fact literally water
availability in fact literally water water everywhere and not a doctor to get
water everywhere and not a doctor to get
water everywhere and not a doctor to get this with the Sinkin we get 3 billion
this with the Sinkin we get 3 billion
this with the Sinkin we get 3 billion liters per day of rain averaged over the
liters per day of rain averaged over the
liters per day of rain averaged over the earth we consume 1.8 billion liters day
earth we consume 1.8 billion liters day
earth we consume 1.8 billion liters day we get nearly double what we need from
we get nearly double what we need from
we get nearly double what we need from the rain but clearly as even the desert
the rain but clearly as even the desert
the rain but clearly as even the desert has shown us it’s not about how much we
has shown us it’s not about how much we
has shown us it’s not about how much we get it’s about what we do
and what do we do with it even 15 years
and what do we do with it even 15 years ago
ago
ago the wetlands of Agora Lake Belen dude
the wetlands of Agora Lake Belen dude
the wetlands of Agora Lake Belen dude and Bert food are kind of connected by
and Bert food are kind of connected by
and Bert food are kind of connected by wetlands we can see that and in 2017
wetlands we can see that and in 2017
wetlands we can see that and in 2017 what have we done
what have we done
what have we done we have sucked it dry filled it up built
we have sucked it dry filled it up built
we have sucked it dry filled it up built around it and now we defecate these
around it and now we defecate these
around it and now we defecate these lakes are cut cut off from each other
lakes are cut cut off from each other
lakes are cut cut off from each other they are not connected anymore in the
they are not connected anymore in the
they are not connected anymore in the way they were they should be and what
way they were they should be and what
way they were they should be and what are we getting
are we getting
are we getting and then opposed this list of lakes the
and then opposed this list of lakes the
and then opposed this list of lakes the lakes of camping out as Bangalore and
lakes of camping out as Bangalore and
lakes of camping out as Bangalore and all his descendants it’s been converted
all his descendants it’s been converted
all his descendants it’s been converted into layouts stadiums and bus stands
into layouts stadiums and bus stands
into layouts stadiums and bus stands unit
unit
unit that’s what we’ve done to our local
that’s what we’ve done to our local
that’s what we’ve done to our local sources of water we have gone against
sources of water we have gone against
sources of water we have gone against every one of those tenets of survival in
every one of those tenets of survival in
every one of those tenets of survival in a drought prone region and we are at the
a drought prone region and we are at the
a drought prone region and we are at the doctor
doctor
doctor so what are we done with shut up local
so what are we done with shut up local
so what are we done with shut up local sources of water we’ve defiled then we
sources of water we’ve defiled then we
sources of water we’ve defiled then we have sucked up our reserves 400,000
have sucked up our reserves 400,000
have sucked up our reserves 400,000 borewells
borewells
borewells sucked Carl and dry they’re still
sucked Carl and dry they’re still
sucked Carl and dry they’re still sucking on land dry and we have relied
sucking on land dry and we have relied
sucking on land dry and we have relied on a single source that are very so far
on a single source that are very so far
on a single source that are very so far away and the government so where do we
away and the government so where do we
away and the government so where do we go from here I know it’s all human doing
go from here I know it’s all human doing
go from here I know it’s all human doing right now right not so not so that’s
right now right not so not so that’s
right now right not so not so that’s what is and we all know there is the
what is and we all know there is the
what is and we all know there is the frothing and the foaming of our lovely
frothing and the foaming of our lovely
frothing and the foaming of our lovely lake and this is what candy and what
lake and this is what candy and what
lake and this is what candy and what candy is not really very far away
candy is not really very far away
candy is not really very far away that is jakku the community came
that is jakku the community came
that is jakku the community came together the residence the locals
together the residence the locals
together the residence the locals everybody’s come together they’re still
everybody’s come together they’re still
everybody’s come together they’re still working to clean the slate make it
working to clean the slate make it
working to clean the slate make it viable and that’s happening it quite a
viable and that’s happening it quite a
viable and that’s happening it quite a few leagues around town you see
few leagues around town you see
few leagues around town you see kappa gatta when he established this
kappa gatta when he established this
kappa gatta when he established this city and all his descendants they knew
city and all his descendants they knew
city and all his descendants they knew that Pangloss sits atop 3000 feet of
that Pangloss sits atop 3000 feet of
that Pangloss sits atop 3000 feet of granite gneiss all the rain that falls
granite gneiss all the rain that falls
granite gneiss all the rain that falls is unlikely to just go up they created
is unlikely to just go up they created
is unlikely to just go up they created Lakes cascading Lakes they created
Lakes cascading Lakes they created
Lakes cascading Lakes they created thousands of wells because they knew
thousands of wells because they knew
thousands of wells because they knew that the denizens of the city will need
that the denizens of the city will need
that the denizens of the city will need water and they need the provider if he
water and they need the provider if he
water and they need the provider if he do not have a perennial source but we do
do not have a perennial source but we do
do not have a perennial source but we do not have a perennial river running
not have a perennial river running
not have a perennial river running Topanga and so they thought about that
Topanga and so they thought about that
Topanga and so they thought about that they listened to the land they studied
they listened to the land they studied
they listened to the land they studied the land they knew where to build the
the land they knew where to build the
the land they knew where to build the lakes and they built it and it
lakes and they built it and it
lakes and they built it and it functioned for hundreds of years
functioned for hundreds of years
functioned for hundreds of years hundreds of times until
hundreds of times until
hundreds of times until maybe 1950 when Bangalore began to boom
maybe 1950 when Bangalore began to boom
maybe 1950 when Bangalore began to boom and then we started forgetting our local
and then we started forgetting our local
and then we started forgetting our local sources of water we started depending on
sources of water we started depending on
sources of water we started depending on just one reservoir then another
just one reservoir then another
just one reservoir then another reservoir and then finally the river far
reservoir and then finally the river far
reservoir and then finally the river far away we did not nurture our wells we
away we did not nurture our wells we
away we did not nurture our wells we built over it we did not know to release
built over it we did not know to release
built over it we did not know to release so I’m going to leave you with this what
so I’m going to leave you with this what
so I’m going to leave you with this what if what if we as a community took a
if what if we as a community took a
if what if we as a community took a pledge what if we
pledge what if we
pledge what if we decided to join the efforts that are
decided to join the efforts that are
decided to join the efforts that are reclaiming our lakes and our Commons
reclaiming our lakes and our Commons
reclaiming our lakes and our Commons what if we began to resurrect our open
what if we began to resurrect our open
what if we began to resurrect our open we’re going back to what the land is
we’re going back to what the land is
we’re going back to what the land is telling us to do
telling us to do
telling us to do and then closer to home many of us live
and then closer to home many of us live
and then closer to home many of us live in things that look like this or have a
in things that look like this or have a
in things that look like this or have a roof or have a terrace
roof or have a terrace
roof or have a terrace I’m standing on a circle it may be one
I’m standing on a circle it may be one
I’m standing on a circle it may be one meter by one meter if the 1200
meter by one meter if the 1200
meter by one meter if the 1200 millimeters of rain fell here I would
millimeters of rain fell here I would
millimeters of rain fell here I would have that many liters of water to drink
have that many liters of water to drink
have that many liters of water to drink right it’s just that much surely we have
right it’s just that much surely we have
right it’s just that much surely we have a book that’s bigger than this
a book that’s bigger than this
a book that’s bigger than this what if Bangalore we prepare now we have
what if Bangalore we prepare now we have
what if Bangalore we prepare now we have to prepare now to collect the rain that
to prepare now to collect the rain that
to prepare now to collect the rain that is going to fall in 20 what are people
is going to fall in 20 what are people
is going to fall in 20 what are people prepared to collect every
prepared to collect every
prepared to collect every [Applause]
”
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