Environment-development linkages: Modelling Sambhar Lake to address the ecological-economic unsustainabilities in the region
Student name: Ms Swati Asnani
Guide: Dr Nandan Nawn
Year of completion: 2018
Host Organisation: TERI School of Advanced Studies
Abstract: Unsustainable use of natural resources, in wetlands across the world, reveals a cruel reality. It portrays picture of a man as being the destructor of nature. This study scrutinises this problem in context of Sambhar Lake: a conglomeration of algae fed migratory birds and a vast expanse of salt heaps.
Since the time, private salt producers have come up in the upstream region of Nawa, salt production is majorly done through extraction of subsoil brine rather than use of surface brine. Mushrooming of these private industries has resulted in a wetland that no more looks like a lake but an infinite stretch of barren land. Thus, the lake which once sustained thousands of flamingos and supported innumerable livelihoods in the town of Sambhar, is now seen to be struggling for its own existence.
This brings about a motivation to first identify the environment-economic linkages in and around Sambhar Lake and conceptualise them in an ecological-economic model following a DPSIR framework. Second objective is to provide recommendations to address the economic-ecological unsustainabilities in the region. This has been done through an analysis of the economic instruments that could be used to ensure sustainability of Sambhar Lake.
In the end, it has been concluded that a legally possible solution like imposing a ban on upstream salt production done using subsoil brine can address the ecological and economic unsustainability in the region.
Keywords: Ecosystem services, subsoil brine, surface brine, ecological-economic modelling, inland saline wetland
