Synne Movik. Deals with perceptions of justice and sustainability in the water allocation reform...
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Transcript of Synne Movik. Deals with perceptions of justice and sustainability in the water allocation reform...
Synne Movik
Deals with perceptions of justice and sustainability in the water allocation reform
Based on 2006 study in the Inkomati (resulted in the book Fluid Rights – HSRC
Press) Quantitative studies done on indicators Many of the same issues still persist
Often conceptualised as consisting of precedural anddistributive justice.
Distributive Justice has plural, often incommensurable meanings:
◦ Justice as ’desert’
◦ Justice as ’utility’
◦ Justice as ’equality’
Ambiguous term
What and who is to be sustained?
Different interpretations and understandings depending on objective and scale
Shift from riparian rights to licences – allocation decisions vested with State
Opened up room for emerging ‘allocation discourses’ - perspectives on merits of different user groups and sectors
Tools for redress included:◦ Curbing illegal use, clearing invasive species,
compulsory licensing, trade◦ Main aim to redress legacy of inequality ….but some important caveats:
Should respect existing lawful use Too quick reallocations might result in economic &
environmental damage Focus on reallocation to demonstrably productive
uses of water
Existing users:
- Made investments, so deserve to retain claim to water (justice as desert)
- Cannot take away water from existing productive users (justice as utility)
- Trumped justice as equality
◦ELU protection downplays history of acquisition
◦No mention of environmental impact of existing users (ELUs ’fortified’ rights)
◦Narrow focus on efficiency/productivity
Women’s farmer group near Driekopiies dam, Mpumalanga
Women’s farmer group near Driekopiies dam, Mpumalanga
Argue for more equal share of water
Difficult to access water rights – confusion about roles and responsibilities of different institutions
Lack of voice in irrigation board settings
2008 Water Allocation Reform – explicitly more egalitarian and sets specific targets
But still problems…
◦ Discourses of beneficial use◦ V & V process not completed yet ◦ Lack of institutional co-ordination (land/water)◦ Water reallocated through land reform, but
insfficient post-settlement support
Need to change mindset on justice and sustainability on the ground
Reduce dependency on overly technical approach◦ Free up water from ELUs through e.g. reducing assurance
of supply, proportional reductions◦ Use of General Authorisations to simplify reallocation
Map needs of aspiring users, step up support & training to build up the ‘middle segment’
Studies on highly unequal societies point to lower welfare for whole population (Wilkinson and Pickett)
Democratic problem (Stiglitz)
Inequality of income but also of resource distribution – structures need to change