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