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India … water issues and solutions

India … water issues and solutions. The holiest of rivers, Ganga. Water conservation Traditions… Sacred groves – protected primary forest Watersheds have flowing streams and Springs almost all through the year. Water conservation Traditions… Village ponds and tanks. Today >>>

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India … water issues and solutions

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  1. India … water issues and solutions

  2. The holiest of rivers, Ganga

  3. Water conservation Traditions… Sacred groves – protected primary forest Watersheds have flowing streams and Springs almost all through the year

  4. Water conservation Traditions… Village ponds and tanks

  5. Today >>> Country background: India – rainfall and geography Issues: Agriculture, Industrial/domestic Solutions: Watershed (water retention capacity) restoration

  6. In India, more than 70% annual rainfall occurs within three months (July-Sep). Most of it flows out to the sea – FAO “Water at a glance”

  7. Western Ghats hill range, India. Seasonal rainfall influences vegetation

  8. Waterlogging in cities – high rainfall + choked drainage + low infiltration

  9. Now, droughts in the world’s wettest place, Cherrapunjee, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India

  10. Dry season – by Jan and Feb – springs are drying up. People carry water up and down hills for long distances. Causes: Deforestation -- rainwater runs off -- soil washed off -- less soil to hold water -- soil compaction and hardeningdue to exposure to sun and wind Climate change Population increase -- cement industry using limestone

  11. "There will be constant competitionover water, between farming families and urban dwellers, between environmental conservationists and industrialists, between minoritiesliving off natural resources and entrepreneurs seeking to commodify the resources base for commercial gain“ - UNICEF report on Indian water.

  12. Water users in India • Agriculture ( ~ 85%) • Industry • Domestic • Ecosystem (?)

  13. Agriculture ~ 90% of water usage

  14. Rainfed agriculture – vagaries of climate, climate change Irrigated agriculture – groundwater depletion, salinization, soil micronutrient loss, large dams and their problems Solutions Water harvesting, soil regeneration, conservation, forest regeneration. Associated programs conserving crop genetic diversity Move towards local sufficiency in all resources

  15. 60-70% of India’s agriculture is rainfed. Western Ghats, Maharashtra, Western India

  16. Rice in Assam, northeastern India Pics from india train

  17. Rainfed areas suffer from Droughts if rains are late Or little

  18. Manual irrigation – the age old way, bringing water from rivers via small Hand dug canals and water lifting structures

  19. Diesel / electric pump based irrigation, huge increase from the late 1970s

  20. Groundwater table from 1976 to 2008

  21. Share of surface water and groundwater for agriculture

  22. Politics and vote banks…resisting removal of free electricity, irrigation scams…

  23. Transporting water in open canals for hundreds of kilometers – HIGH EVAPORATIVE LOSS – Salt content increases in irrigation water

  24. Narmada Canal, bringing water from the diverted and damned Narmada river

  25. Proposed Linkage of Rivers: contemplating a disaster for 3 decades Purported Benefits: Irrigation in arid zones Water supply for arid towns Costs Ecosystem disruption, flow Alterations, introductions of Exotics Saline water, evaporative loss Huge capital cost Sedimentation Human displacement Salinization of estuaries Loss of fish nurseries Seawater intrusion

  26. Now the good news ! Many NGOs working with village communities, with funds from the government Programs, donor agencies and the communities themselves. Approach: 1. Community organization – awareness of problems, potential solutions and pathways, Government programs for village employment and income generation, Empowerment of women, education (school as well as hygiene/sanitation) 2. Watershed restoration – ridges and valley Ridge area treatment Drainage area treatment Earthen/masonry dams On-Farm interventions 3. Improved water sources for community

  27. Watershed Restoration (contd.) Ridge Area Planting: If slope > 25% Land use: Natural vegetation only And native species Dig pits in dry season Plant in wet season Take care for the next 2-3 dry seasons

  28. Watershed Restoration (contd.) Ridge Area Treatment: pits, trenches, bunds

  29. Watershed Restoration (contd.) Drainage Line Treatment

  30. Watershed Restoration (contd.) Topographic survey of watershed for small masonry dam and reservoir siting

  31. Watershed Restoration (contd.): Earth/Masonry Dams

  32. Watershed Restoration (contd.): On-farm interventions

  33. The reservoir at Gavandvadi, Maharashtra, ten years after…

  34. Urban zones have their own challenges Water supply – fixing leaks and pricing to inhibit pilferage Sanitation and wastewater treatment – curbs pollution Keeping drainage systems clean – reduces flooding and disease Water infrastructure management – prevents flash flooding

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