Free essays-Environment-Water Conservation

Water Conservation

            Water resources planning and their optimal and judicious utilization is an important factor in water conservation not only for meeting the needs of the ever-growing population but also to maintain a water stock for future generations. India’s population has increased to a whopping 102 crores, according to 2001 census from a mere 33 crores at the time of Independence.  Land under irrigation cover, which was only 19.5 million hectares, had increased to over 95 million hectares by the turn of the century.  Production of food grains has increased from about 50 million tonnes in the fifties to more than 210 million tonnes and will have to be raised to 350 million tonnes by the year 2025 at the present rate of growth in population. This growth process and the expansion of economic activity has led to increasing demand for water for diverse purposes, domestic, industrial, agriculture, hydro-power, etc. 

Key Action Areas

            Some of the key areas of activities, which need a national perspective for conservation of water, are:

            Over exploitation of ground water should be avoided and it should be so regulated as not to exceed the recharging possibilities as water table is going down in most parts of the country at an alarming rate.

            Rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge should be encouraged through incentives and disincentives. It should be made incumbent through legislation on Group Housing Societies, Community Housing, School buildings, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Non-governmental organizations involved in water supply and management to harness rainwater and recharge ground water to the extent it is being exploited by them.

            Water resources should be conserved and availability augmented by minimizing losses and maximizing retention.  Both surface and ground water has to be monitored regularly for quality. 

            Private and community participation in the efficient use of water should be encouraged.

            Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban bodies should be made responsible for planning, execution and maintenance of water schemes and projects.  They should be encouraged to adopt better management practices and bring in improvements in operational technology.

            In view of the ever-growing demand, there has to be close integration of land use and water use policies.

            Irrigation projects should optimize water use efficiency.  Lining of canals and water channels should be undertaken wherever feasible to minimize seepage losses.  Non-conventional irrigation methods, like drip and sprinkler irrigation should be encouraged to reduce wastage of water through soil absorption or evaporation.

            Crop pattern need to be changed with less water consumptive crops encouraged and sown in larger areas.

            Availability of water is very high in India during monsoon months and much of the rainwater flows down into the sea, often causing havoc by way of floods in large areas.  This rainwater need to be conserved through dykes, dams and proper linking of rivers for use during the lean period and for a longer time span.  A national perspective should guide water sharing of inter-state rivers.

            Desiltation of rivers and flood protection works like strengthening of embankments and dykes should be undertaken regularly.

            In drought prone areas, development of ground water potential, recharging, transfer of surplus water from affluent areas, wherever feasible, awareness about water harvesting practices, soil moisture conservation and the need to check evaporation losses should be given priority.

            Water conservation should be created among the masses through education, mass media, regulation, incentives and disincentives.

National Water Policy-2002

            The National Water Policy-2002 calls for participatory approach in the planning, development, execution and maintenance of water schemes and projects.  Drinking Water supply is one of the six key components of the ambitious Bharat Nirman Programme, being implemented in four years 2005-09 for building rural infrastructure.  It envisages provision of safe drinking water for all the remaining 55,067 rural habitations in the country. As on April 1, 2005, 96.1 percent rural habitations were fully covered under water supply schemes and projects and 3.6 percent were partially covered, leaving a gap of 0.3 percent habitations without any source of water.  Central allocation under the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission is proposed to be increased from 3,645 crores rupees to 4,680 crores.  Apart from non-coverage there is the persistent problem of slippages due to drying up of sources, lowering of ground water table, outdated and outlived water supply systems and lower per capita availability of water due to population growth.  The strategy to tackle both non-coverage and slippages should include conservation, capacity building, better operational management and maintaining of water quality.  The centre has earmarked 213 crores rupees as assistance to states to set up water testing laboratories and provision of field level water testing kits during 2006-07. 

Irrigation

            The central outlay under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme has been enhanced to 7,121 crores rupees during the current financial year as against 4,500 crores in 2005-06.  To give a major thrust to creating irrigation potential, the Command Area Development Programme is being revamped to allow participatory irrigation management through Water Users’ Associations.  Besides, over 20,000 water bodies have been identified with a command area of 1.47 million hectares for the first phase of the programme for repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies.  It is being implemented through pilot projects in 23 districts spread over 13 states.