Integrated water scarcity management by ecosystem approach

                                                                                                By Dr. N. D. Choudhari        

There is a huge hue and cry regarding water scarcity in the month of May every year. Even though rainfall in Vidarbha is 1100 mm, there is scarcity of  water, and the ecosystem is inextricably linked. Total rainfall in the year 2008 was normal but the number of rainy days were less. There was unusual rainfall due to climatic changes at an international level, so there is scarcity of water in the summer of 2009.

Prior to Independence, every village had tall tree revenue forests, E-class forest, Zudapi jungles, even community land (Gairan) which falls under forest category; originally was covered with grasses and plants by all villages. Reserve forests protected forests, private forests too, were with dense plant cover and humid soil. During rains, water fell directly on plants avoiding soil erosion. The cracks developed by plants absorbed water in the earth so as to recharge aquifers. These aquifers in the hills and plains gave out perennial water to nullahs and rivers throughout the year in the previous years. After independence, with change in administration and commencement of Democracy people started demanding their rights on forests and forgot their duties towards their conservation, as per duties enshrined in our Constitution.

If we observe the environment in the urban and rural areas minutely, there is a drastic change due to human and cattle population explosion, industrialization and greedy needs of the people. Most of the Zudapi forests, tall trees revenue forests, E-class forests, community land forests are worst affected by deforestation and mining and followed by protected forests and reserve forests.

The soil in the remaining forests became compact and degraded due to soil erosion and by cutting of trees, grazing of cattle, trampling of soil by cattle and forest fires. All humid soil which required thousands of years to form got washed away in rainy seasons. It resulted in less recharge of aquifer by natural process causing severe scarcity of ground water. Global warming and climate change piled up to the water scarcity problem. The Second World Water Forum in 2000 at Hagues pinpointed water as the central issue of the 21st century. Future world wars will be fought for water only. Already Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra are fighting over distribution of river water .among Border States. There is dispute among India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and many other countries for distribution of river water. The UN General Assembly has declared 2005 to 2015 as the UN International Decade for action water for life and recommended to states to increase awareness among people for conservation of water.

Ecosystems of the world regulate quality and quantity of water that is made available to public. Natural and semi natural ecosystems which play a crucial role in scarcity of water are often neglected in economic planning and policy formulation and decision-making at all levels. Ecosystems provide regulatory control in ecological. lie-related process such as, climate, water, suply, soils, waste water treatment, biological control of insecticides and other pollutants.

Forest area in watershed of Pench National Park in Totladoh Dam, Borivali National Park & Tarsa Sanctuary for Tarsa Dam in Mumbai, Tadoba National Park for Erai Dam, Navegaon National Park in Navegaon Dam and Gothangaon Dam act as lungs to provide oxygen and control soil erosion in their respective watershed area of dam and river basin, causing quality and quantity of water stored in dam and tanks. In case of .So,negaen Lake, Shukrawari Lake, watershed area is encroached by people who have created concrete jungles and destroied ecosystem of these lakes. Ecosystemss, o work for habitat of wild animals and plants, maintain biodiversity and the food chain. With loss and damaged ecosystems, 3,500 plant and wild animal species are threatened and more than 20 million hectares of forest is lost all over the world. Human activity affects ecosystems which in turn, affects the livelihood of people. The scarcity of water and drought is caused by variability in natural climate and anthropogenic factors relating to economic, social and environment. Natural climate variability includes meteorological drought, agriculture draught and hydro-logical drought or scarcity of water which affects socio-economic effects on the population.

Meteorological drought includes amount, intensity and timing of rainfall, high temperature, reduced recharge of water, increased evaporation. Agriculture drought includes overabstration of water by farmers and other segment including industries. Over exploitation of water even by agriculturist is prohibited by Environment Act and Water Protection Act. But it is not strictly Implemented; Even stringent enactment should be passed to overabstraction of water and pollution of water. Hydrological drought and scarcity includes reduced stream flow of water in river basin, in flow to dams, lakes and tanks and ponds. Afforestation in watershed area in major dams, lakes and ponds should be implemented strictly so as to avoid soil erosion and filling of darns, with soil and lessening life and capacity of dams and lakes.

Farming in watershed area of dams should be strictly banned. Over exploitation of sand and river should be stopped Overexploitation of ground water will affect quantity and flow of water in aquifer causing severe scarcity of water, leading to drought and finally a condition like that of Rajasthan. Due to alarming situations, UNICEF and World Bank have funded the project to GSDA for water supply and sanitation project and capacity building by improved modelling techniques and National Hydrology Project. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Integrated Wasteland Development Project (IWDP), Integrated Watershed Development Programme, Vidharbha and Marathwada Watershed Development Programme. Jalswaraj Programme is implemented with assistance of Agriculture Department Social Forestry Department, Forest Department to carry out soil and moisture and afforestation programme from top to bottom of watershed area. It is essential to carry out these tasks in forest areas and then to agricultural area and not vice versa because it leads to filling of soil conserve don structures with eroded soil from upper tract.

To achieve this objective training capacity, building awareness regarding water scarcity, environment balance, soil and Moisture conservation and afforestation should by carried out everywhere. To save oneself from the water scarcity and loss of biodiversity, all government and NGOs and people should come forward to implement  Integrated Water Scarcity Management Plan by due recognition. To mitigate the water scarcity problems, following steps can be undertaken by various agencies.

·                      Farmers should follow advanced Israel techniques of irrigation by using loggers, special sprinkles, etc using meteorological, hydrological data for balance water application in fields. Using plastic sheet to coyer canals and fields to stop evaporation Using green house technology.

·                      Follow strictly not to overexploit ground water and recharge wells and aquifers by using appropriate technology Stop growing crops like sugarcane, grapes. banana plantation in water scarcity are Plant trees on Continuous Contour Trenches (CCT) at 10 minutes' interval and grow intercrops in between two CCT.  Farmers should adopt organic farming rather than inorganic farming and use seeds adaptable to local environment.

·                      Gram Panchayat and other Government Department Municipalities should undertake training programmes for conservation of water and get public participation to control pollution.

·                      As in Cyprus encourage people to install recycling of grey and polluted water in household plants, hotels, institutions and industries and provide subsides for the same. Another alternative is TO separately collect grey water and treating at recycle plants.

·                      As in Rajasthan, make compulsory rain harvesting and aquifer recharge by developing recharge pit for every building. Plantation of trees around the house should be made compulsory so as to save water for coolers and ACs.

·                      Industries should reuse water. Avoid using potable water and use grey water for industrial processes. More applied research on resource conserving methods and eco-friendly production process, should be carried out. Use non-conventional energy. Let us come forward and join hands to save ecosystem, biodiversity and save water for our generations to come.

Out of total area 3,08,000 km of Maharashtra, 65 percent Is under cultivation.. 23 percent of cultivated area is under irrigation of which more than 50 per cent is based on ground water table 4s, per the Second Water and Irrigation Commission in Maharashtra, net irrigated area 2.6 M.ha in 1991 will be Increased to 5 M.ha. In 2030 and water requirement of 35,000 in. cu.m.. In 2030, domestic urban requirement of water 4236 MCM, domestic rural 1943 MCM, industrial 3461.MCM is projected. 82 per cent area Maharashtra is occupied by Deccan trap basalt.