Conserve the sacred water

Shiv Charan Dass
Out of the most essential commodities needed for sustaining all forms of life on the Earth; water tops the list. But unfortunately man has not yet learnt as to how best the water can be conserved and efficiently used. Most of the states in our country face acute shortage of water; but on the other hand, water is being mismanaged and gravely misused. This must be kept in mind that water is scarce, hard to get; and rare particularly so on other planets. Hence, it is the prime responsibility of every individual to preserve and conserve water for future generations. Water in all forms must be sacredly worshiped and judiciously used.
In the beginning years of the 21st century; conservation of water is getting primary focus and worlds attention. Ways and means are being explored extensively to overcome the water crises. Scientific researches have ascertained that approx. 80% of rain water directly flowing to the rivers and the seas is causing huge floods and soil erosion. If we could be able to harness and conserve even a small amount of remaining 20% of rain water, there will be no water crises in the world over. But for this we must realize that it is not merely the responsibility of the Govt; the participation of general public, the NGO’s and the social organizations is also very important to accelerate the movement and to achieve the desired goals. .
Adequate quantity of water is in fact needed all over to meet the growing demand of water for the increasing population, urbanization, for industry and irrigation purposes. Strategies for conservation of water, through “rain water grabbing” should be evolved and implemented so that a push can be given to the agriculture sector in the country. The hilly and far flung areas need even more attention because they are facing acute shortage of water since decades. Therefore besides exploiting the available resources of water the augmentation needs revival of “traditional water harvesting systems and also saving green forest wealth. Experts suggest the following methods of rain water harvesting”.
(a) Capturing rain water ‘run off” from ground catchments.
(b) Capturing rain water “run off” from roof tops.
(c) Capturing seasonal flood water from stream/rivulets and tributaries etc.
(d) Conservation of water through watershed managements and development of surrounding environment by aforesation.
A brief description of these methods is given as under:-
(a) Rain water harvesting is a simple collection and storage of rain water on the ground through the scientific techniques. The stored water can be utilized for domestic and agricultural purposes particularly in rural and urban areas. This concept finds in mention in Mahabharta too. Digging of water storage tanks, dugwells, shallow wells, canals, boulies, khuls facilitated consumption of water by common masses over the centuries. This has remained a part of our religious and spiritual culture and was considered most pois and momentous. Rain water harvesting is management of rain water to seep into the ground-constructed structures like water tanks, ponds, shafts and sub-surface dykes etc; rather than just allowing water to flow on the ground and get wasted. The trapped water recharges the depleted acquifers and raise the water table of adjoining dugwells, shallow wells and other such structures. The treated water can be used for drinking as well as for irrigation and other misc. purposes.
(b) Similarly “Roof top rain water” harvesting involves deliberate collection of rain water at the roof tops of large Govt/Private buildings. The larger the roof area; more the accumulation of rain water. The water is then directed into the ground structures through the vertical pipes. It is then redirected to be stored in already constructed ground structures mentioned above. The amount of rainwater harvested depends upon the roof area. The stored water will also recharge the abandoned dugwells, tubewells, shallow wells, hand pumps etc. which can be used for local consumption. Before using these recharged structures they should be properly cleaned and sanitized.
Dugwells recharge is recommended for buildings having R.C.C. or iron sheet roof area of about 1000 Sq. mtrs. If a building has a roof area of just 100 Sq. mtrs the recharge structure would be a pit. For a building with roof area of 200 to 300 Sq. mtrs the recharge structure is a 0.5 to a mtr wide; 1 to 1.5 mtrs deep and 10 to 20 mtrs long; depending on the availability of land.
Adopting rain water harvesting measures and proper management would definitely raise ground water levels of acquifers; dug wells; shallow wells, etc. etc and prevent decline in water levels during summers; thereby providing sustainability to water supply systems; more significantly in villages and towns. Moreover this will encourage traditional water harvesting systems and enhance upgradation of socio-environmental status of the area.
(c) In parts of our country facing acute water crises raising low cost check dams across the seasonal/perennial stream, nallahs/revulets/tributoris, springs etc and disallowing water “runoff” has proved to be a boon for the farmers even in the lean months of the year. Unfortunately some area in our country has yet to realize the importance of such structures for recharging acquifers and boosting agriculture through enhanced irrigation.
In area having no perennial rivers, hard rocky surfaces; which do not allow rain water to perculate; Construction of small and medium check dams to store rain water, perennial springs, bowlies, khuls etc can prove beneficial. The water stored in check dams recharges the adjoining structures. The water table of surrounding dugwells, shallow wells etc. shoots up. The farmers can make use of this water; despite unsatisfactory monsoon. All this has been successfully achieved in several states of India. In Gujarat state for example in Jam Nagar, Rajkot, Saurashtra regions and similarly in parts of Rajasthan, H.P., Haryana states thousands of such check dams; small and medium size have been constructed across the river beds. These dams have been constructed under Govt. sponsored schemes. This Govt./Private partnership has on one hand solved the acute water shortage problem and on the other hand has given much confidence to the villagers solving their problems. There are some negative aspects of this system, such as submergence of land. However the benefits out weigh the negative aspects.
(d) Conservation of water through water-shed management:-
It has been a resolve of world community that three pillars of sustainable development i.e. economy, society and environment need to be strengthened for upliftment of majority of population depending on agriculture.
Watershed development is one of the most popular programme being implemented across the country for enhancement of natural resources; and upliftment of socio-economic conditions of the hilly, rural and urban areas. It is being successfully implemented for maintaining runoff reduction, increasing water levels of subsurface acquifers and intensification of enhanced agricultural production. Govt./Private participation is key to success of watershed programmes. What we perform on the watershed area effects water flow and quality of water in the down stream areas.
The water shed development for sustainability should carry the slogan “By the people for the people”. Sponsored by Govt./Pvt. agencies. The micro and macro watershed development programmes/projects in hilly areas having high rainfall must be associated with soil conservation social forestery projects, growing wild root mass plants (including fruit, medicinal plants & trees); and construction of ponds, check dams for conservation of rain and snow water. The people in the lower reaches can make good use of this water for irrigation, industry and for power generation The Centre and State Govts. should come up with the time bound programmes and plans to protect and promote watershed areas development. Pitiless cutting of trees should be stopped for a healthy environment. Liberal Govt. funding; identification of new areas and their development on scientific lines would help mitigation of the long-standing water shortage problems in the country.
(The author is former Geologist)

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