Importance Of Water Conservation In Maharashtra And Plans On How To Achieve It
The UNESCO’s (United Nations Educations, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) report on World Water Development states that India extracts maximum groundwater in the world. Out of the total amount of groundwater extracted, 2/3rd of extraction occurs in Asian countries, and the major consumers of water, apart from India, include China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Let us take a quick look at the statistics to gauge the gravity of the water crisis looming large in India: ● As per the think tank’s latest report, 21 major cities in India are expected to run out of groundwater soon which will affect more than 100 million people. ● 70% of water in India is contaminated. ● 75% of households lack drinking water at home. ● 84% of rural households lack piped water access. ● India ranks at 120 out of 122 countries in the water quality index. ● The country's demand for water is projected to double the supply by 2030 which will lead to a loss of approximately 6% of the country's GDP.
Based on the above facts and figures, you might have guessed how important conservation of water globally is. This article will take a closer look at the importance of water conservation in Maharashtra and what are the water development program in Maharashtra.
Significance of Groundwater in India More than 26 crore agricultural laborers and farmers depend on groundwater for their livelihood. ● One of the most important water sources in India is groundwater which accounts for 63% of all irrigation water and more than 80% of rural as well as urban domestic water supplies. ● Around 61.6% of irrigation water comes from wells (including dug wells), deep and shallow tube wells. Canals come next in supplying irrigation water with 24.5% The growing demand for water for agricultural, industrial, and domestic needs has led to over-exploitation of groundwater which has been further depleted due to limited surface water resources. Deforestation, chemical effluent from industries, wrong agricultural methods, and lack of sanitation has added to the groundwater issue by polluting it and making it unstable.
Why Conserve Water? Despite Earth consisting of 70% water, many parts of the world are currently suffering from a clean water shortage. Clean and fresh water is a limited resource and with droughts occurring all around the world, this limited supply of fresh water is one of the most precious resources for us. All of us need water to survive and without it, many of us would fall sick or even die. ● Conserving water means usage of water wisely and responsibly and refraining from activities that can pollute water. ● By conserving water we ensure that water is pure and clean and it also protects the environment. ● Since the distribution of water is uneven, large sections of India are deficient in the rain as well as groundwater. ● The need for water in urban areas is much higher than what is available. ● When we conserve water, we also conserve energy. If we use smart appliances which are energy and water-efficient, we can conserve both water and energy. ● Rainfall in India is highly seasonal, we must conserve water to irrigate the crops. ● Water protects wildlife and our ecosystem.
The severity of the Water Crisis in Maharashtra The water emergency in Maharashtra is growing at an unprecedented rate. With years of drought in the state, the river currents have diminished, the water in reservoirs and dams have depleted, and there has been over-exploitation of groundwater which has raised concern over the long-term availability of water resources in Maharashtra. ● ●
For every five years, one-third of Maharashtra faces two years of drought-like conditions. Maharashtra receives rainfall only for four months in a year and for the remaining eight months people have to rely on groundwater and surface water trapped in the
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rivers. So, it becomes necessary that efforts are made to improve the groundwater table by arresting rainfall and developing water resources at the village level. It is also necessary to utilize a minimum amount of available water and control the excess withdrawal of groundwater. For this, a proper direction of water usage and other aspects is needed.
Water Development Programmes in Maharashtra The government of Maharashtra, with a view to improving the lifestyle of rural regions, has taken up a water conservation program. As per the estimation of the Maharashtra irrigation department, if they utilize all available resources then a maximum of 30% of the total area of the state can be brought under irrigation. This still keeps 70% of the area dependent on rainfall. Given the geological and geographical structure of Maharashtra, it is essential to arrest rainwater, make it percolate, and store it through a water conservation program. ● The Jalyukt Shivar scheme was discontinued and a new water conservation program in Maharashtra has come up which is geared towards repairing water sources and restoring irrigation capacity. ● Due to a lack of regular maintenance, many of the water sources in Maharashtra are not being utilized to their full potential. About 7900 water sources need to be repaired to restore their irrigation capacity and water storage. ● The water conservation scheme will take up special repairs of all structures with irrigation capacity upto 600 hectares which includes storage tanks, village ponds, small irrigation structures, irrigation ponds, cement nullah bunds, etc. ● Soil and Water Conservation has taken up this project which will also repair canals to stop water wastage. ● The vigilance and quality control team of the Solid and Water conservation department will monitor the progress of water work. ● Highlights of the water conservation program are: ○ Increase groundwater storage by arresting water. ○ Develop groundwater at a local level. ○ To minimize loss of water due to runoff and improve groundwater recharge (from 15% to 30%) by considering mini watersheds as a unit. ○ To diminish the intensity of floods on down slopes ○ To adopt proper land-use patterns.
NGO Working For Water Conservation in Maharashtra WOTR (Watershed Organization Trust) is a globally recognized organization that is dedicated to its work in ensuring water, food, livelihoods, and income security to every human being. Right from its inception in 1993, WOTR has worked in more than 3000 villages, impacting over 3 million lives. WOTR has transformed the lives of millions of villagers across India through its participatory ecosystem restoration and watershed programs.