Report on the Drought Affected Areas

 The report of on the Spot Study of Water Situation in Drought Affected Areas of the country has released by Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Highlight of the report:

• This has recommended construction of water harvesting structures, mass awareness among citizen for water conservation, construction of new water storage structures, interlinking of rivers, renovation and repair of existing water bodies as some of the important measures to meet the challenges of overall water scarcity scenario in the country.
• In some areas like Marathwada of Maharashtra, Bundelkhand of UP and MP interlinking projects have been recommended.
• Water budgeting and planning the cropping patterns for the oncoming agricultural season(s), the strategy for avoiding water intensive crops to the extent in consultation with the relevant expert departments are also crucial for checking such situation. Micro irrigation (sprinkler and drip) should be adopted to achieve more crops per drop.
• Almost all places minimum domestic water requirements are being met through importing water from other regions, if required; by digging local deep bore wells and also by tankers. Ground water levels have been reported as falling in almost all regions of the country due to over exploitations and inadequate recharging mechanism for ground water. However, no specific observation on water quality has been reported at most of the areas except in Gujarat, where problem of salinity in coastal areas has been reported.
• Water scarcity situation is prevailing in the country, but some pockets like Marathwada in Maharashtra, Bundelkhand in U.P. and MP, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are more affected by water scarcity situation. The main cause of water scarcity in country is consecutive failure of monsoon, resulting low storages in dams, during last two years. Rainfall deficit in country as a whole during 2015 was 14% and in 2014 it was 12%. Earlier, year 2012 was also a rainfall deficit year with 11% deficit. Consecutive less rainfall also resulted less carryover storage in reservoirs.

To control the situation and secure the future, steps have been taken by the ministry of Water Resources given as under:-

• Technical and financial assistance to the State Governments through various schemes AIBP, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies etc.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has been launched with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices etc.
• Funding of MMI (Major and medium irrigation/multipurpose irrigation) projects under PMKSY-AIBP and RRR of Water Bodies schemes, Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) projects and Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) projects under PMKSY-HarKhet Ko Pani (HKKP).
• Ministry has identified 99 projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programe (AIBP) to be completed by 2020.
• Awareness campaign launched by the Ministry to promote conservation of water at all levels. Society should be made aware through mass awareness programmes about the value of water and need to use it judiciously and for water protection in sustainable manner.

By: Vishal