CHAPTER 1: FOSTERING WATER MANAGEMENT FOR FOOD SECURITY
- Challenges in Water Management:
- Increasing population, climate change, changes in land use patterns, and desertification have made water management and conservation global priorities.
- Agriculture, along with other sectors like energy and drinking water, heavily relies on both surface and groundwater, leading to potential water scarcity.
- Initiatives by the Government of India:
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Aims to extend irrigation coverage and improve water use efficiency through various schemes.
- Per Drop More Crop: Focuses on enhancing water use efficiency using micro-irrigation technologies.
- Sahi Fasal Campaign: Part of the National Water Mission to promote water-efficient farming through crop selection and micro-irrigation.
- Bhartiya Prakratik Krishi Paddhati: Promotes natural farming for resource conservation and sustainability.
- Water Resources in Agriculture:
- Irrigation sources include canals, tanks, wells, and tube wells, with groundwater contributing over 79% of total irrigation potential.
- Water scarcity, high demand in agriculture, small land holdings, and soil degradation pose challenges to sustainable farming.
- Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
- Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is monitored as part of SDG target 6.4 to ensure water resources support ecosystems for future generations.
- Water Efficient Goods:
- The Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) promotes, regulates, and controls efficient water use in irrigation, industries, and domestic sectors.
- BWUE has published Indian Standards for micro-irrigation and sanitary products to address water efficiency.
- Community Participation:
- Encouraging community participation, women self-help groups, and cooperatives can help disseminate water conservation methods in agriculture.
- Rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, micro-irrigation, and climate-smart cropping patterns can be promoted through these channels.
- Way Forward:
- Cooperation among states is essential for augmenting, conserving, and efficiently managing water resources.
- Natural resource conservation should guide land and water allocation to ensure sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development.
- Incentives and ecosystem services can be employed to encourage the efficient use of water resources.
CHAPTER 2: WATER CONSERVATION THROUGH COMMUNITY PLANNING
- Need for Water Conservation:
- India’s population, socio-economic conditions, and quality of life require inclusive growth with equity and social justice.
- Adequate, timely, and affordable water supply is crucial for becoming a water-secure nation and ensuring a healthy, productive society.
- Challenges in Water Conservation:
- Increased demand for freshwater, dependency on rain-fed irrigation, varied rainfall patterns, population growth, industrialization, and urbanization lead to water exploitation and declining groundwater levels.
- Fragmentation of landholdings necessitates extensive groundwater use.
- Importance of Community Participation:
- Shifting from large-scale state-assisted water projects to community-based and participatory water resource management is advocated by policymakers.
- Community involvement results in better outcomes for public development endeavors.
- State Initiatives in Water Conservation:
- Various Indian states have implemented water conservation programs to rejuvenate natural resources, restore water storage structures, and deepen water bodies.
- Water Conservation Initiatives by the Union Government:
- Programs like PMKSY, Jal Shakti Abhiyaan, Atal Bhujal Yojana, MGNREGA, and others aim to improve water availability and sustainable management in water-stressed areas.
- Benefits of Community Planning:
- Community involvement enhances economic viability, operation, and maintenance of development interventions.
- Farmer’s Groups, PRIs, SHGs, and Cooperatives play crucial roles in planning and implementation.
- Challenges in Community Planning:
- Addressing groundwater depletion, controlling construction activities and encroachments, reviving water bodies, managing erratic rainfall, and integrating crop-planning with conservation plans.
- Ways to Address Challenges:
- Social mobilization, need analysis, water security plans, and village action plans.
- Exploring new revenue sources, water reserve audits, water safety plans, and technical support cells for convergence.
- Training and capacity building programs, monitoring water availability and quality.
- Importance of Community Engagement:
- Water conservation programs’ success relies on engaging communities and end-beneficiaries throughout implementation stages.
- Concluding:
- Effective community planning and participation are vital for successful water conservation programs, ensuring sustainable water resources and benefits for the community.
CHAPTER 3: EDUCATING PEOPLE TO SAVE EVERY DROP OF WATER
- Water Scarcity and the Need for Education:
- India’s population constitutes 18% of the world but has only 4% of global water resources.
- In addition to implementing policies, addressing water scarcity requires educating and involving every citizen in the fight against the crisis.
- A Collective Responsibility:
- Gaining support and active involvement from influential figures in society is a crucial strategy.
- Various stakeholders play important roles in the water consumption and management ecosystem, necessitating their involvement.
- All stakeholders must be engaged to bring about significant change.
- National Water Mission’s (NWM) Initiatives:
- NWM is one of the 8 missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
- Its primary objective is water conservation, minimizing wastage, and ensuring equitable distribution through integrated water resources management.
- It encourages citizen and state actions for water conservation and incentivizes organizations through water conservation awards.
- The NWM Water Awards recognize excellence in water conservation and sustainable water management practices.
- The ‘Catch The Rain’ campaign urges states and stakeholders to build Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RWHS) before the monsoon season, involving local communities.
- Strategies for Educating People:
- Utilize social media platforms, websites, and mobile applications for specialized campaigns, contests, and information dissemination.
- Conduct awareness campaigns through TV, radio, and newspapers to reach a broader audience.
- Incorporate water conservation education into school curriculums to instill responsibility from a young age.
- Organize community programs like seminars and workshops to educate and motivate people to adopt water conservation practices.
- Offer incentives like tax rebates or discounts to households that practice water-saving measures.
- Engage the private sector and seek involvement from eminent personalities to increase awareness.
- Amplifying Success Stories:
- IneedSai’s initiative educates children about water importance and encourages water conservation practices.
- The Run Blue campaign in India raises awareness about water conservation.
- L&T’s extensive program creates awareness about water conservation through school rallies.
- The Paani Foundation conducts the Water Cup, promoting water conservation in drought-prone areas of Maharashtra.
- Conclusion :
- Addressing water scarcity requires educating people through various channels and involving all stakeholders in collective efforts to save water. The initiatives taken by organizations and individuals can inspire more people to join the cause and contribute to water conservation efforts.
CHAPTER 4: WATER USE EFFICIENCY ENSURING GROUNDWATER SUSTAINABILITY
- Water Scarcity in India:
- India holds 18 percent of the global population but only 4 percent of the world’s water resources.
- Rapid urbanization and industrialization have exacerbated the gap between water demand and availability.
- Understanding Water Use Efficiency:
- Water use efficiency measures the ratio between effective water use and actual water withdrawal.
- In India, the majority of water is used for agriculture, making it crucial to enhance efficiency in all sectors, including irrigation, to cope with climate change challenges.
- Boosting Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture:
- Agriculture supports 58 percent of India’s population, making water efficiency vital.
- Water Use Efficiency (WUE) in irrigation focuses on storing more applied water in the soil for crops’ consumptive use.
- Adopting irrigation practices like micro-irrigation (e.g., drip irrigation) can lead to significant water savings (30-60 percent) and yield enhancement (40-75 percent).
- Fertigation studies have shown 25 percent savings in fertilizers using this technique.
- Mulching and cultivating drought-tolerant crops further improve water efficiency.
- Additional Methods for Improving Efficiency in Agriculture:
- Reducing conveyance losses, avoiding midday sprinkling, and implementing weed control measures help save water.
- Selecting appropriate crops, optimal planting and harvesting timing, and using proper tillage techniques enhance water use efficiency.
- Government Initiatives for Agricultural Water Use Efficiency:
- Ministry of Jal Shakti oversees water management and conservation efforts.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) focuses on irrigation expansion, water use efficiency, and water-saving technologies.
- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) provides assistance to irrigation projects to enhance efficiency.
- Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) bridges the gap between irrigation potential created and utilized.
- National Water Mission aims to improve Water Use Efficiency by at least 20 percent.
- Bureau of Water Use Efficiency (BWUE) promotes water efficiency in various sectors.
- Sahi Fasal Campaign encourages farmers to grow water-efficient and economically viable crops.
- Challenges in the Industrial Sector:
- Industrial water demand is expected to quadruple between 2005 and 2030, putting further strain on water resources.
- Conclusion: A Sustainable Path:
- Enhancing water use efficiency through collective efforts and government initiatives is essential for coping with climate change and growing water demand.
- Improved water efficiency will lead to increased productivity, prosperity, and sustainability for India’s water resources.
CHAPTER 5: INTERNATIONAL WATER COMMITMENTS
- International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development:
- The UN declared 2018-2028 as the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development.
- 2023 marks the mid-point of this decade and also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- SDG6 focuses on water and sanitation management for all.
- Climate Change Impact in India:
- India suffered losses of Rs 5.61 lakh crore (USD 79.5 billion) due to extreme climate events in the past two decades.
- Exponential increase in extreme events occurred during 1970-2019, with accelerated trends during 2000-2019.
- Rural Water Matters in India:
- 53 percent of Indian districts are rural, with 37 percent vulnerable to extreme hydromet disasters, impacting one-third of the population.
- About 30 percent of groundwater assessment units are semi-critical, critical, or over-exploited, leading to concerns about water availability.
- Major International Commitments:
- India led the G20 presidency in 2023, focusing on sustainable water resource management aligned with SDG6.
- The UN 2023 Water Conference saw over 700 commitments towards a water-secure world, including India’s USD 50 billion allocation for rural water supply by 2024.
- COP26 established the Water Pavilion, facilitating knowledge-sharing on water management and community participation in decision-making.
- Government Initiatives for Water Management:
- Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap connections to all rural households by 2024, with significant progress achieved as of May 2023.
- Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin moves from ODF to ODF-Plus, ensuring proper waste management in villages.
- Atal Bhujal Yojana and National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme focus on groundwater resource management in water-stressed areas.
- Synergizing Existing Programmes and Commitments:
- India’s way forward involves leveraging existing national missions and interventions to achieve SDG6 targets in alignment with international commitments.
CHAPTER 6: RAINWATER HARVESTING FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
- Global Water Concerns:
- FAO highlights that global water withdrawal grew faster than population, raising sustainability concerns.
- Only 0.003 percent of the world’s water is fresh, usable for various purposes.
- Rainfall and Water Availability:
- About 70,000 sq km of the average annual land rainfall evaporates, leaving 40,000 sq km potentially available for human use.
- Global freshwater consumption is just 10 percent of the annual renewable supply.
- Rainfed Agriculture and Irrigation:
- Rainfed agriculture occupies 80 percent of land and contributes to 60 percent of food production.
- 20 percent of land under irrigation supports 40 percent of food supply in developing countries.
- India’s rainfed agriculture covers 70 percent of cultivated land and accounts for 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals.
- Need for Rainwater Harvesting:
- 16.2 percent of assessment units are over-exploited, 14 percent are critical or semi-critical in India.
- Proper rainwater harvesting could yield 900 million liters of water annually.
- Potential of Rainwater Harvesting:
- Summer monsoon contributes 70-80 percent of rainfall in South Asia.
- Approximately 24 million hectares of rainwater can be harvested through structures across India.
- Traditional Water Harvesting Systems in India:
- Various systems, such as Paar, Talan/bandhis, Saza kuva, Johads, Pat, Jhalaras, Bawari, Zabo, Kuhls, and Zings, have been used traditionally.
- Government Initiatives:
- Initiatives like Master Plan for Artificial Recharge, Model Bill for groundwater regulation, and National Aquifer Mapping aim to manage groundwater.
- Future Initiatives:
- Community-based water management can promote equity and social inclusion.
- Making rainwater harvesting mandatory in urban areas and exploring water reuse and recycling technologies.
- Adopting smart water management systems with real-time data and analytics for optimized water use.
Addressing water challenges requires a combination of traditional wisdom, modern technologies, and governmental initiatives to ensure water sustainability for present and future generations.
