Indian Rivers And Water Resources

Groundwater is located below the earth surface. Over time water from rain and river migrate through the land and gets stored in the soils.

a. The tremendous usage of it has reduced the groundwater level.

b. The borewells are dug deeper for irrigation and domestic purpose.

c. The groundwater has been majorly used for irrigation purpose and has heavily increased consumption.

d. The excessive use of groundwater has reduced the level of water, and seawater intrusion in coastal areas has also led to the contamination of groundwater.

To prevent further depletion:

a. Digging of bore wells for irrigation purpose has to be stopped and to be used only for drinking.

b. Cultivating sugarcane should be prohibited as it is a water-intensive crop.

c. Trees must be planted in forest land and roadsides.

Tungabhadra is a river that flows in the southern region of India mainly through the state of Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh.

Challenges faced in the basin are:

a. The rise of industries has increased consumption of water.

b. The major population of the region is dependent upon agriculture and water is heavily consumed for irrigation purpose.

c. The consumption of water by the higher portion of the region has led to drought condition in the lower regions.

d. Green cover has decreased, and water runoff has been at a faster rate.

Solutions to the problems:

a. A forestation must be promoted, and mass awareness should be raised.

b. Water management system to control and regulate the wastage of water.

c. The cropping pattern must be changed, and water extensive crops must be brought into practice.

Innovation was brought in the farming practices and conservation by the people of Hizware bazaar.

a. To prevent the soil erosion Continuous Contour trenches were dug in the hilly regions by harvesting water and planting grass.

b. The villager's built check dams, percolation tanks and loose boulder structure to prevent water from being wasted.

c. Deforestation was completely banned. They named it kurhad bandi meaning axe ban.

d. Digging of borewells for irrigation purpose was stopped and to be used only for drinking.

e. Cultivating sugarcane was prohibited as it is a water-intensive crop.

f. Trees were planted in forest land and roadsides.

The groundwater, which has been getting accumulated for years has become the main source especially for agriculture and domestic use. The tremendous usage of it has reduced the groundwater level. Similarly, there are other water resources like a river which is being contaminated with the release of pollution into the water bodies.

People’s awareness and laws by the government are very important to prevent the depletion of water resources.

1. The people need to control or limit the usage of water. There could be fewer borewells and mainly to be used for drinking purposes.

2. Water is a collective of a pool of resources and it is not possible to regulate the resources as the consumption of each source is interlinked.

3. The laws at present are not as absolute as they are limited to the owners.

a. The drinking water in the area is supplied by the municipality through reservoir, pumps or bore well.

b. Monthly payment is done for the water supply at homes.

c. In farmlands, the farmers or the owners dig the pumps and provide the water supply for irrigation to the nearby farmers.

d. Companies sell bottles filled with water for drinking purposes at public places.

There should be some type of checks and balances in this system. This would help in determining the person or organisation wasting more water and they could be punished so as to discourage misuse.

Groundwater is located below the earth surface. Over time water from rain and river migrate through the land and gets stored in the soils. This groundwater is now, which has been getting accumulated for years has become the main source especially for agriculture and domestic use. The tremendous usage of it has reduced the groundwater level.

Effects of groundwater depletion are:

1. The depletion will force the humans to go deeper within the earth and as a result, the future generation would be facing an acute water crisis.

2. Water bodies will become shallower and will hit the aquatic life.

3. Lack of groundwater effects the biodiversity.

4. Shortage of food, as the agricultural process would be hit by the shortage of water.

Preventive measures:

1. Less use of water, meaning the wastage of water while doing household chores, etc. must be reduced.

2. Addressing the alternative sources and letting aquifers to be refilled.

3. The pumping of groundwater must be regulated.

4. The government should frame groundwater policies and norms should be made stringent.