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Rain Water Harvesting Best Practices Ministry of Water Resources, RD & GR
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Introduction
India has more than 18% of the World’s population, 17% of world’s cattle population but only 4% of the World’s renewable water resources and 2.44% of World’s geographical area. As per report of National Commission on Integrated Water Resources Development (NCIWRD), the total water availability of India received through precipitation is about 4000 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) per annum. After evaporation, 1869 BCM water is available as natural runoff. Due to topographical and other factors, the utilisable water availability is limited to 1137 BCM per annum, comprising of 690 BCM of surface water and 447 BCM of replenishable ground water. Availability of water is highly uneven in both space and time, with monsoon confined only to four months in a year with substantially rainwater as well as evaporation. Precipitation varies from 100 millimeter (mm) in the Western parts of Rajasthan to over 10,000 mm in Meghalaya.
As per the last assessment of dynamic ground water resources by the CGWB the total annual replenishable ground water resources in the country is 447 BCM. Out of 6584 assessment units (Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas/Firkas) in the country, 1034 units in various States have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’, 253 units are critical and 681 units are semi-critical. Number of Over-exploited and Critical administrative units has been found to be significantly higher in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh. Water conservation and recharge has become all the more necessary in view of the stress that ground water regime is facing in view of incessant exploitation due to rapid urbanization, deforestation etc. as well as likely impact of changing climate and rainfall. India has rich traditions of water harvesting measures, which are more than two millenniums old. Evidence of this tradition has been found in ancient texts, inscriptions and archaeological remains.
Since ages, people across different regions of India are managing to irrigate their agriculture fields using localized harvesting methods. Their traditional ways of conserving water is efficient and still very popular in rural areas. Thus, efforts are required from general public and government organizations etc to ensure water conservation in the best possible manner with special emphasis on harvesting rainfalls during monsoon seasons to have immediate result.
In order to enhance the sustainable water availability in time and space pan-India, it is considered that there is an urgent need of conserving rainwater through various supply side interventions by appropriately enhancing the surface storages as well as artificial recharge to ground water in a great way. Some of the steps which can be taken for effective water harvesting have been listed as under:
Immediate attention on revival and rejuvenation of traditional water storage structures in various States.
Restoration, revival and rejuvenation of water bodies, village ponds and urban water bodies may be taken as mission mode by removal of encroachments, desiltation, deepening/treatment of catchment area by all stakeholders.
Construction of recharge shafts in village ponds, at suitable places, to minimize evaporation and supplement groundwater storage.
Implementation of innovative techniques to reduce evaporation losses from water bodies / ponds.
Construction of suitable artificial recharge structures in parks and green areas of urban settlements.
Cleaning and regular maintenance of existing recharge structures and roof top rainwater harvesting structures constructed by various stakeholders including Government, industries, RWAs, individuals, organizations, NGOs etc.
Effective enforcement of provisions relating to rain water harvesting stipulated in various building by-laws by the respective States.
It is understood that various NGOs, VOs, Civil Societies, individuals and government organisations are taking proactive measures for water conservation and rain water harvesting in different parts of the country.
Through this window, an attempt is being made to bring best practices on water conservation pan-India on the portal for the benefit of community. General public, Organizations, NGOs etc are requested to forward their best practice proposals through this interactive link stating their best efforts towards water conservation so that these can be posted in the website of MoWR, RD & GR after necessary scrutiny/verification and can be replicated in other areas also for the benefit of all. More and more participation of general public in this noble cause is requested.