19-11-2012, 06:28 PM
Integrated Watershed Management & Rainwater Harvesting
1Integrated Watershed.ppt (Size: 1.51 MB / Downloads: 443)
INDIA’S LAND RESOURCE, IRRIGATION
AND FOOD PRODUCTION
India has 2% of world’s land, 4% of freshwater, 16% of population, and
10% of its cattle.
Geographical area = 329 Mha of which 47% (142 Mha) is cultivated, 23% forested, 7% under non-agri use, 23% waste.
Per capita availability of land 50 years ago was 0.9 ha, could be only 0. 14 ha in 2050.
Out of cultivated area, 37% is irrigated which produces 55% food; 63% is rain-fed producing 45% of 200 M t of food.
In 50 years (ultimate), proportion could be 50:50 producing 75:25 of 500 M t of required food.
SOME INFERENCES FROM RIVER BASIN STATISTICS
Himalayan Rivers Water: 300 utilizable, 1200 BCM available.
Himalayan large dams presently store 80 BCM. New dams under consideration could store 90 BCM.
Peninsular Rivers Water: 400 utilizable, 700 BCM available.
Peninsular large dams presently store 160 BCM. New dams under consideration could store 45 BCM.
In all, large dams presently store 240 BCM. New dams under consideration could store 135 BCM. Total storage thus could be 375 BCM only.
Water Conservation
Important step for solutions to issues of water and environmental conservation is to change people's attitudes and habits
Conserve water because it is right thing to do!.
What you can do to conserve water?
Use only as much water as you require. Close the taps well after use. While brushing or other use, do not leave the tap running, open it only when you require it. See that there are no leaking taps.
Use a washing machine that does not consume too much water. Do not leave the taps running while washing dishes and clothes.
Rain Water Harvesting?.
RWH - yield copious amounts of water. For an average rainfall of 1,000mm, approximately four million litres of rainwater can be collected in a year in an acre of land (4,047 m2), post-evaporation.
As RWH - neither energy-intensive nor labour-intensive
It can be a cost-effective alternative to other water-accruing methods.
With the water table falling rapidly, & concrete surfaces and landfill dumps taking the place of water bodies, RWH is the most reliable solution for augmenting groundwater level to attain self-sufficiency