The Hindu : Rainwater harvesting key to solving water scarcity, say experts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Rainwater harvesting key to solving water scarcity, say experts

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI, MARCH 13 . Rainwater harvesting is the key to solving Kerala's water scarcity, a two-week seminar on water conservation held at Cochin University has concluded.

Experts were confident that water scarcity could be a thing of the past in just five years if cheap and user-friendly methods of rainwater harvesting were employed extensively. They pointed out that because of the topographical peculiarities, the major amount of water that Kerala receives after a rain gets washed off into the sea within two days. The quantity of water that seeps down during the monsoon seasons is low and hence the water level in open wells is not sufficiently recharged.

The experts suggested that by adopting simple and cheap conservation methods, the surface runoff could be staggered and the quantity of rainwater seeping into the earth could be stepped up. The severity of water scarcity in summer could be warded off in this way. Some of the methods suggested to increase water retention were: digging pits in open spaces in the villages, terraced farming, building bunds of mud and stone and widening the coverage of vegetation. These methods would increase the soil's capacity for water absorption.

Digging pits is an ideal method to conserve water. For instance, if 400 pits of 1m length, width and depth are dug in a one-acre area during the rains, they could provide sufficient water for the area round the year. The pits would also raise the groundwater table in the area.

The speakers at the seminar pointed out that the main reason for acute water scarcity in the State now was because of the Keralites' carelessness in collecting and conserving water. Most of the natural water sources had been destructed. Pollution and environmental degradation added to the sad state of affairs. Because of heavy extraction of underground water, the water levels had fallen alarmingly. The destruction of forests in the catchment areas had led to the drying of rivers and the extensive sand-dredging had drastically reduced the rivers' water-holding capacity.

The speakers were of the view that the proposed interlinking of major rivers in the country would not be of any use to Kerala. They recalled that the linking of the Periyar, the Bharathappuzha and the Chalakkudyppuzha at several stretches in the past had, in fact, worsened the water scarcity. The proposed Pampa-Achankovil-Vypar link, if executed, would reduce Kerala's water availability. Kuttanad would be the biggest loser of the project.

The seminar called for people's participation at the planning and executing stages of water projects and also stressed the need for timely maintenance and repair of existing projects. These would help maximise the benefits of the projects. They also pointed out that the traditional methods of farming were helpful in conserving water and restoring the water levels.

A large number water experts drawn from different agencies presented papers at the seminar which was co-sponsored by the Indian Council for Technical Education and the Indian Society for Technical Education. The seminar was organised by the Civil Engineering Division of the School of Engineering of Cochin University.

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