With 10% of India’s land area 5.6% of the population and less than 2% of the water. Rajasthan offers a unique set of ecosystems for us to understand. This water distribution is not uniform with 60% of the land concentrated in the desert districts receiving about 40 % of the precipitation water and the remaining 40% area getting 60% of the precipitation. The Aravallis form the dividing line for the above. In terms of river basins also 14 river basins fall east of the Aravallis and the rest of the region divided into an undefined river basin of the desert.
The water systems of the desert are quite different from the rest of Rajasthan. Pastoralism has formed the mainstay of these economies. It is no wonder that Raja Ganga Singh had to invite the Sikhs from Punjab to colonise the desert after the Gang canal was brought to Bikaner. The desert primarily depended on the trade routes falling between Afghanistan and Gujarat on one hand and current Pakistan and rest of India on the other. The arrival of the Paliwals in Jaisalmer resulted in the construction Khadins that heralded the development of systematic agricultural production in the desert.
In Udaipur due to hilly and forested region only the plains were cultivated as also the valley bottoms. With agriculture not developed, the tribal regions were distinguished by the following:
- Slash and burn cultivation
- Dependence on forest produce – roots , tubers etc
- The system of begar on the land of the Thakur was common right upto independence and beyond.
Udaipur in particular as also other districts are pocked marked with water harvesting structures designed by the ruler as part of relief work on one hand, to provide water for game animals and strategic conditions on the other. However a number of them served as irrigation sources and met the drinking water requirements for animals.
In Bharatpur, a series of shallow dams were constructed below to provide irrigation water. The agricultural practices of this region were transformed as a result.
Though the technology for blasting existed 100 years back, the wells could not be deepened below 100 feet, it was only with the technology for blasting provided by the tractor that resulted in wells reaching 200ft depth. Drilling rigs have resulted in the drilling of tube wells well below 500 feet. Irrigation was therefore primarily in the form of surface flows. The prime source of water was surface water, though in place like Jaisalmer etc, sub surface water storage existed. In Udaipur the well zone was know as Sehja (Shallow aquifer). The surface storage structure in some places became renowned for a number of activities. Pushkar Lake near Ajmer is famous for its cattle fair. Beneshwar Triveni (meeting of three rivers, Gomti, Jakham and Som Kamla Amba to form Mahi) also hosts a tribal fair once every year.
Division of India, New technology and its implications for water management
With the division of the country, strategic considerations warranted that the border be secure, hence plan to extend the Gang canal across the border of Rajasthan. Some of the current issues with relation to the conflicting demands on water being placed on the canal need to be seen in this light. There was also an element of providing livelihood to Pong dam oustees as also rehabilitating ousted people in Rajasthan itself. The consequences of uprooting people from their traditional livelihood and placing in unfamiliar terrain and setting was not foreseen, the result is that the land passed into the hands of others. On the other hand the pasturelands of the desert were converted into agricultural lands.
The green revolution technology which began in early 70s has considerably increased water usage due to the fact that on one hand cropping intensity has increased, while on the other hand the use of fertilizers necessitates the use of water to achieve the full productivity potential. This development is in pockets. The average productivity of Rajasthan is less than a fourth of that of Punjab, nevertheless water usage as gone up considerably.
The introduction of the drilling and blasting technology as mentioned above coupled with the pump set and cheap electricity ( electric connections were provided in a big way between late70s and early 90s ) transformed the way ground water could be used . Agriculture in Sikar and Jhunjunu got transformed, with the traditional dryland farming by the Jats getting converted into prime agricultural land. Similar transformations took place in Alwar, parts of Pali, Jodhpur, parts of Bhilwara etc. The deep bores resulted in at least double cropping on one hand and removed the dependence on rainfall on the other (though it is resulting in depletion of the water table on a state wide scale which is a matter of serious concern the areas where ground water has reached critical proportions has crossed 80%) In Udaipur however due to the unique hydro-geological conditions which have poor permeability, water harvesting is through wells and is still dependent on the annual recharge pattern.
The peculiarities of the rock structure and aquifers also need to be studied in the context of the exploitation of ground water with large number of failed tube wells and increased indebtedness of farmers on this count. Indebtedness on account of well construction/ well deepening is also a major phenomenon in Southern Rajasthan. Study in Jaisamand catchment area show that loans for wells account for over a third of the loans and over 70% of the productive loans taken.
Recently there has been considerable concern over the increase of fluoride contamination. While historical details of this issue are not available, it can be said that the increase is over the last 10- 15 years or so (though perhaps not as dramatic as the data indicates). This has some relation with the depletion of the ground water, though the peculiarities of the rock structure are the main determinant.
Industrial development has also resulted in considerable pressure on water resources, both in terms of quality as well as in quantity. While industries per se may not be consuming all the water, the related developed of secondary and tertiary occupations and expansion of the urbanization combine to cause a considerable drain on both surface and ground water resources. Water is being increasingly sourced from the rural areas to meet this burgeoning demand resulting in the depletion of the natural resources particularly water and forests. The later being the catchment area and source of springs, wells etc
Urban development has not followed local specific criteria for water resource development and the provision of easily accessible tap water in certain locations, watering of lawns, development of water parks; fountains etc contribute to a considerable wastage of water on one hand while at the same time destroying the cultural ethos around water conservation on the other. The cultural ethic of pay and enjoy the facility is being promoted along with commercialization of water, with scant regard for its availability. Ultimately it is the poor and marginalized who have to pay, waiting for long hours at hand pumps which draw limited quantities of water of indifferent quality. The tradition of bawdies, water and other urban water sources has fallen into disuse. In Udaipur for instance out of around 100 bawdies hardly any are functional.
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