" When the well is dry, we know the worth of water ". - Benjamin Franklin.
Groundwater is a critical resource for agriculture, residential and industrial purposes. In India, groundwater is the primary source of irrigation for nearly 60% of the cultivated land, providing livelihoods to millions of farmers. However, over-exploitation and depletion of groundwater have become a significant environmental and socio-economic challenge.
India is one of the largest consumers of groundwater globally, with over 25 million groundwater extraction structures in use. This increased demand for groundwater has led to a rapid depletion of aquifers and a decline in water levels. The effects of groundwater depletion are significant, with the most immediate impact being on agriculture, which heavily relies on groundwater. Depleting groundwater levels have led to reduced crop yields, increased irrigation costs, and in severe cases, crop failure. This, in turn, has severe implications for the livelihoods of farmers and the availability and affordability of food.
In addition to agriculture, depleting groundwater levels also affect residential and industrial use. In urban areas, depleting groundwater levels have led to the sinking of the land and increased salinity of groundwater, leading to health problems for residents. Industrial sectors, particularly those that rely on water for manufacturing, are also affected, leading to increased production costs and reduced competitiveness.
The depletion of groundwater in India has significant socio-economic implications. As the demand for water continues to increase, the need for sustainable water management practices becomes more critical.
We can clearly see this effect in cities like Bangalore and Chennai. They have started working towards addressing the issue, albeit after facing its severe consequences. However, sustainable changes are now being implemented. For other cities where it is not too late, they should leave no stone unturned in preventing this from happening in their own regions.
Photo by: Indian Express
This is not just the responsibility of the Government but of every citizen that is living in this country and the planet.
Perhaps one of the most crucial aspects of being a responsible citizen is taking ownership of our actions and choices. Blaming the government for every environmental issue only perpetuates a culture of finger-pointing and inaction. Responsible citizens understand that by taking ownership, they can be part of the solution. They collaborate with the government, community organizations, and other stakeholders to advocate for sustainable practices and policies. By engaging in constructive dialogue, they work towards creating a future where both individuals and institutions take responsibility for the environment.
We at Sujalaam partnered with Faraj an Ahmedabad based NGO to make a project where we recharge Dholka’s shallow aquifers and make the town self reliant in water and less prone to flooding.
We choose to recharge in the shallow aquifers because it is a method that promotes equality of access in the distribution of water resources. Shallow aquifers are closer to the surface, making them more accessible to farmers, especially those who are economically disadvantaged. Unlike deeper aquifers, which may require expensive drilling equipment and infrastructure to access, shallow aquifer bores are inexpensive and the pumps required to fetch the water don't consume much electricity. By recharging shallow aquifers, we can ensure that even farmers with limited resources can access groundwater, providing them with a reliable source of water for their agricultural activities. This can help promote a more equitable distribution of water resources, ensuring that all farmers have an equal opportunity to succeed.
Moreover, recharging shallow aquifers can help improve the quality of water available, shallow aquifers are close to the surface and have greater interaction with the environment thus increasing the water quality of these aquifers will benefit the vegetation, soil quality and crops to a great extent.
Shree CV Mistry Saraswati Kanya Vidya Mandir is the largest school in the town by students count. Requiring more than 2 lakh liters of water every year just for drinking purposes, it extracts tremendous amounts of groundwater from its borewell daily. As a pilot project we made the first recharge structure in this school and according to calculations this school recharges 14,50,000 liters of water every year.
The then education minister of Gujarat Shri. Bhupendrasinh Chudasma inaugurated the first recharge structure and made a vision of an aatmaNEERbhar Dholka.
Faraj started to identify institutions with high recharge potential and started approaching them to create Recharge structures in their premises. Faraj funded this project and we gave technical support and implemented it.
We carefully identified clusters of neighbouring villages that would enable us to focus our efforts on a specific aquifer.
Given the ongoing depletion of shallow aquifers in the region, making a cluster of recharge systems would significantly enhance the replenishment of these aquifers, ensuring their sustenance and the long-term availability of water resources.
We installed 28 systems in the past two years, totaling four clusters which cover Dholka from two of three sides with the Sabarmati River naturally serving on the fourth side. We have taken significant strides towards enhancing water availability and sustainability in the region. Through meticulous planning and collaboration with local communities, we have successfully harnessed the power of these systems to recharge millions of liters of water, ensuring that the aquifers in the area are replenished and water resources are conserved for a more secure future.
Our goal was clear: to maximize the replenishment of this vital water source by strategically selecting these clusters, we aimed to implement effective measures to recharge as much water as possible, ensuring a sustainable and efficient utilisation of this precious natural asset.
In conclusion, our efforts in installing 28 recharge systems over the past two years have yielded remarkable results, with approximately 30 million liters of water successfully recharged. This achievement marks an important milestone on our journey towards making India self-reliant in water resources. By actively contributing to the replenishment of aquifers and promoting sustainable water management practices, we are taking the necessary steps to ensure a brighter and more secure future for our nation. However, this is just the beginning of our collective endeavor, and we must continue to expand our efforts, collaborate with stakeholders, and inspire others to join us in this mission. Together, we can strive towards a future where India not only meets its water needs but also sets an example for responsible water resource management worldwide.
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