Low-flows and livelihoods (R8171) 11/14/2018

Water A precious natural resource Renewable But very complex to manage due to its Spatial variability Temporal variability Complex dynamic nature Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Spatial & Temporal Variability The major input of precipitation is variable over the area In terms of its intensity (rate of application) In terms of duration (the time it lasts) The other inputs of weather such as temperature, solar radiation, wind velocity, etc., also vary in space and time and decide the state of the system Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Implications of local fluctuations For rainfed agriculture If the monsoon does not reach in time the crop can not be sown If the interval between next rainfalls is more than what the crop can sustain, the crop shall fail For domestic water supply Wells may go dry Surface water bodies may not fill up Flows may reduce in the drainage systems Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Possible options Supplement additional requirements by having additional water As surface water from local or far-off areas As ground water from deeper depths This is where the problems start Remedy is found out in management through integrated watershed philosophy Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Some of the Implications of uncontrolled interference Lowering of water table Water logging Damage to soil health Water quality problems Health hazards Damage to local ecology And the list can be unending Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Watershed Philosophy To alleviate some of the above problems the concept of integrated watershed management was introduced Watershed is a natural divide which can be used to check the sum total of the natural inputs and outputs and thus the sustainability of the manmade interference ‘Integrated’ implies incorporation of all possible usage and interest of all stake holders Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Watershed Every area belongs to a watershed Nomenclature changes with size Micro-watershed, watershed, sub-catchment, catchment, sub-basin, basin Urban areas also follow the same rules Manmade interference is more Delhi belongs to a bigger watershed Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

National Water Policy The National Water Policy of India although recommends the integrated watershed management as well as integrated river basin planning and management However, the implementation is either faulty or totally missing Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Watershed Management Programme Does not follow sound scientific basis to identify the requirements of the local areas Does not take into consideration the inter-linkages between the watersheds Does not have any evaluation process to assess the level of fulfillment of set objectives Does not have any mechanism of generating alternative scenarios No mechanism of integration No way of sustainability assessment Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Unified Framework: the only answer All the above can be overcome through a unified framework Shall map the areas starting from micro-watersheds to river basin level Modelling shall provide the assessment of water quantity in space and time Local participation and consensus through scenario generation and sustainability assessment Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Unified Framework the only answer…. The unified framework shall Provide opportunity for integration of information pertaining to line departments Act as a tool for legislation for actions taken by stake holders at various levels Sustainability assessment at local and higher levels Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Corroboration World Bank: has recommended the similar approach in their water policy on India KAWAD and APRLP: also recommends that an integrated approach needs to be implemented Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Components of Framework Model Base Modelling is a good simulation and planning tool Provides opportunity for scenario generation GIS framework Acts as a pre processor for the modelling Integrator of information (water, livelihoods,…) Is a powerful tool for visualization Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

R-8171 Projects Research Funded under the FRP (DFID) Lead Collaborators: CLUWRR, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and IIT Delhi Other Partners: WII, RRL-Bhopal, NIT-Hamirpur, Sandesh (NGO) Support organisations: CSTE, Shimla; NRDMS, DST Low Base Flows and Livelihoods in India Providing scientific backup to the local level planning GIS based dissemination tools Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Objectives Provide scientific backup to the local level planning Create framework on the pilot level Generate water resource information Integrate socio-economic information Develop GIS based dissemination tools Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

DEVELOPMENT OF A MECHANISM FOR POLICY ACTION Biophysical study improved biophysical understanding of forests/low flow linkages Policy & Institutional perceptions study. Tracing of water policies & investigation of institutional practices Dissemination tool. Demonstration of policy based scenarios & evaluation DEVELOPMENT OF A MECHANISM FOR POLICY ACTION Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Pilot watershed - Himachal Pradesh Watershed of Interest – Hamirpur with sub watershed with Drainage Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Watershed of Interest – Madhya Pradesh Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Dudhi ( 60 ha - treated) – Bewas (75 ha - untreated) Watersheds Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

What will be the benefits? Duplication of effort avoided Increased public awareness and participation Check on misuse of national resources Scenario Generation through Scientific Approach Improved local & national level management of this precious resource Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop

Thank You Wednesday, November 14, 2018Wednesday, November 14, 2018 RAPID Workshop