W ATER IN RRA
Hydrogeological diversity in India The Western Ghats The Himalaya The Gangetic Plains
Interception Runoff (Depression) storage Runoff Soil moisture Infiltration Recharge PRECIPITATION Processes after rain / precipitation
The skeleton for the water balance Rainfall Runoff Evaporation Change in surface storage Change in surface storage Infiltration Change in soil moisture Change in soil moisture ET Recharge Change in aquifer storage Change in aquifer storage ET Discharge
Key elements in RFA Soil moisture Infiltration Soil moisture Depleting aquifer storage Depleting aquifer storage Securing protective irrigation Securing protective irrigation
Groundwater : aquifer Moisture management Protective irrigation
Dilution and Dispersion Filtration Adsorption Aquifer vulnerability to pollution & attenuation Die-off and predation Die-off
Rationale for water management under RRA Current water crisis is mired in the race to the pumphouse – for irrigated crops. The importance of water in RFA is not even recognised as a challenge. Moisture management and critical ‘protective’ irrigation are important to improving RFA. These two aspects emerge as priorities in the use of water as a common pool resource – THE BASIS FOR WATER MANAGEMENT PILOTS IN RRA EFFORTS…
Moisture management & securing protective irrigation – basis for pilots Energy, efficient use, recharge, conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater in rainfed agriculture Securing protective irrigation and ensuring equity in ‘protective irrigation’ Develop improved understanding of soil water and mechanisms of optimal use of soil-moisture Strategies for securing irrigation to overcome rainfall vagaries. Management of drought buffers against rainfall failure – through a participatory, community-based effort Protocols on managing protective irrigation – preferably on the back of watershed development. Pilots to policy.
Plan of Action Capacity development and Training on Hydrogeology and its relation to the RFA. Application of Water thematic –Primarily protective irrigation for kharif crop –“Water Security Pilot” for rainfed agriculture in a watershed and further up-scale it to the envisioned area. –“Facilitate” the application of hydrogeology at the planning and field levels - so as to integrate thinking on groundwater issues. –Addressing insecurities for drinking water, livestock, fisheries and other priorities
Plan of Action…contd Evolve strategies for securing irrigation to overcome rainfall vagaries. Develop protocols on managing protective irrigation – preferably on the back of watershed development. Participatory Community based Management systems.
Expected outcomes Sustainability of resource for rainfed agriculture and drinking water (safety & security). Detailed understanding of hydrogeological systems and groundwater issues. Improved perspectives, solutions and strategies of groundwater recharge. Develop solutions and processes to mitigate water security and quality problems. Policy level inputs: guidelines for various projects – rainfed agriculture, watershed, drinking water and ecological requirements. Develop local expertise and capacities on groundwater.