According to a Niti Aayog assessment, 21 cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad, would run out of groundwater by 2020, affecting over 100 million people. This isn’t only a city problem. Rural India will be particularly hard hit. Water shortage is already staring us in the face.
Groundwater now supplies most of the country’s agricultural and drinking water needs. Around 89% of groundwater is utilised for irrigation, 9% for domestic usage, and 2% for industrial uses. According to the Central Ground Water Board, groundwater resources fulfil approximately half of urban water needs and 85% of rural needs. Yet, groundwater supplies are fast depleting, and there is an urgent need to shore these resources up on a vast scale; else, we shall perish. It is anticipated that the newly formed Jal Shakti Ministry would actively push for any solution, no matter how minor, that may assist us in navigating the impending water crisis. Rainwater collecting is one option.
When people hear the phrase “rainwater harvesting,” they often reject it as “nothing new,” and that it is a technology that has been tried and proven on a smaller scale. It is unknown whether it can be done on a greater scale. What the country now requires is an all-systems policy for optimal river water utilisation, river interlinking, rainfall collection, and ocean water tapping.
The gathering of rainwater has huge potential. Regardless of monsoon whims, the country receives enough yearly rainfall to support the requirements of its 1.3 billion people. According to the Central Water Commission, India needs a maximum of 3,000 billion cubic metres of water every year. It receives around 4,000 billion cubic metres of rain every year.
Infosys campuses are examples of successful rainwater collection system application. Across its campuses, Infosys has 410 ‘V’ wire injection wells, 25 lakes, and rooftop rainwater collection.
This resulted in an 8.33% decrease in per capita water use in 2017 compared to the previous year. There are several examples of rainwater harvesting, which answer the issue of whether rainwater harvesting can be extended over wider regions.
Farmland Rainwater Harvesting Systems is working on a five-acre rainwater harvesting project in Chikmagalur. This is one of the world’s largest such tests, conducted in a drought-stricken area. There are seven ‘V’ wire injection wells on-site, and rainwater is gathered only by gravity. The groundwater table has increased significantly, and the adjacent communities are supposed to profit from it. Water neutrality is implemented, which includes water recycling and zero waste. This large-scale experiment can be reproduced on any scale, anyplace.
While such measures are underway, state governments must, in addition to limiting borewell sinking, develop an aggressive rainwater collection program. Aside from developing such a strategy, the Karnataka government should oversee the successful implementation of ‘Krishi Honda’ (agricultural ponds) in communities.
Governments should promote rainwater collecting. The Union government might start by lowering the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on rainwater harvesting equipment from 18% to zero.
It is now time to put the National Water Mission’s goals into action.
The admirable goals include improved above- and below-ground storage, rainfall collection, and equitable and efficient management structures. It must become a national mission.
Other Services
Groundwater recharge system, More details are on our website.
Article submitted by RainyFilters