FOCAL THEME – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

FOR  SUSTAINABLE  DEVELOPMENT.

TOPIC – DISASTER MANAGEMENT

TITLE – MITIGATION OF DROUGHT THROUGH WATER

CONSERVATION.

ABSTRACT

                      This project is about mitigation of drought through water conservation. We had gone in group to people who live in drought affected areas and took survey. At last we understood that the main problem from these areas that they don’t have any means for conserving water for the future use. This project stresses the present situation of the district, the pros and cons of the problem, the reason for drought and suggests practical ways to overcome drought situations. Over exploitation of natural resources and its unscientific use paved the way to drought condition. The district faces acute drinking water shortage and also insufficient irrigation to agricultural crops. The survey revealed that most of the parts of the district were affected by drought in the last summer. The people over exploits the existing water sources. No water conservation methods are followed by them. If it continues like this the drought situation will be more severe. The project envisages solution to this situation through water conservation. The ground water table should be increased through scientific agricultural practices. Natural water sources like rivers, streams, lakes, brooks etc should be conserved in natural ways. Man made sources like ponds, open wells, bore wells etc should be recharged using rain water. This project suggests clear methods for conservation of water sources and rain water recharging.

INTRODUCTION

We took kasaragod district as our place for reference. We got the information that in kasaragod last year the rate of rain was 300cm which was normal, then also kasaragod district was affected with severe drought last year. Even though Kasaragod district is blessed with 9 main rivers ( out of 44 rivers of Kerala) and 3 small rivers , drought menace , when compared to other districts of Kerala , is very high. Ground water table is deteriorating day by day. Out of 6 development blocks of Kasaragod district 2 blocks comes under critical , 2 semi critical and 2 stands in the verge of safe in availability of ground water. Water conservation methods and proper utilization of available water is inevitable. People should be properly sensitize in this regard.  If we do not  adopt these strategies the forth coming summer will be very drastic. We can follow both conservative and modern methods of drought mitigation.

          Generally people of Kerala depends on wells for drinking water and irrigation purposes. Kerala is one of the place where density of wells is very high. Though Kerala is gifted with many rivers, streams, lakes, ponds etc , flood situation is prevailing in monsoon season and drought situation in summer season. The drought situation is very high in kasaragod district though we are getting above average rain.

              The rain water is the sole source in all our water bodies. Due to the sloppy terrain of our state the rain water flows to the sea within hours. Due to over exploitation the soil lacked water storing capacity. Owing to the growth of population the use of water is also growing up. Our survey revealed that in  kasaragod district most of the people are depending on bore wells than open wells. The ground water table are going down day by day due to digging of more bore wells and unscientific pumping . This situation stresses the importance of artificial recharging and rain water harvesting. 

                                                               

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Ø To check whether Kasaragod district is affected by drought or not.

Ø To understand the past and present drought situation of the district.

Ø To collect the basic data regarding the availability of various sources of  water.

Ø To discriminate the  natural sources and manmade sources  of water

Ø To understand the factors that lead to drought .

Ø To suggest various practical solutions to mitigate drought situations.

Ø To make aware of the people about the consequences of drought.

Ø To familiarize both conservative and modern methods of water conservation  to mitigate drought.

Ø To insist people to adopt various water conservation methods. 

                    HYPOTHESIS

If we conserve water we can mitigate drought situation.

 WORK PLAN

1. Preparation of survey forms.

2. Conduct of survey and data collection.

3. Analyzing   the various factors that lead to drought situation.

4. Analyzing  the positive aspects of the district in drought       

    mitigation.

5. Suggesting various methods of water conservation.

6. Suggesting various tips in day to day life to minimize the use of

      water.

METHODOLOGY

          For conducting survey we selected 4 drought affected places in kasaragod district such as Ravaneshwaram in Ajanur panchayath, Kodakkad in Pilicode panchayath, Neerookill in Madikai panchayath and vattapoyil in Nileshwar munciplality. We used the below mentioned survey form for conducting survey of 100 peoples within the above locations.  

                              SURVEY FORM

NAME:                                              PLACE:

1.  DO YOU USE BORE WELL OR OPEN WELL ?

    : …………………………………..

2   DID YOU EXPERIENCED DROUGHT THIS YEAR ?

    : …………………………………

3.  WAS IT MORE THAN LAST YEAR ?

    : …………………………………

4. IF GIVEN A CHANCE , WOULD YOU CONSERVE WATER ?

    : …………………………………

5. DO YOU HAVE ANY MEANS TO CONSERVE WATER ?

    : ………………………………

6. DO YOU THINK THE SAME CONDITION WILL BE EXPERIENCED

    NEXT YEAR ?

    : …………………………………

7. DO YOU THINK THAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES HAS CAUSED THE   DROUGHT ?

    : …………………………………

We conducted survey in the above four places and collected data. The data collected were compiled and came to the conclusion that

·        Most of the people are using bore well.

·        Most of them experienced severe drought.

·        Effect of drought is increasing year by year.

·        Most of them does not have any means to conserve water.

·        They are ready to make water conserving methods, but they are unaware

·        Most of them are of the opinion that , if we continue like this next year also we will experience severe drought.

                    DATA ANALYSIS

 COMPILATION OF THE SURVEY REPORTS OF 100 PEOPLE

·        Out of 100 people 68 are depending bore wells, 28 on open wells, 4 on other water sources for  drinking water

·        Out of 68  people using bore wells  60 are using it for irrigation purpose also( This causes over utilization of ground water and decrease in water table)

·        90 out of 100 are unaware of water conservation methods.

·        98 out of 100 are ready to observe water conservation methods in future

  OBSERVATION

FACTORS  CAUSING  DROUGHT

1.     Sloppy terrain of the state from  east to west.

2.     Lack of bio agents , biomass , etc in the soil.

3.     Deterioration of Water holding capacity of the soil.

4.     Higher density of population

5.     Lack of sufficient water conservation methods

6.     Deforestation

7.     Filling of water bodies, paddy fields, ponds etc.

8.     Unscientific sand mining form the rivers

9.      Over exploitation of available water sources

10.Unscientific  agricultural practices, irrigation methods      11.Urbanisation

STRATEGY FOR MITIGATION OF DROUGHT  SITUATION

1. Natural water sources such as rivers, streams, lakes, etc should be conserved in a natural way.

2. Man made water sources such as ponds, open wells, bore wells, etc should be recharged be recharged using rain water.

3. Water conservation methods should be made mandatory.

4. Agricultural practices should be widened which will help water conservation in natural way.

5. Authorities should enforce the laws pertaining  to over exploitation and misutilisation of water.

                                                      

SOLUTION/FUTURE PLAN

WATER CONSERVATION METHODS

 Water conservation methods can be classified in to three

1.     Conventional water conservation methods through agricultural practices.

2.     Other water conservation methods

3.     Rain  water recharging methods  

4.     Home stead activities

1.      CONVENTIONAL WATER CONSERVATION METHODS

·        Multi storied cropping

·        Crop rotation

·        Strip cropping

·        Contour  cropping

·        Cover cropping

·        Mulching

·        Vegetative fencing

 

2.        OTHER WATER CONSERVATION METHODS

·           Contour bunding

·           Bench terracing

·           Stone pitched bunds

·           Catch pits                               

·           Platforms

·           Crescent platforms

·  Trenches

·           Check dams

·           Side walls

·           Filter strips

·           Ponds

·           Plastic lined ponds

3.RAIN WATER RECHARGING METHODS

·        Roof water harvesting for recharging bore wells, open wells and ponds

·        Roof water harvesting in tanks

4.HOME STEAD ACTIVITES

·        Water taps should be got repaired

·        Use low headed flush tanks

·        Use low headed showers

·        Turn off taps while brushing and shaving

·        Collect water in bucket and use mug for washing

·        Drip irrigation for agricultural crops

·        Mulch the courtyard

                      RESULT

Most of the water conservation/rejuvenation methods are cost affective. If we follow the above solutions we can expect substantiate results as detailed below

·        Water table will rise

·        Soil health will increase

·        Natural vegetation will increase

·        Yield of agricultural crops will rise

·        Quality of drinking water will increase

·        The quantum of bio control agents will increase

·        Air purification will be high

·        Green house effect will decrease, which will decrease global warming

                        CONCLUSION

          Now we are facing  acute water shortage, higher atmospheric temperature, lesser agricultural yield etc. The bio diversity is almost distorted due to inhuman human activities. Though people are unaware water conservation methods, they are willing to observe it. Most of the water conservation methods are cost effective and some of them can be implemented free of cost. Awareness among the public is very important . The methods mentioned in this project are proven and assures cent percentage result. We think the student community can also participate in these activities and can be the part of a great innovative revolution.

                            INFERENCE

         The menace of drought can be mitigated through various water conservation and water recharge methods