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DEPARTMENT OF SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION, PUNJAB |
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The gap between demand and supply of water requirement is increasing every year. The migration to urban areas and changed life style have augmented the demand for water. The natural availability of water is itself insufficient to meet this demand. The situation has further worsened due to reduction in supply. The reduction in supply is the immediate result of loss in recharge areas and destruction of natural water bodies. Almost continuous covering of earth surface by roads, cemented pavements and buildings have drastically reduced the surface recharge area for water. Rain water, which should have normally percolated otherwise to recharge the ground aquifer, now flows over the roads and nalas causing flood-like situations with even little rain. Similarly, the traditional water bodies in areas are largely encroached or have become dumping ground for both solid and other wastes. This has caused silting of beds of water bodies which reduces the percolation of water to ground aquifer. This also results in reduction of water storage capacity and water recharge capacity of water bodies. This surplus water again causes flood-like situation with the smallest rains in urban areas.
We must understand that water recharge is the responsibility of each one of us and small contributions family for recharging the ground water will solve this acute problem. Each building must have measures to harvest the entire rainwater falling on its area. The rainwater falling on the rooftops and open areas can be directed through pipes and drains to pits, trenches especially dug for water harvesting. Rainwater can also be directed to open dried wells and can also be injected to ground the way we extract the water from ground. Flooding and water logging during monsoon and water scarcity during the rest of the year clearly indicate that the issue is not water scarcity, but the management of water.
MEASURES
Water harvesting measures include constructing a recharge pit, or a mini treatment unit, planting a sapling or any other action that would improve water recharge, green cover which ultimately increase the ground water levels.
There is need to motivate and involve different stake holders so that they can own the rainwater harvesting programme voluntarily
The groups would be sensitized on motivational aspects and techniques of various water harvesting structures. He said that the trained groups would in turn reach out to communities and motivate the people highlighting the importance of rainwater harvesting and its benefits.
We must also involve the student community in a big way so that the schools and colleges and other institutions would contribute to the cause of improving ground water table because they are the one who will suffer in future. Making them aware of the impending danger will help them in the time to come
TO GET MORE INFORMATION REGARDING INSTALLATION AND SPECIFICATIONS OF ROOF TOP RAIN WATER RECHARGING SYSTEMS YOU CAN CONTACT ANY OF OUR NEAREST DIVISIONAL OFFICES IN STATE OR AT HEADQUARTERS OF DEPARTMENT IN CHANDIGARH
