Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Human Pressure and Ecological Impacts : 4. Issues of Concern - Forest destruction in the river catchments

Opinion
       15/11/2018
                1543.

SUB : Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Human Pressure and Ecological Impacts : 4. Issues of Concern - Forest destruction in the river catchments

REF : Sand mining :-

Most of the rivers in Western Ghats are facing the consequences of indiscriminate sand mining. The lowering of water tables and deterioration of water quality are the immediate impacts. River beds in some stretches are lower than the sea level accelerating saline ingress. Drinking water scarcity is on the rise in river bank panchayats in spite of being close to the river. Plan funds are spent for providing drinking water even to panchayats on river banks. Sand mining has also impacted breeding and feeding grounds of fish and other aquatic species

Measures for Mitigation/Improvement :-

Time for river basin-level planning and decentralised management of water resources in the Western :-

"Agricultural development and declare them as ‘hotspots for community conservation"

As cited above, the impacts of incorrect land use and interventions are already evident. Reduced summer flows, flow fluctuations, lowering of water tables and degrading water quality are all direct impacts of the presently followed project-oriented, demand–supply based and ad hoc approach to water resource planning and management. The time is ripe for a paradigm shift in approach to river basin-level management of water resources where water is considered an integral part of the ecosystem. Some important measures that can be adopted in this regard are briefly detailed.

1. Local self- government level decentralized water management plans to be developed at least for the next 20 years: Water resource management plans with suitable watershed measures, afforestation, eco-restoration of catchments, rainwater recharging and harvesting, storm water drainage, water auditing, recycling and reuse etc. should be built into the plans. These water management plans should integrate into basin level management plans. The objective is to reduce the dependence on rivers and external sources and to improve recharge.

2. Reschedule reservoir operations in dammed rivers and regulate flows in rivers to improve downstream flows and also to act as a conflict resolution strategy. These should be implemented with an effective public monitoring system in place.

3. Revive traditional water harvesting systems like recharge wells, surangams, etc.

4. Protect high altitude valley swamps that are the origins of rivers from further reclamation and real estate or agriculture
5. Participatory sand auditing and strict regulations to be put in place.

6. Declare ‚sand holidays‛ based on assessments and sand audits for mined river stretches. Items 5 and 6 would work to improve the water retention capacity in the river.

7. Rehabilitation of mined areas to be taken up by the companies / agencies with special focus on reviving the water resources like rivers, wells, tanks, etc. that have been destroyed by the mines.

8. Planters, local self-governments and Forest Departments in high altitude areas should come together for eco-restoration of the forest fragments between the tea and coffee estates and revive hill streams.

9. Take up catchment area treatment plans of hydro and major irrigation projects to improve their life span.

10. Riparian management can be taken up with community participation and involvement to improve river flows and water quality.

11. Water conservation measures should be adopted through suitable technology upgradation and public awareness programs.

12. Reconnect children and youth to rivers and water resources through basin level education programs.

To be continued ...



JAIHIND
VANDE MATARAM