Let T.N Govt. make desilting a people's movement
With the uncertainty looming large in India with regard to the water availability due to fluctuating monsoon conditions in the wake of El Nino threat and global warming , there is realization all over that water resources have to be conserved and optimally utilized.
In the past, India has suffered 21.8% deficit monsoon in 2009 and 14.3% deficit monsoon in 2015 due to El Nino impact and one would not know as to when the El Nino impact would happen again. While monsoon does not fail uniformly throughout the country, it happens in some regions while in some other regions, there may be surplus monsoon during the same period as it happened in 2016.
The unpredictability of monsoon make it all the more important that water resource should be conserved and the surplus water available in the bountiful monsoon period should be kept stored to meet the need during the drought period.
With great foresight, the erstwhile rulers of India (kings in the past) constructed several ponds and reservoirs across the country to store the water. There are more than 91 major reservoirs in India including artificial lakes with large capacity. There are thousands of small village tanks and ponds all over India and almost every major temple have a pond. In addition, there are storage capacities of around 70 billion cubic metre under construction. The overall water storage capacity in the country is around 250 billion cubic metre. However, actual present storage capacity is less by around 20% due to lack of desilting operations in the reservoirs and ponds over the years.
If the desilting operations would be carried out in all reservoirs , lakes, ponds and tanks around the country , the actual effective storage capacity can go up by 50 billion cubic metre, which should be of great help in managing the water resources during the drought period and avoidance of wastage of water during the bountiful monsoon period. It is reported that in one state Tamil Nadu alone around 170 tmc of water is let into the sea on an average in a year due to lack of storage space.
Government of India and all state governments are aware about the need to improve the effective storage capacity of reservoirs and tanks by carrying out desilting operations. However, they are unable to do so due to lack of resources. Further, whenever resources are allotted for desilting operations, they are carried out in inadequate manner due to nepotism and lack of governance. For example, in Tamil Nadu, around Rs. 356 crore was spent for desilting in Veeranam lake in 2005 and another Rs. 40 crore was allotted in 2012. However, the local farmers living near Veeranam lake who are in the know of things say that desilting operations are poorly carried out and 39% of the capacity of Veeranam lake is not being utilized now.
In the desilting operations, the alluvial sand that would be removed can be very well utilized for agricultural operations due to it’s micro nutrient content. The upper layer of sand can be utilized for strengthening the bund around the lake and can also be used for construction purposes. There is a view that this upper layer may not be good enough for use for foundation work for the buildings. However, they can very well be used for other purposes in construction.
There is huge demand for the sand for use for agricultural purposes and for construction purposes. River sand are now being used for construction purposes which are causing ecological issues.
Since the government does not have the resources and the standards of the governance are often not at desirable level, the desilting operations should be made into a people’s movement.
Let people do it :
* Why not government of India and state governments allow farmers or individuals or groups to collect the silt from the tanks and lakes at their own cost for one month every year during the non monsoon period
* Let the people take away the sand from the desilted lake free of charge and use it for whatever purpose they desire or sell it to get back the investments made in collecting the sands and to get compensation for their efforts.
* This can be done as per the guidelines to be worked out by the government and for a stipulated period.
Merits of the recommendations
* Creation of large effective capacity for water storage in the states
* Likely huge enthusiasm and response from cross section of farmers, individuals and groups to collect the sand and the silt
* Will have the benefit of executing the much needed desilting operation in short time
* Save the expenses for government of India and state governments in conducting the desilting operations themselves.
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice For The Deprived
nandinivoice.com more
In the past, India has suffered 21.8% deficit monsoon in 2009 and 14.3% deficit monsoon in 2015 due to El Nino impact and one would not know as to when the El Nino impact would happen again. While monsoon does not fail uniformly throughout the country, it happens in some regions while in some other regions, there may be surplus monsoon during the same period as it happened in 2016.
The unpredictability of monsoon make it all the more important that water resource should be conserved and the surplus water available in the bountiful monsoon period should be kept stored to meet the need during the drought period.
With great foresight, the erstwhile rulers of India (kings in the past) constructed several ponds and reservoirs across the country to store the water. There are more than 91 major reservoirs in India including artificial lakes with large capacity. There are thousands of small village tanks and ponds all over India and almost every major temple have a pond. In addition, there are storage capacities of around 70 billion cubic metre under construction. The overall water storage capacity in the country is around 250 billion cubic metre. However, actual present storage capacity is less by around 20% due to lack of desilting operations in the reservoirs and ponds over the years.
If the desilting operations would be carried out in all reservoirs , lakes, ponds and tanks around the country , the actual effective storage capacity can go up by 50 billion cubic metre, which should be of great help in managing the water resources during the drought period and avoidance of wastage of water during the bountiful monsoon period. It is reported that in one state Tamil Nadu alone around 170 tmc of water is let into the sea on an average in a year due to lack of storage space.
Government of India and all state governments are aware about the need to improve the effective storage capacity of reservoirs and tanks by carrying out desilting operations. However, they are unable to do so due to lack of resources. Further, whenever resources are allotted for desilting operations, they are carried out in inadequate manner due to nepotism and lack of governance. For example, in Tamil Nadu, around Rs. 356 crore was spent for desilting in Veeranam lake in 2005 and another Rs. 40 crore was allotted in 2012. However, the local farmers living near Veeranam lake who are in the know of things say that desilting operations are poorly carried out and 39% of the capacity of Veeranam lake is not being utilized now.
In the desilting operations, the alluvial sand that would be removed can be very well utilized for agricultural operations due to it’s micro nutrient content. The upper layer of sand can be utilized for strengthening the bund around the lake and can also be used for construction purposes. There is a view that this upper layer may not be good enough for use for foundation work for the buildings. However, they can very well be used for other purposes in construction.
There is huge demand for the sand for use for agricultural purposes and for construction purposes. River sand are now being used for construction purposes which are causing ecological issues.
Since the government does not have the resources and the standards of the governance are often not at desirable level, the desilting operations should be made into a people’s movement.
Let people do it :
* Why not government of India and state governments allow farmers or individuals or groups to collect the silt from the tanks and lakes at their own cost for one month every year during the non monsoon period
* Let the people take away the sand from the desilted lake free of charge and use it for whatever purpose they desire or sell it to get back the investments made in collecting the sands and to get compensation for their efforts.
* This can be done as per the guidelines to be worked out by the government and for a stipulated period.
Merits of the recommendations
* Creation of large effective capacity for water storage in the states
* Likely huge enthusiasm and response from cross section of farmers, individuals and groups to collect the sand and the silt
* Will have the benefit of executing the much needed desilting operation in short time
* Save the expenses for government of India and state governments in conducting the desilting operations themselves.
N.S.Venkataraman
Nandini Voice For The Deprived
nandinivoice.com more
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The division of States on linguistic basis has deprived Tamilnadu of access to river waters since the major rivers like Cauvery traditionally used by our farmers are all originating in neighbouring States. Our government also has been totally remiss in the matter of water conservation, filling up ponds, tanks, agricultural wells and even marshland all over Tamilnadu so that we are now in dire straits. Even in the matter of desilting we were lax, so that the Dec.2015 flood waters were allowed to flow into the sea. I am pretty sure our State Government may not be aware of Dunkers' basins, which are used to collect storm water, clean and disinfect the same for supply to coastal cities. The basins float at river mouths or near the coast. They are in operation in The Great Lakes of the USA I understand. The creator is one Karl Dunkers from Scandinavia. The invention was first reported in The Hindu in the 'eighties when they had a special Science Page. Our CIT Colony in Mylapore, Chennai, had several agricultural wells which were closed by the plot owners to build their residences or to build an access road. A huge pond surrounded by big trees on which youngsters would perch and fish was closed with rubbish and now has some Corporation and Metrowater offices. I also understand that an Israeli expert had advised the Tamilnadu Government in early 'seventies against multiple borewells but this has not been heeded. From Pennurimai Iyakkam we had personally handed over to the Chief Secretary in the 'eighties an appeal to desilt the rivers and tanks on an on-going basis. Presumably the letter was consigned to the WPB. L.Kalavathi Retd. Bank Official Chennai, Tamilnadu, India 24/05/2017 more
May 24
Good writing.Already previous Govt has done this in the name of namakku nama thittam. But the effectiveness should be checked and it has to be widened. more
May 23
People are willing to participate provided the Govt. Machinery take initiative and concerted efforts in every development programmes. Lack of enthusiasm among people is caused by improper implementation of schemes by the Government. For example: Clean India movement. Still ULBs are not doing their duty properly. In many areas garbage collection work is not done as per schedule and supervisors are also not bothered to monitor the activities. Now water problem needs multi layered activities. 1. Existing water bodies should be desilted on a war footing, 2. Encroachments should be removed forthwith and no further encroachment should be allowed in water bodies. 3. Wherever possible steps should be taken to conserve the rain water by linking the rivers to the lakes and ponds (which was being done for many years in several areas - especially temple tanks had this facility). 4. Check dams should be constructed in all major rivers after making proper survey. 5. Possibility of digging new lakes and ponds to store rain water should be explored. We have manpower. We have modern machinery. Govt. is also implementing several employment schemes which can be channalised for this. 6. House holds should be advised to have a well in each house. This will enhance the water storage mechanism. 7. Rainwater harvesting should be made compulsory in each house and the same should also be implemented in all Govt. buildings and lands. more
May 23
Our politicians especially tamilnadu politicians allowed unauthorised dwelling areas around water body in order to make huge money.Many ponds and tanks had vanished. The state politicians are busy in looting. Your suggestion will go as a message delivered to a deaf. more
May 23
