ENSURING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH WATER CONSERVATION AND RAIN WATER HARVESTING - WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA K.B.Biswas, Chairman Sanjay Marwaha, Regional Director Upendra Srivastava, Sc-D Central Ground Water Board, Faridabad, India Case Study Session CS1 : Rain Water Harvesting and Water Conservation at Local Level

INTRODUCTION Uttar Pradesh forms a part of vast Gangetic Alluvial Plain covering an area of about lakh Sq. km. 2 physiographic units, the Ganga Plain and the Bundelkhand and Vindhyan Plateau. Ganga Plain covers 85% of the State, is a vast expanse of alluvium having three sub divisions – – Terai in the northwest, – Central Ganga Plain in the centre and – Marginal alluvial Plain in the south. The southern part of the state is a part of Bundelkhand and Vindhyan plateau.

Cropping pattern Changes in cropping pattern over the last 10 years do not show any appreciable shift Amongst all the four regions of, maximum gross sown area is in western region i.e. about lakh ha. Cropping intensity is maximum (≈162%) in Western region followed by Eastern region (≈156%), Central region (≈153%) and least in Bundelkhand region (≈134%). Similarly net irrigated area as a percentage of net sown area varies from about 65% in Bundelkhand region to 144% in Western region of the state Changes in Land Use Pattern, Uttar Pradesh. Net Irrigated Area and Net Area Sown, Uttar Pradesh ( )

ROLE OF IRRIGATION IN AGRICULTURE Net sown area in the state constitutes % of the total area Larger the net sown area, the better the position of the state will be in terms food production depending upon the fertility of the land. Gross cropped area of 2,58,220 km 2 in Uttar Pradesh is the highest in India. State has recorded a decline in net sown area from % in to 68.63% in 2009–10 (which should have been otherwise) and area devoted to non-agricultural uses has increased slightly at the expense of the net sown area. Its mainly ground water which is supporting agriculture in around 79% of the net irrigated area. Irrigation is one of the important factors that determine the yields. Irrigated yields are 70 per cent higher than the un-irrigated yields.

IRRIGATION INTENSITY AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY In 100% tube well irrigated area of Gajraula (J.P.Nagar) and Chamraua (Rampur) irrigation intensity was as high as and % respectively. These areas have no canal irrigation facility. Thus farmers are using groundwater excessively in these areas and thereby stage of groundwater development in these blocks is high and they fall under overexploited or critical category. On the contrary, lowest irrigation intensity (101.4%) was observed in canal irrigated block of Chhata in Mathura district followed by Tundla (Firozabad) and Bichpuri (Agra). Thus, tube well irrigated blocks of Western UP are withdrawing excessive groundwater due to need for higher irrigation intensity.

Agricultural production, Uttar Pradesh Year Gross Irrigated Area (km 2 ) Area under crops (km 2 ) Agricultural Production (tons) Productivity (q/ha) There is no significant change in cropping pattern during last 3 decades Gross agricultural production has nearly got doubled from 1980 to 2010, while agriculture productivity has increased from to q/ha

GROUND WATER AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY

DYNAMIC GROUND WATER RESOURCE Region wise Ground Water Resource, Uttar Pradesh (2011) Region Annual ground water availability (Ham) Ground water draft for irrigation (Ham) Draft for industrial/ domestic water use (Ham) Gross ground water draft (Ham) Net Ground water available (Ham) Ground water development (%) Bundelkhand Central Eastern Western UP Total

DISCUSSION During past few decades there is hardly any increase in the area used for agriculture practices. Rather there is decline in land put to agricultural use since it was converted into non-agricultural uses. There is urgent need to increase the net sown area. Goa has reduced its cultivable wasteland and thus has been able to increase its net sown area as a per cent of area from per cent to per cent thereby increasing productivity. With land resources available in the state, it is possible to both intensify agricultural production through multiple cropping and by converting the available cultivable waste land to cultivable land through proper water management and relevant on farm activities involving farmer’s participation.

GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY For increasing agricultural productivity, irrigation intensity is also to be increased. Since surface sources are having limited aerial extent major stress will be on ground water. Groundwater regime in about 51 Over Exploited blocks of western Uttar Pradesh is already under severe stress where the exploitation of groundwater through shallow tube wells has exceeded normal natural recharge creating problems of depletion of storage, decline of water level and deterioration of ground water quality. To compensate this situation and also for keeping provision for further utilization of ground water for increasing agricultural productivity, there is an urgent need to augment the ground and surface water resources through suitable management interventions as well as controlling the ground water extraction through conservation techniques.

SUGGESTED INTERVENTIONS Increasing storage capacity of water bodies and conservation of rain fall. Water Conservation and Artificial Recharge to ground water: The monsoon runoff availability for groundwater recharge purpose within the blocks has been assessed as 1500 MCM which could be safely utilized for recharge as well as storage. Water Conservation techniques such as on farm activities are to be adopted in the areas showing deeper water levels, for conserving rainwater, recharging ground water as well as reducing ground water draft. Techniques for enhancing water use efficiency through micro- irrigation system and using HDPE pipes for reducing conveyance losses up to 30 to 40% thereby reducing ground water draft. Cultivation of crop needing less water.

ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE TO GROUND WATER AND WATER CONSERVATION PLAN GANGOH BLOCK, DISTRICT SAHARANPUR Need for Artificial Recharge and Water Conservation plan: Gangoh block is completely dependent on ground water (97% irrigated by Ground water) for domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. Stage of Ground Water development 153% During monsoons rainfall, runoff quickly flows out of the area without giving sufficient time for natural recharge to ground water.

ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE TO GROUND WATER AND WATER CONSERVATION PLAN GANGOH BLOCK, DISTRICT SAHARANPUR Surface water available for harvesting Runoff Runoff is defined as the portion of the precipitation that makes its way towards rivers or oceans as surface or subsurface flow. After the occurrence of infiltration and other loses from the precipitation (rainfall), the excess rainfall flows out through the small natural channels on the land surface to the main drainage channels. Gangoh Block Area (SQ KM) Av. Monsoon Rain fall (mm) Runoff coefficient % (utilizable rainfall) Utilizable runoff Water (MCM) Runoff used for Recharge/ other interventions (MCM) abc d= (axbxc/10 5 ) 50% of d

Feasible Artificial Recharge & Water Conservation structures/ activities Quantity (nos/ area in ha) Total volume (considering 4 times filling annually (ham) Total tentative cost (in Rs lakh) Expected benefits through implementation of plan Expected Annual GW recharge (ham) Provision for supplemental irrigation, saving of GW draft (ham) Expected conservation of ground water through efficiency enhancement measures (ham) bdf(17% of d)(33% of d) Recharge structures/ activities Masonry Check dams (~ 25,000 m3 capacity) Drain/stream development (1 kmx15mx3m) 40 km Nala bunds/ Gabion (~7500 m3 capacity) Recharge trenches (for enhancing recharge from above structures by 30%) Revival, repair of water bodies Total Water Conservation Activities On farm activities (proposed in 10% of total catchment area) (in ha) Sprinkler/ drip/ HDPE pipes for 300 ha select area for 300 ha Total Grand Total Tentative Number Of Feasible Structures & Estimated Costs

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSAL 51 OE blocks of western Uttar Pradesh have been considered 1,500 MCM surplus monsoon runoff Construction of 177 check dams; 4,065 nala bunds and 1,490 recharge trenches. Measures such as revival of 7,480 ponds, de-siltation of 950km stream beds. Demand side management for Water Conservation techniques are to be adopted in the areas with deeper water levels. – 1,44,920 hectare has been identified for on-farm activities – Use of pipes (in 15,300 ha area) in place of open drains water for reducing conveyance losses up to 30% Total tentative cost of these is projected to be $ 133 million.

EXPECTED OUTCOME Expected ground water recharge of about 360 MCM Total saving of 399 MCM of ground water by provision of supplemental irrigation through conservation of runoff in surface structures Saving of 95 MCM ground water through enhanced efficiency of irrigation systems. Benefits of the interventions are expected to enhance the livelihood of 10 million inhabitants living in the area.

Thanks