IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION INDIA@COP22 IMPLEMENTATION OF MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION MEASURES FOR COMABTING CLIMATE CHANGE IN ECO FRAGILE U.T. OF PUDUCHERRY Department of Science Technology and Environment Sustainable Lifestyle = Positive Climate Action www.indiaatcop22.org

Immediate Challenge INDIA@COP22 Puducherry is a cyclone-prone eco-fragile belt on the east coast of India, located at an elevation of 15 metres above sea-level. Puducherry is intersected by the deltaic channels of the Gingee and Ponnaiyar rivers and other streams, interspersed with lagoons, lakes and tanks and a number of tributaries. Water scarcity is the biggest challenge facing the union territory, aggravated by lack of appropriate water storage mechanisms. Intrusion of seawater due to coastal erosion poses a threat to the area’s aquifers. Annual per capita availability of water (200 MCM per year) is less than estimated requirement and could be exhausted over the next five years. www.indiaatcop22.org

Activating Rainwater Harvesting Systems INDIA@COP22 Activating Rainwater Harvesting Systems Efforts have been made to store surplus rainwater in canals, ravines and rivers by way of constructing small bed dams or regulators. These rainwater harvesting systems have been designed based on hydrogeology, soil condition, rainfall and run off. All public buildings in the union territory have been equipped with rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. Other solutions that have been implemented include reuse of waste water and making necessary amendments in the Puducherry building bye-laws and zoning regulations. www.indiaatcop22.org

Rehabilitating Water Tanks INDIA@COP22 Rehabilitating Water Tanks Around 84 tanks used for irrigation have been rebuilt to increase their water holding capacity from 45 to 75 MCM. Operation and maintenance of the tanks and water courses is overseen by an elected body of local farmers. To control and regulate the exploitation of groundwater in the union territory, the Pondicherry Ground Water (Control and Regulation) Act (2004) has been brought into action. www.indiaatcop22.org

Constructing Check Dams INDIA@COP22 Constructing Check Dams A total of 25 check dams have been constructed across the rivers of Puducherry. A check dam has been constructed at the infall point of the Bay of Bengal to arrest the extension of backwater; the water stored upstream for groundwater recharge and water quality improvement www.indiaatcop22.org

INDIA@COP22 Way Ahead Repair and restoration of 52 ponds and tanks and village ponds is planned by the government under National Adaptation Fund. Technical assistance in terms of capacity building, monitoring and data collection on key hydrogeology projects has been extended by World Bank. A Climate Change Cell will be put in place to effectively plan, monitor and implement select climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. An Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan proposal has been submitted to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. www.indiaatcop22.org