Ground Water Recharge in parts of Ganga Basin as a Measure for Ganga River Rejuvenation

Source: STATUS PAPER ON RIVER GANGA, MOEF Discharge in Ganga at Kanpur is about 700 m 3 /s during post monsoon (Oct-Nov) This dwindles to less than 200 m 3 /s during lean period In some sections GW is feeding Ganga during lean season hence ground water recharge would lead to enhanced base flow into the river FLOW IN RIVER GANGA

Ganga river – showing meagre flows during lean season (during January, 2015) During lean period Ganga is fed by snow melt and ground water, hence discharge is meager Several ground water fed rivers/ streams join river Ganga and contribute to the flow

Ganga river is hydraulically connected with all its micro water sheds through ground water base flows and any depletion in ground water resource affects the flow in river. Characteristic of Streams joining Ganga has changed over time from effluent to influent and hence flow in lean season is drastically reduced and several streams have become seasonal in nature. Channels of these streams has been silted – reducing storage capacity. Thus monsoon runoff quickly flows out of the catchment. Issues and Problems

PROPOSED PILOT PROJECT

B Kalyani nadi Ishan nadi Madni nadi Non nadi D Unnao district Kanpur district Bithoor Pariyar Bilhaur B

Proposed Interventions/ measures for GW recharge in catchment areas of streams joining river Ganga a.Construction of check dams b.Development of streams channels c.Revival and repair of water bodies such as ponds and tanks d.Construction of recharge trenches in existing channels e.On farm activity- including contour bunding, land leveling, rain water harvesting structures etc

Upstream side of River near Pariyar (joining Kalyani ) Upstream side of river Kalyanai, Pariyar Upstream side of river Kalyani near Jamalpur – Channel is silted Figure : Upstream side of river Kalyani Near Jamalpur ~ 10 m ~ 20 m ~ 25 m ~ 10 m Pictorial Representation of field conditions for proposed interventions

Downstream side of Non River near Bithoor Upstream side of Non River near Bithoor Upstream side of River Non near Bithoor Downstream side of River Non near Bithoor Upstream side of River Ishan Near Bilhaur It is proposed that the rain water along seasonal rivers will be harnessed through construction of series of check dams so as to increase the resident period of the water in these channels. ~ 15 m ~ 10 m ~ 15 m ~ 20 m Pictorial Representation of field conditions for proposed interventions

Proposed Interventions in Kalyani catchment and estimation of expected ground water recharge with cost estimates (tentative), District Unnao Length of stream – 74 km Catchment area – 490 sq km Name of Stream/ drain Feasible structures/ activities quantity (in nos. or area in ha) Total volume to be harnessed (TCM) Tentative unit cost (in Rs lakh) Total tentative cost (in rs lakh) Expected Annual GW recharge (TCM) Kalyani Masonary Check dams 25 nos Drain/stream development (20m widening x1m deepening) 75 km /1000 m Recharge trenches (~5m x 5m x 2m) 200 nos Revival, repair of water bodies (~50mx50mx2m) 100 nos On farm activities (proposed in 10% of total catchment area)(in ha) 4900 ha 0.2/ha TOTAL MCM

Summary of Feasible Interventions, Bithoor and Pariyar areas Name of Stream/ drain Length of stream (km) Catchme nt area (km2) Annual monsoon rainfall (mm) Annual monsoon Runoff (30% of 2*3) (TCM) 10% of annual monsoon Runoff (TCM) Feasible structures/ activities Total volume to be harnesse d (TCM) Total tentativ e cost (in Rs lakh) Expected Annual GW recharge (TCM) Ishan CD, Stream development, Rech Trench, revival/ const of water ponds/ tanks, on farm activities Kalyani Non Madni TOTAL In MCM39.20 Total tentative cost of the proposed project = Rs crore Expected recharge to GW ~ 40 MCM The augmentation of the river flow and ultimately contribution to the flow in Ganga river resulting from ground water recharge as base flow will be assessed after river hydrograph analysis.

In case the stream is losing or influent – The proposed measures will augment the ground water resources and result in rise in ground water levels It will reduce the losses to ground water from the streams and hence increase the flow Due to GW recharge if the water level rise above the river stage, the contribution of Ground Water can enhance the lean period flow

In case the stream is gaining or effluent – The improvement in ground water regime would result in enhanced and sustained base flow into the stream for a longer period.

State Govt. Department to be involved in the Pilot Project Feasible structures/ activities in the catchments of Ishan, Kalyani, Non and Madni nadi Implementation proposed through Masonary Check damIrrigation / Minor Irrigation department, Govt. of UP Drain/stream development Irrigation / Minor Irrigation department/ Rural engineering Services, Govt. of UP Recharge trench Minor Irrigation department/ Rural engineering Services, Govt. of UP Revival, repair of water bodiesRural engineering Services, Govt. of UP On farm activities (including contour bunding, land levelling, rain water harvesting structure, earthen check dams) Soil and Water Conservation Department, Govt. of UP

16 Distribution of areas affected by High Arsenic in Ground Water Indian Scenario Contd… S r. N o. StatesNo of districts where Arsenic contaminated ground water is reported No of Arsenic affected Blocks 1 Assam Bihar Jharkhand13 4 Chhattisgarh11 5 Haryana Karnataka22 7 Manipur22 8 Punjab614 9 Uttar Pradesh West Bengal879 Total86323

S.No.State Districts along Ganga River with Arsenic (above 0.05 mg/l) in ground water 1Bihar Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bhojpur, Buxar, Darbhanga, Katihar, Khagaria, Kishanganj, Lakhisarai, Munger, Patna, Purnea, Samastipur, Saran, Vaishali 2JharkhandSahebganj 3 Uttar Pradesh Balia, Bijnor, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Muradabad, Rai Bareilly, Shajahanpur, Siddarthnagar, SantRavidas Nagar, Unnao 4West BengalBardhaman, Hooghly, Howrah, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, N-24 Parganas, S- 24 Parganas ARSENIC AFFECTED DISTRICTS ALONG GANGA RIVER IN INDIA

History of Arsenic Reporting in Ground Water

District Ballia S.N o. Block No of Villages No of Arsenic Infested Villages (> 10ppb) 1Bairia4534 2Dubhad Murli Chhapra2820 4Belhari4432 5Sohaon11421 Block identified – Bairia block Villages affected by Arsenic Population affected (2021) ~ 2,00,000 Water requirement (2021) – 145 lakh lt per day ( human and cattle) Tube wells proposed (300m depth) – 46 main wells and 6 observation wells Tentative costs --- Rs cr

District Ghazipur Block identified –Karanda block Villages affected by Arsenic Population affected (2021) ~ 55,000 Water requirement (2021) ~ 42 lakh lt per day ( human and cattle) Tube wells proposed (300m depth) – 16 main wells and 4 observation wells Tentative costs --- Rs. 4.8 cr S.No.Block No of Villages No of Arsenic Infested Villages (> 10ppb) 1Bhanwar Kol Muhammdabad Reotipur6425 4Zamania Karanda9215 6Ghazipur Sadar Saidpur25408

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