Dr. A.G. Chachadi, Associate Professor, Goa University
Ancientcivilizationshave flourishedin the River valleys and also perishedthere due to over indulgence of human activity on the natural hydrological regime. Therefore it is obvious that while water provides for prosperity it can also bring calamityif not given the respect it deserves.
Fresh water is one of the most precious natural resources that nature has given us.However, on a global scale fresh water is only about 2.5 percentof the total water on Earth. Of this 2.5 percent fresh water major portionis locked in the polar ice caps beyond human reach and this leaves us with a meager 1 percentof the utilizable freshwater for our daily use. With the modern changed style of living and industrialization we are degrading freshwater resources rapidly than expected.
With the rapid changes in the global climatic patternsand increased freshwater utilization, time is not far away when the fresh water is going to be a very scarce resource and world would be in the crossroads. Although Goa receives 3 to 4 metersof rainfall in a year most of it flows to the sea almost immediately leaving a very little to soak the ground. A year or two of failure of rainin Goa may bring disaster, as Goa is not prepared for such emergencies. Maintenance of sufficient forest coveris inevitablefor getting freshwater flows into the streams and Rivers during the summer months. Forests soak more rainwater and release it to the rivers slowly during the summer months when it is most wanted.
In Goa about 10 to 15% of the rainfall is retained on ground and of this about 5% percolates into the subsurface to recharge the aquifers. Due to hostile topographic conditions very little of this water would remain on the ground and flows out to sea under natural conditions. Heavy dependence on groundwater for industrial and domestic sectors has already inflicted some damage in terms of groundwater quality and quantity at selected areas. There is going to be greater damages to the groundwater storages due to haphazard and unscientific disposal of solid wastes in Goa. It seems there is no concern and will to address this issue; it is indeed an important aspect, which needs immediate attention of the authorities. Public in Goa is also equally responsible and accountable for not allowing the Government to do their job in respect of solid waste disposal. It seems there is too much of negative awareness imparted to the public. I personally feel that it would be in the interest of all the Goans and their future that proper and scientific disposal of solid wastes at designated sanitary landfill sites should be entertained.
Groundwater in the coastal areas has been under stress in respect of its quality and also quantity. Therefore stress should be laid on improved water management strategies and awareness programmes including rainwater conservation and urban sewage disposal. Industries should voluntarily come forward to practice rainwater harvesting for their own requirements and also take active participation as part of their corporate social responsibility to develop such rainwater harvesting facilities around the villages.
The Government initiatives regarding surface water conservation and utilization needs to be appreciated. The foresight of the Government and the excellent work executed by the water resources department are indeed commendable. There are about 158 bandaras that have been constructed till 2009 across various rivers with a holding capacity of about 47 million cubic meters of water behind these unique structures. These bandaras are so wonderful structures that they allow the water to accumulate only within the riverbanks and does not inundate the land adjacent. The water stored in the bandaras has been raising the groundwater levels in the surrounding areas as witnessed in the village wells, tiding over the drinking water requirement in the summer months. It should be every body’s duty to encourage these eco friendly structures to come up at each km stretch of the river system so that maximum fresh water can be harvested and used.
The Government should come out with the clear guidelines regarding the incentives and procedures to claim incentives for building the rainwater harvesting facilities. Public at large is not at all aware of these incentives for constructing the rainwater harvesting structures. Besides those who know about the incentives are not sure of the procedure or they are scared of the lengthy procedures that normally Govt, departments have. Therefore so far there is no public response to claim the incentives.
