Abstract
Groundwater based irrigation, which was started in India as early as “Indus Civilizations” got impetus during 3rd five-year plan. In India, at present 78 m ha of irrigation potential is created and 80 percent is utilized. One of the World’s highest user of groundwater is India with 63 percent of its dynamic groundwater resources. Similarly, Telangana State is also utilizing the dynamic groundwater resources up to 65 percent. Groundwater a reliable source of irrigation with high yields and brings equity among its users as ∼99 % of structures are owned by individuals. In the state, well irrigation increased from ∼0.46 lakh ha from 1875 to 23.35 lakh ha during 2017–18 and well density increased to ∼13 wells/km2 leading to decrease in irrigation potential under each well to < 1 ha. As a result of it many challenges like water logging & salinity in canal command areas, over-exploitation leading to de-saturation of shallow aquifers, underutilization in north eastern part, groundwater pollution (both geogenic and anthropogenic) and sustainability, etc have cropped up. The management steps taken up in water sector like water transfer through KLIP, providing protected water supply through Mission Bhagiratha, de-siltation through Mission Kakatiya, forest rejuvenation through Haritha Haram, construction of various ARS, modernization of canals, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, user centred aquifer level groundwater management, tank management, IEC activities etc brought positive changes in water availability in the state more particularly surface water. In order to sustain these efforts, formation of WUA at watershed/village level for agricultural planning, change in cropping pattern from highly intensive paddy to ID crops more particularly from non-command areas, conjunctive use of water, warabandhi (on/off) method of releasing irrigation water, developing intercepting drains, soil treatment, declaring crop holidays, separate electric grids for agriculture and domestic supply, legally separating water and land rights and strict implementation of regulatory measures. The other measures suggested are policy interventions that involve regulatory mechanisms and linking village-based institutions to government departments that manage groundwater etc.
Highlights
INTRODUCTION “Green Revolution” in early sixties led to foundation for groundwater development in India and presently it is the backbone of India’s economy as ~ 62 % of irrigation, 85 % drinking water needs from rural area and 50 % from urban area is met through groundwater (Siebert, S. et al, 2010; Gandhi & Bhamoriya, 2011; Ramachandra, G., 2017; Saha, D. et al, 2018 and CGWB, 2019)
During 1988-89, Govt. of India introduced “Million Wells Schemes” (MWS) with main aim to provide free of cost open well irrigation to poor, small and marginal farmers belonging to SC/ST and freed bonded labours where ~ 13.1 lakh wells were added with an expenditure of ~4977 crores (Mahipal, 1996; Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in) and this was followed by “Ganga Kalyan Yojana” (GKY) launched during 1996-97 with focus on small and marginal farmers, which couldn’t give much success due to operational problems and added ~7700 beneficiaries only (Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in)
Studies have revealed that yields from groundwater-based irrigation are 30-50 % higher than surface water irrigation (Dhawan, 1995) and groundwater irrigation brings equity as ~98.7 % of structures are owned by individual farmers and rest by public (Govt. of India, 2017)
Summary
INTRODUCTION “Green Revolution” in early sixties led to foundation for groundwater development in India and presently it is the backbone of India’s economy as ~ 62 % of irrigation, 85 % drinking water needs from rural area and 50 % from urban area is met through groundwater (Siebert, S. et al, 2010; Gandhi & Bhamoriya, 2011; Ramachandra, G., 2017; Saha, D. et al, 2018 and CGWB, 2019). The fall in water level trends is mainly due to applied irrigation through groundwater and rise is due to increase in rainfall along with rainy days and various artificial recharge measures taken up by the state.
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