Watershed Management a Approach of Soil Water Conservation in Dry Zones of West Bengal

Abstract

Watershed management is rudimentary concept of integration of water management and livelihood. In dry and arid zones of West Bengal (Agro climatic zone VII), the districts like Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore, Birbhum have the issues of severe water crisis, crop failure, and lack of irrigation water, soil erosion. Purulia receives an annual rainfall of 1200 cm but most but the condition of the top soil is degenerative and total top soil is eroded with water and water retention is minimal. Thus, it can be concluded that rainfall is surely not the issue for the water crisis. Now here is a ground breaking initiative of developing the watershed management programme for effective soil water conservation and also for the rejuvenation of six major rivers of South West Bengal. There are certain structures for example the 30-40 model which can slows down the speed of the run-off, prevent top soil loss and along with this certain water harvesting structures and plantation to secure food fodder and fuel crisis of marginal individuals of these regions. In this paper discussion have been made regarding the formulation of strategies of Watershed development and its field level implementation at Hura Block as this is our intensive block of the project. Vigorous technological use like estimation of run off and development of models complying with the run off standards are analyzed in the paper. Furthermore, the cropping techniques that have been performed to develop the watershed and promote soil conservation has also be critically analyzed in the research paper.