Rural Water

Despite being endowed with adequate rainfall, most parts of the Himalayas are considered water-stressed for both agricultural and domestic purposes. This is mainly due to the seasonality of precipitation, which is concentrated to the monsoon months. It remains dry for rest of the year. The water crisis in the hills can be attributed to human interventions in the natural springs’ recharge zones. 

The term ‘water tower’ has been widely adopted to express the importance of mountains in providing freshwater to downstream areas. In fact, more than half of humanity relies on freshwater from mountain regions (UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation).  

Two days into power, AAP announced free water

Numerous small villages dot the Himalayas. These villages obtain water from springs that are in their turn supplied by small aquifers. Due to the complex folded nature of the rocks that make up the mountains, the area from which these aquifers receive their water may be at some distance away from the actual spring. This makes it hard on people working to recharge springs because often, the source and the spring aren't in close proximity. In most cases like these, such water conflicts remain unresolved.

But not at Bhadyun and Bheduli.

A tale of two villages

Nagaland depends on surface sources such as streams, rivulets, springs and ponds, which are monsoon fed for its drinking water. However, the quantity of water in these sources has depleted across the state. This could be due to deforestation, jhum cultivation and other human intervention. Destruction of forest cover has also affected the water retention capacity of areas resulting in increased surface runoff. This triggers landslides, which damage property, pipelines and roads. 

Noted activist Shashi Shekhar has been on an indefinite fast since December 10th, protesting the construction of embankments on the Jheem Jamura river. These rivers are a part of the Adhwara Samuh rivers in North Bihar, which originate from the foothills of Nepal. Here, about 28-30 rivers criss cross, merge and flow across the landscape for nearly 8 months in a year, and dry up during the summer.

Kerala scores worst in access to potable water: NSSO