Dehradun, April 18
As Uttarakhand gets ready to brave another blistering summer, the onerous job of replenishing its fast-drying natural water resources seems to be a far cry.

With 500 of the state’s key water resources — ‘dharas’, ‘naulas’ and ponds losing their water volume speedily, it could be difficult days ahead for the state. The Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan had some time back come up with a list of water resources across the state that have either dried up or are on a verge of extinction or have lost a substantial volume of water within the past three years.

The survey identified a total of 500 water resources out of which 93 are almost on verge of extinction with 90 per cent of its water volume already lost while 268 among them were resources that have lost 75 to 90 per cent of its water. As many as 139 were among those which have lost 50 to 75 per cent volume in past three years.

These water resources are spread all across Uttarakhand. The district of Pauri has 185 of such affected resources, Tehri 89 resources, Champawat 54 resources, Almora 46, Pithoragarh 31, Nainital 25, Chamoli 24, Rudraprayag 15, Uttarkashi 13, Dehradun 12 and Bageshwar has such six affected water resources.

Pauri, which leads the list, has 185 such affected water resources which includes 39 resources that have lost 90 per cent of its water, while 120 among them have lost somewhere between 76 to 90 per cent. Over 26 resources have lost 50 to 75 per cent of their volume.

Similarly in Tehri, while 20 water resources fall in above 90 per cent water loss category, 47 resources are between 76 to 90 per cent whereas 22 of such resources have lost 76 to 90 per cent of volume of its water.

In Champawat, 12 of such water resources fall in above 90 per cent category while 35 resources are in the 76 to 90 per cent category and seven in the 50 to 75 per cent category.

In Almora, 10 water resources lie in above 90 per cent category while 25 are in the 76 to 90 per cent class and 11 are in 50 to 75 per cent category. Pithoragarh has six resouces in above 90 per cent, Rudraprayag three resources and a single water resource in Uttarkashi has lost 90 per cent of the volume of its water.

Even in the capital Dehradun, as many as 12 water resources in the periphery have been affected severely. While two are almost on the verge of extinction losing 90 per cent of its water while four have lost 75 to 90 per cent while six others have lost 50 to 75 per cent water.

Potable water secretary HM Khan said with most of these affected water resources falling in forest areas, the Jal Sansthan has to take prior permission from the forest department before undertaking any replenishing exercise in these water resources.

He, however, added that the Jal Sansthan has approached the forest department to sort out the matter. Uttarakhand Chief Minister had convened a joint meeting of senior forest and Jal Sansthan officials to replenish these water sources.

The Chief Minister had entrusted the task at a priority to the state forest department. But with little funds at its disposal to carry out the programme, Uttarakhand Forest Department have moved ahead at a snail’s pace despite its willingness.

Expressing concern over the drying up of natural water resources particularly in Uttarakhand hills, ecologist Prof NP Todaria said with the rising population pressure coupled with rampant destruction in hills, the water resources have become the first casualty. The pressure of fuel and fodder was also taking its toll on forests and water resources.

There have been isolated efforts to recharge these resources. Jal Sansthan’s extensive exercise in the state to zero down on areas where there is a possibility of recharging old water bodies is already under way in the hilly areas facing water scarcity.

“Basically, what we are doing is recharging of old sources and using the combination of handpump and well. There are two kinds of aquifers, heavy and low-lying aquifers, that need to be recharged.

“First, 50 springs will be charged for the purpose. In the beginning, a 25 feet-35 feet deep well is dug. Then the water that gets collected is pumped,” said to PC Kimothi, secretary appraisal, Jal Sansthan.

Meanwhile, the forest department alleges that it has minimum of resources to carry out the replenishing exercise. The department will have to divert funds from other schemes.

Apart from budgetary constraints, the forest officials are also finding it difficult to spot the aquifers of these sources.

Forest authorities are also given special emphasis to planting of broad leaf trees as they play a crucial role in sustaining the natural water resources. They also argue that it is not just forestry but also hydrology that comes into play in conserving these water sources.

Dehradun, April 18
While mountain people continue with their struggle for drinking water, nuclear technology can be put to use in recharging of underground water aquifers. Country's premier institute Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has decided to train youth from the hills in the isotope technology and help set up a laboratory at Dehradun to train people in using the technology for the benefit of their communities.

A group of nine youths hailing from J&K, HP and Uttarakhand visited BARC and have already been trained for the purpose. It was also for the first time that BARC scientists using isotope hydrology technology were able to recharge nearly 16 water sources, which had virtually gone dry, leading to severe water crisis in Gauchar area of Rudraprayag district.

In assistance with Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a local voluntary organisation, scientists of BARC started their work of collecting water samples from various catchments areas of the dried up springs during monsoon period when there was slight water discharge from these springs.

Dr Gursharan, head of the Isotope Application Division of BARC, said by using the environmental isotope techniques the recharge areas of these water areas were traced. Using isotope hydro geo-chemical techniques, the scientists worked tirelessly to track the origin of the dried springs.

Once the origin and route were traced, scientists built bunds so that water would start percolating within the earth. After firmly establishing the catchments area of each spring, 33 water bunds and tanks to hold rainwater were built in the past three years. Once this happened, the spring got recharged at the village downstream. After monitoring the discharge of the water in these sources, it was found that water discharge has increased considerably and two new water springs also came up," said Dr Gurucharan.

And now, the water discharge in the dried spring has risen to 16 litres per minute from a scanty 2 litre per minute with the new techniques. "This is a significant development which would go a long way in not only preserving and recharging water but in helping hill villagers in agriculture and drinking water facilities," said Dr Anil P Joshi. 

Pitthoragarh, April 18
Many hamlets and villages in the hills are without residents. This is the result of migration from the Himalayas to the plains by locals in search for better employment and has been going on for 60 years.

There has been a decrease in the population in the hills over the past six decades. According to historians, the migration from the hills first started during the Mughal empire and continued during the British rule when many young men opted to serve in the British army with the formation of Garhwal and Kumaon battalions.

But after Independence, as the facilities at nearby towns and cities in the plains increased, the rate of migration also shot up.

According to the data given by Statistical Department of Uttarkhand Government under the Right to Information Act, a total of 31,71,174 people from Uttarkhand have migrated to nearby cities after Independence. Out of these migrants, 10,10,183 are males while 20,80,991 are females.

“These people have left their ancestral home in the hills due to various reasons. Some have left it for want of jobs while others have gone to cities either for business or education,” said Susheel Kumar, joint director, Uttarakhand Statistical Directorate.

According to the information provided to Lal Singh of Berinag, out of these 31,71,174 persons who left the hills in past 60 years, 42,14,23 persons of 38,437 families have left home to get employment, 50,682 persons from 14,012 families left for education and 13,383 persons left to set up business.

As many as 13,81,711 females and 7,987 males moved from the hills after their marriage and out of these 8,58,508 have moved lock, stock and barrel.

Most of these migrants have settled in big cities or in nearby towns where they found employment.

Some who wanted to give their children good education went to Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Haldwani, Bareilly, Pauri, Almora, Pitthoragarh, Mussoorie or Nainital.

Others who wanted to continue with agriculture as their profession settled at rural Dehradun, Kotdwar, Kumaon Terai and some parts of Pilibhit or Saharanpur.

During the past decade, 58 villages out of 16,826 villages in Uttarakhand have completely became devoid of human beings.

Pauri Garhwal district is the worst hit in this migration spree where 20 villages have been deserted in past 10 years followed by Tehri Garhwal, Almora, Pitthoragarh and Chamoli where the number of these villages from 1991 to 2001 was nine, nine, seven and seven respectively.

The districts of Bageswar, Champawat and Uttarkashi were less affected as only one or two villages in these districts are sans residents.

This mass exodus from interior villages of this newly formed state has not only left these villages human-less but made the hilly regions politically weak.

This election, the number of voters in the nine hill districts is a mere 27 lakh whereas four districts in the plains have more than 30 lakh voters.

In the recent delimitation of assembly constituencies based on population ratio, six assembly seats from the hills have gone to the plains.

(The writer is a freelance journalist from Pitthoragarh)

Dehradun, April 18
Kendriya Vidhyalaya OLF celebrated its annual day yesterday. Students presented colourful cultural performances that entertained the audience.

Students performed folk dances and short plays in Hindi and Sanskrit. The meritorious students were also given prizes along with those who were well disciplined and had 100 percent class attendance.

President of the school management, HS Chaudhari, inaugurated the programme by lighting the ceremonial lamps. He spoke at length on various activities of the school. In his address, he said Kendra Vidhyalaya continues to be the first choice among the parents and students because of its good management and ample study material.

In the end the school principal, HS Chaudhari presented the annual report of the school.