ENVIS Technical Report: 133 November 2017
http://www.iisc.ernet.in/
INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT FOR WATER & FOOD SECURITY IN KOLAR AND CHIKBALLAPUR DISTRICTS, KARNATAKA
http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/
    T.V. Ramachandra*         Vinay S         Bhargavi R         Bharath H. Aithal    
Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560012, India.
*Corresponding author: tvr@iisc.ac.in
CONCLUSION

Sufficient water is available in the region, provided the district administrators sensibly practice integrated watershed management. Suggestions in this regard are:

  • Decentralized rain water harvesting through lakes;
  • Constructed wetlands integration with lakes to prevent water contamination (with agriculture run off, sewage inflow, etc.);
  • Catchment/watershed management for effective soil and water conservation;
  • Rejuvenation of existing lakes
  • De-silting to enhance the storage capacity as well as groundwater recharge;
  • Reestablish inter-connectivity among lakes;
  • Removal of all encroachments (lake bed, natural drains);
  • Maintaining at least 33% green cover (of native species) in the catchment;       
  • catchment treatment (through planting native saplings)
  • Incentive to create farm ponds in all agricultural field (this helps in  ground water recharge, and also helps in fish rearing and hence local livelihood)
  • Phasing out monoculture  plantations of exotic species (such as eucalyptus, etc. which sucks groundwater) with native species on priority.
  • Appropriate cropping pattern and restriction on crops that are water intensive.
  • Allowing only dry land crops;
  • Incentives to farmers growing crops suitable for semi arid region;
  • Greening/afforestation in the catchments of water bodies (lakes, rivers, etc.) with native species, ensure that at least 33% is maintained with native trees and grasses to enhance water retaining capacity of Catchment/watershed;
  • Inclusions of concepts - watershed, environment, afforestation, reforestation in the education curriculum (Schools and Colleges);
  • Management of water bodies involving all stakeholders, and constitution of joint environment management committee at each village level to address the issue of forest as well as water bodies;
  • Restriction on sand mining beyond sustainable yield;
  • Kolar has distinction of having highest barren area (un-productive land) and is heralding towards desertification (next to Rajasthan). This requires immediate afforestation in the catchment through CAMPA. Auditing of these activities through independent and unbiased academic institutions.