Terai plain of Nepal has greater potential for Groundwater. This is so because this region is connected with northern region with perennial river networks and also includes rechargeable Bhabar zone of area over 4014 sq. km. This has contributed to formation of huge number of confined and unconfined aquifers suitable for ground water extraction. Aquifers are the geological formations or group of formations or a part of formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield economical quantities of water to wells and spring.
These days extraction of ground water has been very much popular and equally convenient for Agricultural purposes through smaller irrigation projects of Shallow and Deep Tube Wells. It is crucial for the livelihoods and food security of millions of the people living in these areas. Small irrigation systems are more effective than medium-sized or large systems in helping poor communities because (i) disparities between head and tail reaches are lessened in small systems and (ii) using groundwater allows poor farmers to control water and immediately ensure reliable supply (IWMI 2007).
At present, The Government of Nepal (GoN) has implemented Agricultural Perspective Plan (APP) in 2054 BS for 20 years. The main objective is to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2% annually through the development of agriculture. As the groundwater is abundantly available in the Terai, it was taken as sustainable and reliable source for year round irrigation for agriculture development.
Exploration of groundwater in Nepal dates back to mid of 1960s where American Aid (USAID) initiated “Groundwater Resource Investigation in Nepal Terai” on1969 AD. This contributed to exploration of Water resources for local users and provided the information about Hydro-geology of Nepalese Terai for the first time. Following to this, Groundwater Resource Development Board (GWRDB) under Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) was formed by existing His Majesty Government in 1975 AD. This body has eight branch offices at Morang, Siraha, Mahottari, Birjung, Butwal, Dang, Nepaljung and Dhangadi which covers entire of Terai. These branch offices are referred as Groundwater Branch offices (GBOs).
Progresses on Hydrogeology are also contributed by United Nation Development Program (UNDP) and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). UNDP has drilled several Shallow and Deep Tube Wells throughout Terai plains during 1985-90. JICA contributed in launching master plan for irrigation development in Jhapa District during 1990s.
It was continued by government side after government’s sector initiated strategy with a range of plans to comprehensively address agricultural and rural development issues, as included under its 20-year Agricultural Perspective Plan (APP) of 1995. The APP emphasizes (i) controlled year-round irrigation, (ii) facilitated fertilizer supply, (iii) the expanded provision of modern inputs and need-based research and extension, (iv) The potential production pockets linked with markets through rural agricultural roads, and (v) expanded rural electrification. The Ninth Plan, from July 1997 to July 2002, built on the APP and viewed development in terms of economic liberalization, increased investment, and poverty reduction. The Tenth Plan, from July 2002 to July 2010, identified as the main challenge the need to break out of the vicious poverty cycle. The APP and the ninth and tenth plans accorded high priority to developing groundwater irrigation, as it provides year-round irrigation on demand.
In 2000, through the ADB-supported Second Agriculture Program, the government eliminated the capital cost subsidy for STW development, noting that subsidies (i) constrained its budgetary resources, (ii) restricted the growth of private traders and contractors that provide irrigation equipment, (iii) were used to a significant extent to pay customs duties and taxes on imported engines and pump sets, and (iv) benefited better-off farmers rather than the poor. The Irrigation Regulation of 2006 includes the statement that the costs borne by WUAs shall not be more than 15% or less than 3% and a footnote that states that the cost of STW construction shall be borne by WUAs.
The ADB-supported Community Groundwater Irrigation Sector Project (CGISP) (source: ADB. 1998. Report and Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors on a Proposed Loan to the Kingdom of Nepal for the Community Ground Water Irrigation Sector Project. Manila.) From 1999 to 2007 operationalized the policy of not subsidizing capital costs by requiring farmers to cover the costs of STW installation, including drilling and buying piping materials and pump sets. The CGISP provided indirect subsidies to STW clusters in the form of social mobilization and WUA institutional strengthening, technical support for STW construction, agricultural extension services, road improvements, and microfinance services. Both the government and its development partners concluded that the CGISP approach achieved better results than subsidized programs when combined with packages of appropriate support services. Farmers were able to repay their loans within 1–2 years. The governments own APP shallow tube well development program provides a farmer-support program if farmers agree to install STWs at their own cost, up to a ceiling of NRs 830,000 per 50 ha cluster. The farmers may choose an option of electrification, pump sheds, community cold store, and/or the improvement of roads or cross-drainage infrastructure living in above mention ceiling of NRs 830000.
Since 2006, however, several projects providing minor STW development have provided some direct assistance to farmers for STW construction. Two of these projects may be classified as relief programs for which direct support can be justified. However, ADB's policy dialogue with the government and other development partners indicates that there is a general lack of ownership for the policy of no subsidies, particularly regarding assistance programs for poor farmers, and this causes inconsistency in policy application. Nonetheless, the project will continue to adhere to the no-subsidy policy for STW installation while providing full indirect support for electrification, microfinance services, social mobilization, and agricultural extension. STWs have proven to be high-return investments, and it has been demonstrated that poor farmers are able to make that investment, if they are provided with microcredit and group mobilization support, and to pay back loans.
Hence Ground water office has constructed thousands of shallow and hundreds of Deep tube wells in twenty two District of Terai prior to the APP Target to construct under APP. APP has set target to install 8,800 STWs and 50 DTWs every year to irrigate total of 24,000 Ha of agricultural land for 20 years in its groundwater Irrigation component.
Basically Terai part of Nepal consist of two types of aquifers that is Shallow aquifer which occurs in semi to unconfined condition where as other is Deep aquifer which is situated in semi to Confined condition. The study carried out so far have shown that a total of 726000ha. Of farm land In Terai is feasible for the Shallow Tube irrigation development where as 305000 ha. Of land has marginal potential. Similarly 190000ha of land have good potential for Deep Tube well irrigation development. However the rechargeable ground water resource of Nepal is as below
Dynamic Ground Water Reserve : 8800MCM
Abstraction for Irrigation/Industrial purpose :756MCM
Abstraction for drinking purpose : 297MCM
Ground water balance : 7747MCM (surplus)
The groundwater use is progressively increasing due to increase in tube well irrigation, industrial use and municipal use resulting in annual increase of extraction. With raise in population growth in Terai, water demand has increased by several folds in these recent decades. The number of construction and installation of tube well, roar pump and ponds have increased. When total extraction increases compared to recharge of the aquifer, the water level decreases, adverse salt balance will increase and other environmental issues will crop up. Hence it is very important that a balance is maintained before these effects are seen.
It is now required to make IT based database system for information storage and retrieval for water withdrawal stations in Terai. “Geographic Information System (GIS)” is computer based mapping tool which stores and manipulates data from land features. Information management will create a sound plate form to access the number, location and their present condition of Tube well in terms of their functioning, withdrawal rate and recharge rate.
No comments:
Post a Comment