Improved Management of Water Resources: Key to Achieve the Goal of Total Sanitation Programme

1. Improved Management of Water Resources: Key to Achieve the Goal of Total Sanitation Programme By BP Kothyari, PP Dhyani and BS Bisht GBPIHED, Katarmal- Almora and LBSNAA, Mussoorie-India

2. GBPIHED Water Stress/ Crisis: An Overview The problems of water crisis are mainly in areas of availability, adequacy, potability, convenience, affordability, sustainability, equity and quality Major sectors suffering : • Drinking and domestic • Irrigation • Industrial • Hydropower • Infrastructure • Livestock • Fisheries • Tourism

3. GBPIHED Factors responsible for water stress: Water stress is mainly due to intense competition among agriculture, industry and domestic uses Major factors responsible are: • Increase in population • Changing lifestyle • Industrialization • Urbanization • Decrease in total availability • Poor O & M • Forest fire • Land use changes • Paucity of reliable data • Weak PRIs Source: Strategic plan 2010-22, DDWS-RDW, GoI ; Census -2011

4. GBPIHED Efforts to cope with the water crisis “For last few decades, an expenditure of over $2.0 billions per annum has been made by the GoI and States for providing potable water to more than 91% rural people in 1.5 mn habitations”, but; Table- 2 Population growth Due to O & M, problems 30- 40% schemes periodically slipping back from “fully covered” to “partially covered” or “not covered” status. (Fully covered: supply of 40 lpcd; partially covered: 10- 40 lpcd and not covered: below 10 lpcd- ARWSP) Source: Strategic plan 2010-22, DDWS-RDW, GoI

5. Water sources used by the people of Himalayan States-India GBPIHED Sanitation and water supply coverage in HKH region Table- 2 Population growth Source: Census of India, 2001

6. Gaula Catchment- Nainital: A Case Study GBPIHED 5 steams and about 2% springs have completely dried up during last 15- 20 years. 38.5% reduction in discharge of main river & 9.7 to 76% reduction in spring discharge between 1971- 81 Source: Valdiya, KS and SK Bartarya, 1991

7. Gaula Catchment- Nainital: A Case Study GBPIHED Probable causes of reduction in discharge: • Replacement of multi-storied forest with single story pine forests over a vast area • Replacement of mixed-oak forests by fruit orchards • Decrease in total rainfall, increase in rainfall intensity and decreased infiltration • Land use changes: increased habitation, Infrastructure and road construction, etc. • Increased water utilization in up-stream locations Table- 2 Population growth Source: Valdiya & Bartrya, 1991

8. GBPIHED Almora Drinking Water : A case study 360 springs at the beginning (1563); over 300 have either dried or highly polluted during last 150 years. Remaining springs are rapidly becoming seasonal with reduced flow. • Municipal population: +75,000 • Floating population: ± 15,000 • Surrounding villages: 20 • Normal supply capacity: 7.5 mld • Peek summer: below 6.0 mld • Leakage : 0.9 mld • Demand of City: 12 mld Still we are getting water under uncertain roster system. No consideration of quality or quantity. Available sources (as on date) • One gravity scheme • One pumping scheme • A few hand pumps • The most reliable- ± 30 springs

9. Water Management: Community managed schemes in IHR States GBPIHED Table-1: Access to the water and community management in Himalayan States Panchayati Raj provides powers to GPs, but the comm. management will depends on how GPs are empowered by means of funds, functions and functionaries for project execution, M&E and O& M process, under TSP. Table- 2 Population growth Source: RWSS Project report-2012

10. GBPIHED Water Management Private sector participation, pricing and right to water 1st view: “Access to adequate amount of clean water for personal & domestic uses is a fundamental human right”. Further, water is not a commodity that can be bought and sold for profit. Table- 2 Population growth -UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Gen. comment No. 15) 2nd view: Water tariffs are required to improve water allocation, efficiency and encourage the resources conservation 9th five year plan promotes water as economic good and suggests rural users pay 10 percent of capital costs and 100 percent of O&M costs for drinking-water systems Source: Strategic plan 2010-22, DDWS-RDW, GoI

11. TSP: A unique partnership programme GBPIHED Sanitation coverage defined as access to toilets by households • Emphasis on information, education & communication (IEC) for demand generation • Skill improvement of local masons, encourage local sanitary marts, local fabrication for stronger back-up system • School sanitation and hygiene education Table- 2 Population growth • Strong backup system has helped on adoption and up scaling process • O& M has been solved up to some extant • Water availability is still a problem Data on availability of water in toilets are not available Source: Strategic plan 2010-22, DDWS-RDW, GoI

12. GBPIHED Sanitation scenario of Almora Town • 1st phase (Eastern slope): A 22Km sewage disposal system, covering over 500 HH, was established in 2004-05. • Recycling/ treatment plant at Bukh (near Suyal river). • Remaining 3 phases: Waiting for administrative/ financial approval. • One treatment plant is proposed below Karnatak Khola (near Kosi) Table- 2 Population growth Some ground realities • Almora town lies between Kosi and Suyal rivers • Kosi catering Almora while Suyal to downstream • One main line is damagedsince Sept. 2010 • Treatment plant is almost nonfunctional. • Treated/untreated sewage is reaching to Suyal river. • Sewage of other phases will reach to Kosi Sewage treatment plant -Almora The Dying city; Cultural capital of Uttarakhand

13. Challenges of Strategic plan 2010- 2022 GBPIHED Table- 2 Population growth Source: Strategic plan 2010-22, DDWS-RDW, GoI

14. GBPIHED Need of Coordination and Integration The ambitious National programme like mid-day meal, TSC and health & hygiene have weak coordination • Mid-day meal in almost all the schools • Under TSC, gender aspect has poorly been addressed in schools • Water availability is questionable in hilly areas • Without water, hygiene is impractical Holistic approach on planning, coordination among the executing agencies and stakeholder participation would have to tell different story of success. Table- 2 Population growth “Under ARWSP, convergence of NRDWP and SSA is an example of such vision for ensuring adequate water to toilets and drinking water”

15. GBPIHED Conclusions: • Achievements on “WatSan to all” will depend on sustainability of water sources and quality control. • Withdrawal of water got priority over the conservation aspects. • Rain water harvesting could be seen as the penultimate option. Table- 2 Population growth • Percolation and infiltration measures are to be taken up on priority- “long term measures”. • Provision of “Bulk water storage” for lean period would be the “short term measures”. • CAP and eco-restoration are necessary to restore the aquifers • Strengthening of PRIs for CBNRM and participation on planning, execution, O&M would be the key for success • Necessity of integrated water resources management at all levels (National to village). • Convergence of different programme for common objective and coordination among the agencies for execution, O& M is call of the day.

16. THANKS