Status and Problem of water in Gujarat
Status and Problem of water in Gujarat
Gujarat is a water stressed state, with its per capita availability of fresh water at 1137 m3(less than 1700 m3 per year). Several region of the state even suffer from chronic water shortages. This shortage is reflected in the shortage of potable water in many parts of the state, particularly in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kachachh. Though efforts have been made to ensure adequate water supply to all, somehow these efforts have not been very successful. There is therefore a need to take a fresh look at the problem and at the efforts in order to understand the problem better and to reorient the efforts.
Status and problem of water in Rural Areas
There was no serious problem of drinking water reported in the state in the pre-independence period, except for a few references to shortages of drinking water in some situations. This was largely due to the fact that ground water situation was fairly good in most parts of the state and it was available even during droughts. In fact, construction of water extraction structures was undertaken as a part of famine relief works to supply water to people.
Acute shortage of water was first noted during the droughts of 1960-61. The first survey on drinking water was conducted in 1963-64 to study the problem. The survey reported that about 1043 villages had no dependable facility for drinking water and 3219 villages had inadequate supply of drinking water, that is, about 16-17 per cent villages suffered from drinking water shortages.
The problem of drinking water acquired significant dimensions gradually with the increased use of ground water in irrigation on the one hand and the declining traditional water systems of managing local water supply on the other hand. The state can be divided into the following regions: North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, South Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kachchh. Though the rainfall in these regions varies from 300-350 mm in Kachchh to 700-800 mm in North and
Gujarat is a water stressed state, with its per capita availability of fresh water at 1137 m3(less than 1700 m3 per year). Several region of the state even suffer from chronic water shortages. This shortage is reflected in the shortage of potable water in many parts of the state, particularly in North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kachachh. Though efforts have been made to ensure adequate water supply to all, somehow these efforts have not been very successful. There is therefore a need to take a fresh look at the problem and at the efforts in order to understand the problem better and to reorient the efforts.
Status and problem of water in Rural Areas
There was no serious problem of drinking water reported in the state in the pre-independence period, except for a few references to shortages of drinking water in some situations. This was largely due to the fact that ground water situation was fairly good in most parts of the state and it was available even during droughts. In fact, construction of water extraction structures was undertaken as a part of famine relief works to supply water to people.
Acute shortage of water was first noted during the droughts of 1960-61. The first survey on drinking water was conducted in 1963-64 to study the problem. The survey reported that about 1043 villages had no dependable facility for drinking water and 3219 villages had inadequate supply of drinking water, that is, about 16-17 per cent villages suffered from drinking water shortages.
The problem of drinking water acquired significant dimensions gradually with the increased use of ground water in irrigation on the one hand and the declining traditional water systems of managing local water supply on the other hand. The state can be divided into the following regions: North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, South Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kachchh. Though the rainfall in these regions varies from 300-350 mm in Kachchh to 700-800 mm in North and