Praharsh M. Patel
Policy Research Consultant,
IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program
p.patel@cgiar.org, praharshmpatel@gmail.com
(a) Purpose or objectives and status of study or research hypothesis
Kutch Region in the State of Gujarat, India is one of the World’s fastest depleting aquifer system. The over-extraction of groundwater for the agriculture purpose has depleted the groundwater at historical low and continues to deplete the level at approximately 10-15 ft/year between 2010-2019. Most of the villages here have multiple deep borewells gone dry of average depth of 100 m due to water table decline and limited recharge and high extraction. The undulating terrain and arid climate of the region makes the Surface storage of the rainwater difficult due to limited storage capacity and high evaporation under scorching heat. Since prolonged drought spell between 2014-2018, The region has seen a mass movement led by communities and farmers to retro fit their defunct borewells to act as recharge injection apparatus. This mechanism is a unique way to utilize the dead-investment and tweak it to make a greater impact for revival of the groundwater.
(b) Key issue(s) or problem(s) addressed
The region has limited groundwater recharge as rainfall happens in shorter span and undulating terrain cause flashfloods that limits the natural groundwater recharge even during the normal rainfall years. The issue of groundwater depletion can be tapped through diverting the rainwater being drawn to sea through the flashfloods to groundwater through the dry defunct borewells. The dry borewells can dissipate the water to ground in the alluvial aquifers of the region.
(c) Methodology or approach used
To analyze the impact and acceptance of the defunct borewells for recharge was gauged through survey of the villages and farmers and estimation of the average cost associated with the tweaking the infrastructure to work as the recharge apparatus rather than abstraction mechanism has been studies on ground. Estimated recharge potential is calculated using catchment region and rainfall to understand the cost effectiveness of the mechanism.
(d) Results and conclusions derived from the project
The ongoing data collection show that the region experiences improved groundwater condition through freshwater recharged into the deeper aquifers. This has not only increased the yield of the functional borewells in the vicinity but also has shown positive impact on the water quality.
(e) Implications of the project relevant to selected conference theme, theory and/or practice
The uniqueness of the groundwater recharge through defunct borewell is the community participation and private incentives to take up the cause. The them related to groundwater governance, management and policy get a unique way to address the challenges of the groundwater that is common resource and faces tragedy of commons.