DOWNSCALING DROUGHTDOWNSCALING DROUGHTTO NATURAL RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITYTO NATURAL RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY

: PDM (Preventive Disaster Management) Options: PDM (Preventive Disaster Management) Options

Dr. Anil K GuptaDr. Anil K GuptaAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor

(Environmental Resources and Disaster Management Group)(Environmental Resources and Disaster Management Group)

National Institute of Disaster ManagementNational Institute of Disaster Management(Govt. of India)(Govt. of India)

New DelhiNew Delhi -- 110002110002

Drought in IndiaDrought in India

•• 68% India vulnerable68% India vulnerable•• Covers penninsular and western IndiaCovers penninsular and western India ––

primarily arid, semiprimarily arid, semi--arid and subarid and sub--humidhumidregionsregions

•• states:states: Karnataka (14), Gujrat (12), Maharashtra (11),Karnataka (14), Gujrat (12), Maharashtra (11),Rajasthan (12), Tamilnadu (8), MP (10), AP (8), BiharRajasthan (12), Tamilnadu (8), MP (10), AP (8), Bihar(6), UP (6), Haryana (4), Orissa (4), WB (3), J&K (2),(6), UP (6), Haryana (4), Orissa (4), WB (3), J&K (2),Jharkhand (1), Chhattisgarh (1)Jharkhand (1), Chhattisgarh (1)

Understanding drought?Understanding drought?

Drought definitions?Drought definitions?--Evidence of drought usually seen in rainfallEvidence of drought usually seen in rainfallrecords.records.--Crop failures, joblessness and famines:Crop failures, joblessness and famines:

-- Political noises for drought declarationPolitical noises for drought declaration-- Relief worksRelief works-- Calamity fund releasesCalamity fund releases-- Schemes and short term programmesSchemes and short term programmes

Drought is a period of drierDrought is a period of drier--thanthan--normalnormalconditions that lead to water related problems.conditions that lead to water related problems.

Question: Act of God Vs. Act of ManQuestion: Act of God Vs. Act of Man-------- Human Made Act of GodHuman Made Act of God

Types of droughtTypes of drought

•• MeteorologicalMeteorological•• HydrologicalHydrological•• AgriculturalAgricultural

Question again: Natural or ?? ManQuestion again: Natural or ?? Man--mademade

-- Environmental Drought ?Environmental Drought ? Environment ..that naturallyEnvironment ..that naturallyrejuvenates, stores & providesrejuvenates, stores & provides

-- SocioSocio--economic ?economic ? that suffers scarcity: Quantity ORthat suffers scarcity: Quantity OR QualityQuality ??

View point: outside a political manualView point: outside a political manualor drought declarationor drought declaration

DROUGHT SEQUENCE

Meteorological Hydrological

Environmental

HabitationAgricultureEcosystems

Socio-economic Drought

Drought: shortDrought: short--supply of water ?supply of water ?

What actually governs supply for wholeWhat actually governs supply for wholeyear and for lean season?year and for lean season?1. Rainfall directly and only?1. Rainfall directly and only?2. Ecosystems? (bio2. Ecosystems? (bio--geo systems)geo systems)3. Human habitat? (engineering)3. Human habitat? (engineering)4. Human habitat? (habits & culture)4. Human habitat? (habits & culture)

1&2: Natural (Act of God) 3&4: Man1&2: Natural (Act of God) 3&4: Man--mademade

Groundwater depletionGroundwater depletion•• 50% total irrigation in country dependent on GW50% total irrigation in country dependent on GW•• 60% of irrigation food prod. From GW60% of irrigation food prod. From GW•• GW table decline 1GW table decline 1--22 mtrsmtrs/year in regions/year in regions NN GujratGujrat, S, S

RajRaj.,., SaurastraSaurastra, TN (, TN (MaduraiMadurai && CoimbatureCoimbature disttdistt.), Karnataka (.), Karnataka (KolarKolar),),AP (AP (RayalseemaRayalseema), parts of Punjab &), parts of Punjab & HaryanaHaryana

•• 10% blocks overexploited (CWC): beyond critical10% blocks overexploited (CWC): beyond criticallevel; risk growing at 5.5% yearlylevel; risk growing at 5.5% yearly

•• 61% hydro61% hydro--geo blocks of Punjabgeo blocks of Punjab categorisedcategorised 10%10%grey (zero)grey (zero)

•• ManMan--made activitymade activity•• Nature offers remedyNature offers remedy

SocioSocio--economic droughteconomic drought

Short Supply in Lean SeasonShort Supply in Lean Season

Less waterLess water WaterWater unfit for useunfit for use

Less rain Less storage Naturally PollutedLess rain Less storage Naturally Polluted

Climatic Surface Ground Human activityClimatic Surface Ground Human activity

HumanHuman -- EcosystemsEcosystems NaturalNatural-- EngineeredEngineered

PREVENTIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENTPREVENTIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT

A. HazardA. Hazard –– Vulnerability Disaster ReliefVulnerability Disaster Relief

B. HazardB. Hazard -- Mitigation Disaster ReliefMitigation Disaster Relief

A: Business as Usual;A: Business as Usual;B; Preferred ApproachB; Preferred Approach

S&T and Community:S&T and Community:SustainableSustainable EcoremediationEcoremediation

Answer in nature:Answer in nature:-- Natural storage sites and systemsNatural storage sites and systems-- Human habits and cultureHuman habits and culture-- GW rechargeGW recharge –– the natural waysthe natural ways-- Cropping systemsCropping systems-- Catchments & River basinsCatchments & River basins-- ProgrammesProgrammes ????-- Integration and impact assessmentsIntegration and impact assessments

The success lies in applying best available toolsThe success lies in applying best available toolswith wisdom for integrating them into systems inwith wisdom for integrating them into systems inharmony with nature and cultural settings,harmony with nature and cultural settings,

with acceptability to innovations and rejuvenatingwith acceptability to innovations and rejuvenatingpotential traditional knowledge putting into place.potential traditional knowledge putting into place.It requires overhaulingIt requires overhauling…….of the system.of the system…….before.beforethat the approachthat the approach……and first out mindset:and first out mindset:

-- In case of these so calledIn case of these so called ‘‘act of Godact of God’’, what, whatgoverns the water (in Godgoverns the water (in God’’s approach): there liess approach): there liesthe answer.the answer.

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

• Website: www.nidm.gov.in/anil.asp• Email: ecosafeindia@hotmail.com