Natural water bodies being filled in Amroha

This is a post to inform the water conservation organisation around the world about the filling of the natural water bodies in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India.

India is facing the problem of water. Since many years the government is propagating to use the means to conserve water. In small villages and town the people are educated dig man made water tank where rain water conservation is possible.

Water is most important ingredient for life:

• Drinking water is not available to 20% of the world's population.
• The 40% population of the world is not having sufficient water for adequate living and hygiene.
• 2.2 million (plus) of the population of the world dies every year to the reason of diseases related to contaminated drinking water.
• It is estimated that by 2050, water scarcity will affect 7 billion people out of total 9.3 billion.
• The condition in India is much alarming as we have 16% of the world's population to which only 4% of the fresh water resources are available.
• The availability of the Per capita fresh water in India is declining from 5,177 cubic meters in 1951 to 1,820 cubic meters in 2001.
• The situation is pathetic in both Rural and Urban areas e.g. in Bangalore water is rationed twice in a week, and in Bhopal it is for 30 minutes a day
• If this situation persists then the situation will be that two out of every three people on earth will have water stressed condition in the year 2025.

Condition in the rural areas:

• Women in the village have to walk to a distance of 2.5 kms to get to the water resource.
• The wells which are dug have poor quality of water which is saline dirty and has turbidity.
• The young girls are not able to attend schools as they are being used to fetch water for the whole family.

Benefits of Water Harvesting

• Conservation of rainwater recharges water table and keeps it stable to the need of the population.
• The man made water resources which are used to conserve rain water are easy to access.
• These water bodies are used for irrigation throughout the year as water is available in these tanks which improve the condition of the villagers.
• These water conservation tanks are considered to be social temples.

Technical methods to conserve water:
Rainwater Harvesting:
This is an easy way of conserving water. It can be done through collection of water at the rooftops. This is easy source of water which can be used all the year round if stored properly.

There are three technical methods of rain water harvesting such as Catchment, Conveyance and storage.


Historical Water Bodies:
Every town and village has traditional water body which is left over. This water body can be reused easily.

Ponds:

Ponds and small water bodies should not be used as dumping grounds of sewage and other wastes of the town or the village. The government should deepen these ponds with the help of dragline machines. Any waste like garbage or any other thing should not be dumped into the ponds.

Condition in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India

This is much required and the need of the hour. But in Amroha a small but historic town about 130 kms towards west from the capital region of Delhi the situation is much alarming.

There is a pond Panvadi Talab (Figure 01, Google map). One can imagine the dimensions of this natural water body which has been along three other water bodies Kushak Talab (Figure 02, Google map) and Lakha Lokhar Talab the source of water for the town. Lakha Lokhar Talab is no more as the land mafia has filled it up with the span of time for their selfish motives. (Figure attached)

Google maps image (Figure 1)

Google maps image (Figure 2)

Now only two ponds are remaining Kushak Talab and Panvadi Talab. On my recent visit to this town gave me a shock as the Panvadi Talab is being filled and new building are being constructed over the reclaimed land. This is serious matter and crime against conservation of water bodies. The Uttar Pradesh government is least bothered. The water is flowing on the road as the pond is being filled for land by builders. This is a strong lobby in Amroha as one journalist was killed in Delhi by the builder lobby of Amroha.

The Panvadi Talab (Pond) is being filled (Fig. 1)

The Panvadi Talab (Pond) is being filled and water on road. (Fig. 2)

The Panvadi Talab (Pond) is being filled (Fig. 3)

The Panvadi Talab (Pond) is being filled (Fig. 4)

The Panvadi Talab (Pond) is being filled (Fig. 5)

The Panvadi Talab (Pond) is being filled (Fig. 6)

1. What can be done in this regard?

2. Should not the people who are doing all this be punished severely?

I appeal to the water conserving organisations to take up this matter and do needful in saving the left over water bodies in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, India.