Rain water harvesting, river check dams are way forward: G Madhavan Nair

HYDERABAD: Former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation G Madhavan Nair today said as India was facing drought conditions and water scarcity in several regions, conserving each rain drop and putting in place a resource management system were key to addressing the issues.
Nair also called for constructing check-dams on riverbeds to improve groundwater level and also prevent rainwater from flowing into the sea.

Suggesting a survey of drought-affected areas based on aerial (space-based) pictures as well as ground situation and then creating a master plan, he said the Department of Space and Water Resources Ministry should work together and generate a plan of action on a war-footing.

Speaking to PTI, Nair stressed that water management system has to be put in place and rainwater harvesting should be given prime importance.

"Whatever (rain) drop which falls on the soil or on the house roof toops has to be collected and stored in reservoirs and then maintain the reservoirs properly and avoid leakage of that", he said.

Underlining the need for creating a master plan for water resources management in the country, he said India's research and development relating to science and technology are unfortunately all scattered and they are not focussed.

"Today, drinking water, improving food production and healthcare...they are the most important topic of the country. Our research laboratories and facilities should concentrate on research related to that and they should take these technologies to villages, find solutions affordable for villagers...using science and technology capability for solving the problems of the villagers," Nair said.

He recalled that the Department of Space had in 2005 taken an initiative to manage drought situation in various states and identify potential of water sources and their development, among others.

"That programme has been fairly well implemented in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. States like Maharashtra have not seriously pursued that," Nair said.

He claimed that all societal application programmes such as water resources management were wound up by Department of Space in 2009 though there was government funding.

"There was a policy paralysis and failure of administration in the Department of Space during the period," Nair alleged.

He said after taking over Prime Minister Narendra Modi had convened a meeting of officials and instructed them to make use of space technologies.

"Some action has been initiated by the Department of Space (after Modi took over) and if it is pursued vigorously, we can definitely find solutions but it cannot happen overnight," he said.