UP PCS Mains-2024

Approach Briefly discuss the aim of Jal Shakti Abhiyan. Mention the special intervention under the Abhiyan. Highlight the problem of water crisis in Uttar Pradesh and show how the Abhiyan can mitigate that crisis. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

India, with 18% of the world’s population but only 4% of its water resources, faces acute water stress. In this context, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) was launched by the Government of India in 2019 to accelerate water conservation efforts across water-stressed regions. The campaign is especially significant for rural Uttar Pradesh, which has been grappling with groundwater depletion, erratic rainfall, and inefficient irrigation practices.

Body

Special Intervention Areas under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan :

• Setting Up of Jal Shakti Kendra: It is planned to set up Jal Shakti Kendras (JSKs) at each District Headquarters. JSK will be “Knowledge Centers” for disseminating information related to water conservation techniques and will provide technical guidance to people.
• Use of Technology: The technology will be used for enumeration, making the inventory and Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping of all water bodies.
• Preparations of Scientific Water Conservation Plan: Each district in the country has been requested to prepare scientific water conservation plans with the help of remote sensing images from the National Remote Sensing Agency and GIS mapping technology for the identification of existing water-bodies/Water Harvesting Structures (WHS) and for planning future WHS.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra Melas: It promotes efficient water use for irrigation (Per Drop More Crop), and better choice of crops for water conservation.
• Urban Waste-Water Reuse: In urban areas, plans/approvals with time-bound targets are to be developed for wastewater reuse for industrial and agriculture purposes. Municipalities to pass by-laws for the separation of grey water and black water.

Problem of Water Crisis in Uttar Pradesh

• Bundelkhand Region: It is marked by water scarcity, due to different environmental factors such as rocky surface, high temperature, fast runoff of water, lowered groundwater table, and deforestation of the upper slopes.
• Western Uttar Pradesh: The region was the epicenter of the Green Revolution which has led to the over-exploitation of groundwater.
• Eastern Uttar Pradesh: The region is affected by the contamination of groundwater and the problem of floods. Fluoride contamination in groundwater is found in Sonbhadra while high arsenic toxicity has been found in the eastern districts of Gonda and Basti.

Under Jal Shakti Abhiyan, to deal with the above challenges following measures are suggested:

• Drives to make check dams, water harvesting pits, rooftop Rain Water Harvesting System etc.
• Removal of encroachments and de-silting of tanks to increase their storage capacity.
• Removal of obstructions in the channels which bring water to them from the catchment areas etc.
• Repairs to step-wells and using defunct bore-wells and unused wells to put water back into aquifers.

Conclusion

The other effort taken by the government is Mission Amrit Sarovar which aims at developing and rejuvenating water bodies in each district of the country as a part of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. These efforts of the government should be substantiated with the active participation of the people.