The just released socio economic census reminds us that still it is miles to go on the development front. A majority of population in country still lives in villages where a vast majority is deprived of developmental benefits. At present, metropolitan agglomerations and industrial cities in India have attracted village folks in quest of employment and a better life. However, perhaps they have not been able to provide the desired better life. As many of them have crossed the carrying capacity, have huge population resource imbalance, and the cities are facing environmental problems.
It is a good idea to have several smart cities, but mostly the idea is not realised in its totality. The drinking water woes of Dwarka sub-city in Delhi is the best example. I am not sure if in the present form it qualifies to be a smart city. But the fact remains that the city has scarce groundwater resource. The over-exploited and polluted Yamuna does not have much water for drinking purpose, which can be supplied to the city. It also generates huge sewerage, which ultimately joins Yamuna. Similar is the story of several other cities.
An answer to this was sewerage treatment initiatives which again is a good vision, but many social and governmental audits have revealed that most of the sewerage treatment plants function below their capacity or are non-functional. It is nice that we have realised that development and environmental protection goes together. But the real problem is how to link them. Big bang approach to ecological restoration is often fascinating. But we should not forget that ecology is a system where there are many variables.
In this context it is heartening to learn about initiatives like clean Ganga. It is good that the holy and national river of India is being cleaned. We must also realise that the state of a major river in its basin is manifestation of ecology of the basin. The clean Ganga initiative should also integrate land and water resource management. The tributaries to the river also needs to be cleaned. Also, we must define river space and permit ecologically sensible land use in the river space. The numerous small and big industrial towns and urban agglomerations in the Ganga river basin require to be upgraded as big or small 'smart cities'.
In most cases the environmental flow in a river is affected by diversion of river water for irrigation purpose. But still in the agriculturally developed regions, it is seen that in canal command areas groundwater abstraction have increased drastically and at the same time other areas have problem of soil salinity. This certainly reflects lack of optimal and prudent utilisation of the canal network and may be mismanagement in canal allowance.
Besides land and water management at watershed scale (incorporating water conservation) should be able to sustain local agriculture. The non-remunerative agricultural activity is also forcing many farmers to move toward exotic remunerative high yielding water intensive crops. Basmati rice cultivation in Punjab and Haryana is the best example. In my opinion value addition to indigenous crops in various part of country would help.
The genetic engineers should develop less water intensive high yielding crops: “more crop per drop”. An efficient irrigation practice based on micro-climatic condition would help in a long way. Many schemes aimed at rural poor have been aimed at providing fish rather than the fishing rod.
We must also not forget that everybody can not leave their village. I think urbanisation and industrialisation of rural India is required. Not by putting big industries, but by promoting agro-based industries and giving then incentives for adhering to strict environmental norms. I am reminded of North Bihar where sugarcane industries in water rich areas did wonders by:
- Giving option to farmers for a cash crop
- Providing jobs to family members of farmers
- Small entrepreneurs like tractor and truck owners got assured business
- Hardware shops for maintenance of vehicles used in transportation of goods had ample business
- Farm laborers used to earn sufficient.
But there is a serious ecological issues with such sugarcane industries, the molasses and other wastes are often discharged directly in rivers. I think this can be solved by stricter enforcement and incentives for environment protection. But given the fact that industries often tend to maximise their profit; a social of audit of such waste discharge should also be done.
The forests of the country are huge resource and there are non tangible ecological benefits associated with them. They are often good groundwater recharge areas, their ability to purify air and influence ambient climate is well established. The development at the cost of deforestation may not be sustainable. In the end it is nice to see that ecological issues have become glamorous. An integrated bottoms up approach would further sustain this.
— The writer is assistant professor, Department of Geology, University of Delhi
