Participatory well recharge programme for sustainable water management – The Kerala experience

Kerala is bountifully blessed by Nature with an annual rainfall of 3100 mm, which is around 3 times the Indian national average, numerous water bodies and 44 rivers. This has given a false impression that Kerala is a water surplus state. In spite of 44 rivers and world's largest water well density (there were nearly 70 lakh wells in Kerala in 2008, their number growing at 3.31% annually-CWRDM), per capita surface water and groundwater availability of the state is lower than that of arid states of India. Moreover, Kerala has one of the lowest per capita rainwater availability in the Indian sub continent and it is still decreasing over the time. The problem of water scarcity arises due to the state's peculiar topography, characterised by the narrow stretch of undulating terrain that extends from the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea, the high run off leads to most of the water flowing to the sea at a high pace. Therefore, the actual water available for consumption is extremely low compared to the rainfall that it gets. This coupled with high density of population and an urban-rural continuum that almost stretches through the entire state makes Kerala a water-deficit state. The easiest and most cost effective way for a sustainable water management for Kerala is to recharge the wells through rain water harvesting. The present study examines the well recharging programmes in Kerala taking Mazhapolima as a case. Mazhappolima is a participatory well recharge programme initiated by the district administration of Thrissur district in Kerala in collaboration with panchayati raj institutions, envisages recharging of about 4.5 lakh open wells in the district to ensure sustainable access to drinking water. The project launched in 2008 has proved to be successful for recharging wells and managing rain water.