A Survey on the Water Related issues in Arid and Semi-arid Mewat District, Haryana

Mewat district lies in arid and semi-arid climatic conditions and is one of the water starved places, in Haryana state of India where groundwater have high salinity and declining water level. This also contributes to the problem of non-potable drinking water except the base of the ridges and hillocks area of the district. Keeping in view these points, a survey was conducted as a socio-analytical tool using people's perspective approach to assess the water related issues of the district during the months of March to May, 2016 in 37 villages covering all the 5 blocks, namely Firozpur Jhirka, Nuh, Nagina, Taoru, Punahana of Mewat District. It was found that Mewat has limited water resources and most of the available resources are not in useable condition due to high salinity. Like most of the northwest part of India, Mewat has 2 crops growing seasons-Rabi and Kharif but due to lack of irrigation facilities and water availability as a result of declining water level are hampering the crop productivity and yield.

The survey results were matched with the field observations recorded for the period of 2011–2015 proving the authenticity of the survey. The survey has helped in understanding the water related issues from the perspective of inhabitants of Mewat more critically and holistically. There is a need of strengthening soil, water and groundwater institutions along with capacity building, training and education for soil and water management, quality monitoring, and aquifer remediation on a continuous basis.