Agro-ecology and Environment Centre, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture University, Akola
Online published on 15 September, 2014.
Rain Water Harvesting is necessary to ensure that the entire year's monsoon water does not run away. This can be done through schematic interventions for watershed development, creating rainwater harvesting structures through small need-based farm ponds or collective initiatives like Cement Nala Bund (CNB) on the rivulets etc. Excess runoff harvested in the farm pond and check dams recharges existing wells. Further, with conserved water applied through micro-irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, it will be possible to double the area of protective irrigation. Experiences elsewhere suggest that scientific approach for insitu conservation and harvesting of rainwater provide substantial benefits by not only facilitating life saving irrigation at critical periods and creating opportunities for second sowing but also by ensuring effective management of assets created.
In view of above by considering the Geological formations and non-availability of the adequate perennial water source “Rehabilitation of Drainage Network and Harvesting of Runoff” on the line of Shirpur Pattern in concurrence to the geological profiles, topography and soils. The result indicates that the average maximum water fluctuation was observed 5.16 m before and 7.01 m after rehabilitation in the month of October. The minimum hydraulic drops has observed 14.23 m before and 13.57 m after rehabilitation of the drainage network in the month of August. The increase in cumulative ground water storage was observed from the month of June (1.81 ha-m) to the Oct. (18.68 ha-m) before and 12.03 ha-m in the month of June to 91.69 ha-m in the month of Oct. after rehabilitation of the drainage network. Onward the month of Oct. the cumulative storage was observed decreased and minimum 4.74 ha-m before and 66.22 ha-m after rehabilitation of the drainage network in the month of April.
