Development of Rejuvenation Plan for Rispana River System, Uttarakhand, India

The Rispana river has been lifeline of Dehradun city from ancient time. However, with the growth of the Dehradun, it has turned into a polluted stream with ephemeral characteristics. Review of historical literature indicates that-the existence of flour mills and Rajpur diversion canal are reasonable indications to accept that Rispana River was perennial up to the Rajpur Canal Head Works (RCHW) site in the mid of 19th century and may be in the downstream too. However, at present, it is perennial up to Shikhar Fall only. The annual water budgeting of Rispana catchment indicates that there is total inflow of water from rainfall is about 120.102 MCM, out of which, about 55.607 MCM and 40.939 MCM goes out flow as evapotranspiration and runoff, respectively. Total water utilization from springs and river flow tapping is about 5.200 MCM. The annual water requirement for flow in Rispana River during lean season (Nov-May) has been estimated as 38.447 MCM. Due to the topographic limitations in upper hilly reaches and urban settlement in the lower reaches, creation of-storages for 38.447 MCM is not feasible. Therefore, land and water management interventions remain one of the-preferred alternative to enhance ground water recharge in the Rispana catchment. In the present study, the scientific land and water management plan for Rispana river rejuvenation has been prepared based on monitoring and assessment of available water resources, water utilization, hydro-geology, topography, slope, soil characteristics, stream order of drainage network and land use/land cover. The total estimated volume of annual ground water recharge through the proposed interventions may be achieved as 7.738 MCM. The assessments indicate that the rooftop rainwater harvesting and staggered trenching are the two most effective interventions to augment groundwater recharge in the Rispana catchment. The additional recharge may augment the groundwater and subsequently, may get translated into the flows of Rispana river in future during non-monsoon season.