Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

A GEOGRAPHICAL IMPACT OF WATER CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT IN SHIRPUR PATTERN () Prof. Rupesh R.Deore & Dr. Ssndip. S. Bhavsar** Department of Geography G.T.P Arts, commerce & Science College, Nandubar, NMU Jalgaon, Maharashtra ABSTRACT Water is the basic unit of all material production which has to be used very judiciously to meet various competing demands. Expanding human requirement and economic activities are placing ever increasing pressures on water resources. Significantly however, the impact of climate change on water availability and management has generally never been featured in such discourse, or given the level of importance deserved. In this issue, we give focus to water and its impact in our future development, with a particular emphasis on water as a development issue in Shirpur tahsil of district. Present research paper is focus on the water conservation and management in Shirpur tahsil. The main aim of the Shirpur pattern to recharging the ground water by using different techniques like dry dug well near the river. The water conservation project Shirpur pattern in the Arunvati river basin would be helpful for sustainable management of water resources in the region. Keywords: water management, water conservation, Shirpur pattern INRTODUCTION: Water is essential component for the survival of life on the earth. It contains minerals, which is important for human beings as well as plant and aquatic life. The availability of water both in terms quality and quantity is essential for the very existence of mankind. is a developing country with a vast territory, complex topography, varied climate and a large population. The precipitation and runoff in the country is not only unevenly distributed, but also uneven with regard to time of distribution of water during the year. Frequent floods, drought and unstable agricultural production have always been a serious problem. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), there are only 40 rainy days in India, and hence a long dry period. India, being an agricultural country, its economic development is linked with agriculture. The major limiting factor for agriculture is water. A growing population and consequent need for increase in food production requiring increasing area of agricultural fields and irrigation are resulting in over use of water. Due to

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 362 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

overexploitation of water resources, it has become scarce in many parts of our country. Needless to say, water conservation is of great importance to the economic, social and cultural development in India. Hydrological drought is considered when surface water resources like lakes, rivers and water reservoirs become dry. Its severity also causes shortage of gervioirs bound water. In water scarce areas, there is an increased dependence on ground water. The water table declines quickly due to low and erratic rainfall. The only alternative is to replenish the ground water by artificial means. There are various techniques to develop and manage ground water artificially. In one of the methods, water is spread over ground to increase area and length of time for water to remain in contact with soil. So as allow maximum possible opportunity for water to enter into the ground. The way people handle and use water resources is decisive for the social and economic wellbeing as well as for the sustained quality of water resources. Use of water resources is perhaps the most basic concept of agricultural economy. It is the key to an understanding of geographic adjustment of agricultural effectively. STUDY AREA: Shirpur, tahsil place, is situated on the National Highway No.3 (i.e. Bombay –). The total geographical area of tahsil is 2364.53 sq.km. distributed in 149 villages. It is located between 210 11’ N to 210 38’ N latitudes and 740 41’ E to 750 11’ E longitudes. According to 2011 census, the population of Shirpur tahsil was 4,22,137. The climate of this area is tropical monsoon type, characterized by mild winters and hot summers. The mean annual rainfall of the tahsil is about 60 cms. The monsoon starts with first week of June and slowly withdraws in October. There are considerable dry spell, which affects the crops. The northern part of the tahsil is covered with tropical mixed deciduous forest. Poor and thin scrub vegetation predominates the hills. Due to deforestation, the area under forest is declining firstly day by day. The major part of the thasil occupying northern parts of Shirpur, southern parts of tapi river basin and entire Arunavti river basin covered by Basaltic flows commonly known as Deccan Traps intruded by dykes of Upper Cretaceous-Lower Eocene age. Tapi Alluvial deposits

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 363 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

are observed in Tapi River valley occupying parts of southern Shirpur tahsils. Alluvial deposits of Tapi River valley occurs in long narrow basin, which are probably caused by faulting.

OBJECTIVES :  To discuss the Shirpur pattern in the study region.  To study impact of Shirpur pattern in study region. METHODOOGY The required secondary data has been collected from the includes numerical surface and ground water data available at Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), Discussion Table No.1 Shirpur Tahsil: Sources of Surface water Source Catchment Sr. No. River Origin Length Height (km2) 1 Tapi Multai 752 723 65145 4 Aner Gajria (MP) 800 88 1350 7 Arunawati Jirpan (M P) 640 69 738 Source: Socio-Economic Abstract, -2015

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 364 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

In table no. 1 shows that sources of surface water in study region. The Shirpur tahsil has main river ‘Tapi’ which is second largest west flowing river of the peninsular India. The Tapi River originates at ‘Multai’ in Baitul district of Madhya Pradesh and enters into the Shirpur tahsil near Piloda village. There are six tributary river basins in the district which occupy about 83 % of total area of the tahsil. In highest catchment area cover in Tapi River with 65145 km2, followed by Aner, and Amarawati River with 1350 and 738 km2 respectively.

Table No.2 Shipur tahsil: Water Reservoir Sr. Tehsil Name of Height Storage Command River No. Project (M) Capacity Area (H) (M.Cu.M.) 1 Shirpur Aner 49 103.56 11000 Aner 2 Shirpur Karvand 39.32 21.12 9672 Arunawati Source: Socio-Economic Abstract, Dhule District -2015 In the table no.2 shows that water reservoir in Shirpur tahsil. The study region has undergone considerable changes in water resources during this period. In the Aner and Karvand medium irrigation projects have been constructed along the Tapi river basin. Shirpur pattern Shirpur Pattern is a water conservation program implemented in Dhule district since 2006. The creator is Suresh Khanapurkar, a retired geologist in the Maharashtra Government's Groundwater Survey System. In around Shirpur there is a layer of black soil followed by a layer of sand and below that a layer of yellow soil. Yellow soil does not allow water to drain down. Therefore, rain water does not seep deep. Due to the lack of dams, rain water is carried away to the Tapi River. After two months of rains, there was water scarcity again. Khanapurkar's Shirpur pattern of water conservation was a permanent solution. Construction of dykes More than 150 dams were constructed in various Nalla’s under this water conservation program implemented in Shirpur taluka. A distance of 500 meters was maintained between the 2 dams. Water from one Nala was blocked at 18 to 20 dams. The embankment was about five feet thick, about 20 to 30 feet wide and more than 40 feet deep. This dam is used by the farmers as a road from this bank of the Nala to that bank. After the rainwater gets stuck in the first dam, it goes to the second dam only when it is full. Thus it

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 365 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

takes a long time to fill all the dams and the water from the Nala does not flow into the river. They die completely in the ground and in the fields. As a result, farm water stays in the field and village water stays in the village. When the soil's appetite is satisfied, water remains. The 40 feet deep embankment stores billions of liters of water. This method made water available to the dried up wells and tube wells in the area. These dams do not have gates and drains. Water availability of the dams Most of the dams in Shirpur have more than 15 to 20 feet of water available even in summer. On this water, the farmers' soil begins. There is also water for cattle. People in rural areas wash their clothes with this water. When the rains are prolonged, watering the crops begins through tube wells. The Shirpur pattern makes water available for free to anyone. Also, the wells in the village have got abundant water. Abundant water is available in Shirpur area as there is still no rainfall address in the whole of Maharashtra, Water available of dry well The Tapi and Purna rivers are part of the alluvial region. By purifying and filtering the rain water or the water wasted after filling the dam, if the water is pumped from the dry wells in these areas, the water level in the wells can go to the ground and increase the water level. This was proved in Dhule district. According to this method implemented by Suresh Khanapurkar in Shirpur, two tanks of 10 by 10 feet size were constructed near the dry well. Sat down and the water went into another tank there it was filtered and went to the well through the pipe at the bottom of the tank. Due to this method, 60,000 liters of water flows into the well at this speed, but the well does not fill. In this method, 59 wells with no water in 18 villages were selected. Rainwater wasted was dumped in these wells. After two consecutive months of experimentation, the water level in the wells and wells at a distance of about 2 km increased from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet. Twelve months Available the Water This work is going on in one and a half hundred villages in Shirpur taluka. Due to the Shirpur pattern of water conservation, the water level in the basalt rock rose to 25 feet above the ground. The water level in the Tapi silt region rose from 110 feet to 280 feet. With no dam water and no guarantee of rain water, the farmers found in Katri got perennial water through technology based water conservation.

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 366 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

Features of Shirpur pattern: 1) Shirpur pattern is based on actual geology. 2) The technology is completely simple and Indian made without engineers and without any equipment 3) This project is very profitable for the camp The advantages of this pattern 1) This project enables Shirpur pattern farmers for sustainable irrigation as well as drought prone areas. 2) Drinking water problem is solved permanently. Some criticism of the Shipur model In the Shirpur tehsil most of basalt area, water levels rose from 500 feet to 15 feet during the summer, and in the aquifer area of Tapi from 280 feet to 80 feet; Stream widening and deepening has stored a minimum of 5 crore liters (50,000 m3) and a maximum of 15 crore liters (150,000 m3) of water. As a result, the water level in the bore - wells on both the banks of the river has gone up to 2 km. He claimed that the Shirpur model would be useful not only for Maharashtra but for the entire country. A set of recommendations 1) Expand and expand all small streams in each micro watershed; 2) Build cement structures without debris and gates on streams at intervals of 300 to 400 meters; 3) Use only large rotating system on earth for this purpose. 4) Provide four rotating machines (such as pokelands and dumpers) to each Deputy Collector for each tehsil. 5) Establishment of tehsil and district level water conservation committees which will decide on the priority of works. According to him, all these measures will completely destroy water tankers in Maharashtra and provide enough water for the second crop. A committee appointed to oversee the scheme has included some important observations and findings: 1) No proper design or cost estimate has been made before construction of cement Nala dams; or not previously recognized. The same is true for flow widening and deepening programs. Proper accounts are not maintained.

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 367 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

2) It is not technically feasible to construct surface cement drain dams where clay is deposited. In areas like Shirpur, Shahada, Taloda and Akkalkuwa, especially all parts of Tapi valley are earthen. 3) Their water hyacinths mainly recharge through the "Bajada Zone" at the foot of the Satpuda Hills. About 1 to 3 meter of soil layer is sufficient for artificial / additional recharge of reservoirs with rain water. So what is the technical reason for Khanapurkar to deepen the bed to a depth of 15 to 20 meters? Such deepening has revealed at least two to three aquatic lives. In the rainwater comes in direct contact with these aquatic animals. This leads to cementation of the aquifers. Flow stops and as a result aquatic life can become inefficient over time. 4) While deepening in the basalt area, water hyacinths have been exposed and as a result water has come to the surface and is evaporating. 5) It seems to be an exaggeration to claim that Khanapurkars brought additional 1000 hectares under irrigation due to angioplasty or to bring the ground water level from 150 meters to 30 to 40 meters. 6) Khanpurkar did not follow the required technical criteria matters any activity done against the laws of nature has a long-term negative effect. The width and depth of flow in a given area is determined by the hydro-geology of that area. Deepening the flow beds more than necessary can cause environmental problems. Also included in the main provisions are: 1) The main purpose of stream deepening should not be to create surface storage, but to replenish aquatic life; 2) The deepening of the streams should be done only on the second or third streams; 3) The length (depth of flow) should be within the limits of the surface run-off measurement; 4) Do not take it in places where there are sand deposits in the flow bed also it is not good to take in the algae area. 5) Deepening of streams with a natural depth of more than three meters should be done only under the supervision of GSDA. 6) Deepening the flow should not be done on hard rock (basalt) i.e. it should be done only on the mound. 7) Maximum depth should not exceed three meters;

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 368 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

8) The “Bajada” zone in the river area is best suited to increase flow; 9) It is mandatory to carry out this work only with the system and the rates will be fixed by the Department of Water Resources; IMPACT OF SHIRPUR PATTERN:  Benefits of artificial recharge  Improvement in filtration and reduction in run-off.  Improvement in groundwater levels and yields.  Reduces strain on town panchayats/municipal/ municipal corporation water supply.  Improvement in groundwater quality.  Estimated quantity of additional recharge from 100 sq. m. roof top area is 55.000 litres.  Water level in Basalt area which has depleted up to 150 metres has risen by 140 metres. Now water level is 10 metre b.g.i.  Now water remains in the stream up to March .Previously streams used to dry in November.  Drinking water problem solved forever.  Irrigation area increased. Now farmers are taking double crop in this rain fed and non- command area. Average per capita income increased at least by one lac Rs./Ha.  Energy consumption decreased. Due to reduction in suction length low HP pumps have been installed to draw water.  Fisheries started in many villages resulting in to rise in annual income of the farmer. CONCLUS ION: The "Shirpur model" is being launched as a "miracle cure" for drought. Its promoter Suresh Khanapurkar's angioplasty in water conservation has been in the news in Maharashtra for the last few months. This "miraculous cure" for the drought has been supported by the government. Water is a finite resource, its overall manages mentioned the conservation is of utmost importance. It can be achieved by minimizing utilization, recycling and rain water harvesting. Within the study area there is moderate potential of water availability. The sustainable use of the water resources also depend upon the recharge of ground water. As the rate of ground water withdrawal has increased in study area. So the watershed in northern part of the Shirpur tahsil has been categorized as over exploited. A change in water resources provides an index for measuring the stages of agricultural development in study region.

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 369 Science, Technology and Development ISSN : 0950-0707

Population growth and rural transformation are the main instruments of change in water resources sources. REFERENCES:  Limaye, Shrikant D. (2010): Review: Groundwater development and management in the Deccan Traps (basalts) of western India, Hydrogeology Journal, Vol.18, No.3, pp.543-558.  A Report on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of Maharashtra as on March, 2004 by G.S.D.A. and C.G.W.B., Nagpur.  Abbasi, S. A. (1988): Water Quality – Sampling and analysis, Discovery Publishing House, New Delhi.  Bhausaheb P. Patil (2017) A Surface Water Scenario in Dhule District of Maharashtra, IJESC, International Journal of Engineering Science and Computing, January 2017 Volume 7 Issue No.1, Pp. 4059-4064.  Gorane S. C. (2012), ‘Pontential, Utilization and Problems of Water Resources in Dhule District (M.S.)’ Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, N.M U, Jalgaon.  Socio-Economic Abstract, Dhule District -2015.  khanpurkar S.B (2015), sustainable development of ground water resources in shirpur taluka of dhuledistrict ,Maharashtra,India,2015  Neelkantarama, J.M.(2009) Government Of India Ministry Of Water Resources Central Ground Water Board, report Dhule district

Volume IX Issue VIII AUGUST 2020 Page No : 370