Sir,
This refers to the write-up ‘The causes of drought’ (DE, May 20,2016). It is a fact that droughts are natural disasters which can not be predicted or prevented. But we can surely take some measures to minimise the effects of droughts in case it occurs.The learned writer has beautifully highlighted the various causes of drought which is sweeping many parts of our country and which is reported to have affected thirty three million people.He has cited over exploitation of groundwater reserves as one of the reasons for paucity of water in the drought affected areas.According to the writer, farmers are extracting water from the ground by digging deep borewells with the result that the water table has gone low. Moreover, he has warned that the water extracted from deeper wells may contain harmful chemicals such as arsenic and fluorides and may be unfit for drinking.His useful suggestion that hidden subsidies which encourage water extraction should be removed,needs to be taken seriously by the government.The writer has also advocated the change in crop pattern by avoiding the cultivation of water guzzling crops such as sugarcane, chillies, cotton etc. to recharge ground water and only those crops should be grown which require less water.
Similarly, agriculture scientists must conduct research to discover drought resistant varieties of crops. Another way to conserve ground water is to specify the maximum depth of bore well to check over exploitation of water.Water can also be stored in the ground in underground aquifiers by making ‘percolation wells’ and diversion of water of the flooded rivers into these aquifiers.The government should also take measures to motivate people to conserve water by rain water harvesting.The water stored in the aquifiers can be extracted in the lean season by borewells to prevent loss of water by evaporation, judicious use of water and saving the country from huge environmental impacts of large reservoirs. Last but not least,we ought to realise the need of planting more and more trees to maintain ecological balance and prevent global warming.
Yours etc…..
Ashok Sharma,
Housing Colony,
Udhampur.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel